Arizona republican., 1902-03-14

The annual report of Consul General
 Barlow at Mexico City gives some facts that are especially in- PROGRESS taresting to Americans. OF particularly those who MENICO. are contemplating in vestments in the capita!
 of the Mexican republic. The City
 of Mexico. ha says. bids fair to become
 one of the stateliest. wealthiest and
 most beautiful cities in America It is
 ore of the best lighted in the world
 already. one of the electric light com
 panies is American, and another Amer
 ican firm is now laying light and power
 cables. Over fifty miles of electric
 street railway have been built ana put
 in operation within two years. and all
 the material has come from this coun
 try except the boilers of the power
 house.
 Modern business blocks. built on the
 American plan, are being erected. and
 public buildings with American con-
 veniences are replacing the relics Of past generations. American apartment
 houses are taking the place oi the old
 Mexican "vivienda" buildings. and are proving to be splendid Investments. The climate is probably the pleasantest world. The population is conservative ly placed at 100000 and among the for eign colonies the American is led only by the Spanish, which is estimated to ing about 4000.
 Americans are yearly coming here in increasing numbers to live and to en- gage in business. says Mir. Barlow. American capital is becoming more deeply interested in this city and in the entire republic. Many Of the Amer jeans come with the expectation of remaining here permanently. One notes an increased disposition on their part to buy lots and build houses. The influence of American customs upon those of the native people is beginning to be felt Americans residing nere or temporarily sojourning in this country are universally treated with the great est consideration and courtesy, official ly and personally. by the Mexican peo- pie. It is almost unnecessary to state at this late date that property and If are as safe here as in the United States, that the laws are rigidiy en- forced. that a foreigner obtains justice as fully as a native and that the per sonal liberty of every man is zealously guarded.
 In a general way it may be said that if native products are consumed. the cost of living is about the same in gold as in the United States; if imported products are used the cost of living is 50 to 100 per cent greater. As applied to Americans, the cost Of living de- bends largely upon the length Of resi- dence in Mexico. An American fam fly coming to this city, accustomed t9 the conVeniences of the United States. finds it extremely difficult to live hero at all for the first year or two. It is simply impossible to obtain the com forts and luXuries one finds at home To begin with. the houses are built differently. The common form of Mexican house is that of a square box, with the rooms built around an opel4 court. without any method as to ar engagement or convenience. The walls are of stone and very thick. holding moisture q long time during the rainy season. This makes the rooms damp and chilly and renders fire necessary on many days. There is no provision for heating and q Mexican raises his hands in horror at the suggestion of fire in a living room. An American is al- ways warned on coming here against having his house warm and then going out into the open air. It is true that great care must be used. as pneumonia is perhaps the most deadly disease in this altitude, but there is no doubt that 9 little fire in living rooms adds greatly to the comfort of staying in them. Oil stoves are sufficient, and they are grad ualy coming into use.
 Rents are extremely high in Mexico A siX-room house or vivienda (faO costs from $50 to $50 silver per month, according to location. The same house in a city of the United States of similar size, would rent for S15 to S25 gold per month. house that would rent in the United States. according to location and appearance. for $100 gold per month commands $500 silver Ger about $25G gold) per month here. Rents of busi- ness houses are fully as high in propor- tion. It may be stated in a general way that private or business houses. rented, are expected to yield F to E per cent per year on the investment Rents in the suburbs are almost as high as in the city proper.
 The cost of furniture in Mexico IS about three times what it is in the United States. Furniture of native lumber is almost worthless. for the reason that the wood is never properly seasoned. The duty and freight on lm- ported furniture are high. Much of the furniture imported into this country comes from the United States. and i will be found cheaper in the end to buy imported furniture.