Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-31
CHANGES N MEXICO
Interesting Facts Contained in
the Report OF Consul Gem
eral Barlow.
The Republic of Mexico Is En-.
joyine an Era OF Pros
perity.
Americans Are Producing Won.
derful Changes in the City
of Mexico.

report of Mr.. Andrew D. Barlow, conSu
general to Mexico. 1t is a lengthy doc
ument and treats extensively of al
conditions In the republic which come
under the observation of the consu
general during the past year. The re.
port contains SO much new and valua.
BILE information that an extensive sum
mary is to be prepared and published
by the state department
In introducing his report Mr.. Barlow
| tells of the changes wrought in the City
present era of prosperity the republic
| is enjoying. Broad asphaltum avenues
are taking the place of old dirty, mar
row streets. A new sewerage system
city. Parks and public squares are be-
ing arranged in different parts of the
city. Two American companies are
making the city the best lighted in the
world American machinery and
American capital are foremost in this
development. Fifty miles of electric
street railway are now in operation and
fifty miles more will be ready for use
q year hence. Modern business blocks,
automobiles and American houses with
American conveniences are bringing
about transformation. The national
palace is being renovated. Work has
been started on new national theater,
Il new palace of justice and postoffice.
Mr.. Barlow gives statistics to estab-
lish the fact that while the City of
Mexico is popularity believed to have a
tropical climate the temperature there
is never excessively high and is re-
markedly free from sudden changes.
His statistics extend back for period
OF twenty-five years and he concludes
that the natural climatic conditions
there make 1t one of the healthiest
cities In the world. The report goes
into the area and population of the
city. He concludes that there are at
least 100000 people there, altho the GEN.
sus has shown but 100000. There are
5000 Americans in our colony. 10000
Spanish, 5000 French and 1900 English.
There are 10000 Americans in the
whole republic. The value of real es-
tate in the City of Mexico is about
$500, 100000
An interesting portion of the report
IL the social condition, discussion of
the cost of living there: the remunera-
tion to laborers, opportunities in the
professions and the social relations be-
tween the Americans and Mexicans,
which he declares are becoming closer.
He concludes that the cost of living in
val fh,, MAJ
are consumed Is about the same In
gold as in the United States. II i'm
ported products are consumed the cost
OF living is increased from 500 to 100
per cent. The report includes state
ments as to the cost of various prod
ucts. Real estate values have in
creased enormously in the city in the
past few years. Building lots In de-
sirable location cost from $4,000 to-
$4,000, and in the suburbs half of this.
The cost of bricks, lumber and other
materials Is far in advance of
tile cost of the same things in the
United States. The cost OF clothing
varies widely. Mems clothing costs in
gold about the same as in the United
States, and women's clothing about 80
per cent more. The inportations of
woolens from the United States have
been growing steadily in the past few
years. American style of clothing is
being very generally adopted. Luxuries
are much more expensive in Mexico
than here. Competent Americans find
ready employment in the republic, and
the pay in gold is about the same as in
this country. The consul believes that
Mexico is not good place for young,
men without ample
funds.
The City of Mexico is the center COM
and politically of the repub-
lie. The most important line of inn
ports Is machinery and machine sup
Flies, practically controlled by Ameri-
cans. There is large hardware trade
In the hands of the Germans, upon
which the Americans are making in
roads. The dry goods trade, next in
Importance to that of machinery. has
passed from the control of the English
To the Germans. and now the Ameri
cans are developing this trade. Mr..
Barlow thinks there is large field for
the importation of American groceries
and California wines.
Most of the American residents who
secure employment enter the railroad
business. An American cheese factory is
being built. The restaurants and ho-
tells are poor, and this line presents
great possibilities. Practically no man.
nfactured products are exported except
straw hats. The value of the exports to
the United States reported at the office
IT the consul general. including anti
nony, copper, gold, lead, silver and
other ores, during the year ending June |
30, 1901, was s631,S4O. Adding to this
amount the exports to the United
States of coffee, cotton waste, hides,
eascalote and miscellaneous products,
teaches s3,14s,660.
Mr.. Barlow believes that 1t Is useless
FOR business house to send repre-
sentative to Mexico unless he has a |
of the Spanish language. |
The tables included In the report show
that the imports of all products and
into Mexico for the fiscal |
year ending June 80, 1901, from the
United States, reached valuation of |
1876. 1929, as compared with little
over $31,000,000 for the previous year. |
The imports from the United States in
to Mexico show a gain of over II per
cent, and exports to the United States |
from Mexico indicate a gain of less
than 1 per cent.
Banking has made many strides in |
the republic since the passage of the |