The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-05-02
A SAFE COUNTRY
TO MAKE A HOME
Natives are Courteous and
Generous--How Titles to
Property are Secured--
Moves Of Americans.


been in Mexico for nearly two years,
writes very entertaining letter to the
News Democrat. Mr.. Simonds says in
part:
Investments and titles are just as
safe In Mexico es In the United States
Most people who come to Mexico and
stay a week around some Of the larger
towns and take trip of twOdays In
the country over good wagon road
go back to the states and give the
country and the people a write-up, and
when one who has lived in the inland
towns for the greater part Of two
years, reads the article it becomes hu-
mOrous.
"The people here live in their SIM
pie ways and are happy and contented.
They have always been very kind to
me and incur nearest little town, Ma
tape, I feel as much at home as ] do
anywhere on earth. / have travedei
over the greater part Of Sonora from
the west coast to the Yaqui river, have
slept out at night wherever darkness
found us and have felt safe at all
times rs l would in Canton. The only
danger in this country that know of
is the bite or sting of some snakes
and insects and these you learn to
guard against.
'I spent very pleasant week at the
Yaqui river and secured a very rich
placer claim which hope to be soon
at work on. 1t was 108 in the shade
there on April 9Th.
For the information of those who
desire to know of the security Mexico
affords foreign investors and other
matters will give some information.
MATTERS or TITLE.
"In the matter of securing title
to Mexican properties, the precautions
taken by a good business man to Sc
cure title in his own country will
ordinarily suffice here, viz, the exam
ination of records for adverse claims,
the tracing back Of vendors title, to
see that he Is properly empowered to
sell a deed from vendor to purchaser
drawn by competent lawyer, and re-
corded in the record of deeds of the
district in which the property Is To-
Gated.
"Nine-tenths of the difficulties for
eigners have had with their Mexican
title may be traced directly to the lack
of thoroughness In examination of IT,
tie before the property Is acquired.
The matter Is commonly entrusted to
an agent, himself a foreigner, often
the promoter Of the enterprise, whose
familiarity with Mexican laws and Gus
toms Is assumed from the fact of his
having paid one or two visits to the
republic.
"A dishonest or careless agent, or
promoter interested in putting the
scheme through will have no trouble
in securing favorable legal opinions
on titles as full of holes as the moral
law. What would be thought of a man
who, desiring to acquire real estate
in New York city, would employ a
third rate lawyer in Sitka, Alaska, to
pass on the title? Or who, on pur-
chasing mine in Arizona, would ac-
cept the statements OF local trades
men that Tom Jones was a sole own
er? Yet such absurdities are practiced
by foreigners in Mexico. A prominent
American corporation had their titles
translated into English, and this trans
lated title passed upon by an eastern
legal firm; this was many years ago,
and what they now think of that firm
would not do to print-yet the fault
was wholly their own. Foreigners and
especially American foreigners, seem
constrained to invent weird and
strange business methods for the con-
duct of their Mexican affairs.
NEED LEWYERs' ADVICE.
"The foreigner contemplating in
yestments in Mexico should insist up
on thorough examination of the IT,
ties by at least two competent Mexi-
can lawyers Of reputable standing, and
hn oh in ct he
opinion of these lawyers in writing be-
fore parting with a dollar of his cap
ital.
with one exception, Mexico places
no restriction ON the foreigner, other
than those borne by her own citizens
A foreigner may not purchase real
properties within sixty miles of the
land borders of the republic, nor with.
in thirty miles Of tho sea without first
having obtained permission of the gen
eral government through It's depart.
ment of state. This border strip IL
known as the prohibited zone and
permits to hold real estate therein are
issued on the recommendation of the
governor of the state in which the
property 10 located. Such permits are
seldom refused reputable applicants.
PERMITS for companies or corpora
tions are more difficult to obtain, the
government fearing the complications
that might result from foreign corpor
ations operating OH the border
"Such companies or corporations de-
string to acquire property within tho
prohibited zone usually do SO by hav
Ing the deed made to an individual
member of tho corporation, who holds
the property IN trust, he having frs
obtained permission from the govern
ment as an individual; or Mexican
company Is formed which acquires thu
property without the necessity Of
permit, Mexican companies being Mex
lean citizens In the eyes Of the law