The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-12
ARE FAIR TO THE INVESTOR II HE
TAKES PROPER PRECAUTIONS.
However, should Not As
sumo to "knOw II ALL" hut
should Employ Native Aid.


prices; a larger number are getting pros
pects the values of which remain to be
determined, while a considerable proportion
are putting their money where there is lit
tie likelihood that they will ever see any
part Of it again. A consideration or the
more salient features of Mexican mining
laws and customs may be of value, in view
of the steady stream of golden dollars that
is flowing in this side of the international
line.
1t is useless to consider the mining takers.
They infest every mining district. and their
ways are so different here from the ways
of their brothers in Colorado, Utah, Cali
fornia, and every other mining State. Most
of the Mexican mining frauds are carried
out by Americans. The natives have a 1alr
percentage of dishonest men, but they are
not, as rule, educated up to the high
point of the Yankee ''grafters," who have
made profound study of the science OF
lying and stealing so as TO reap a rlcn
pecuniary reward and yet escape the peni-
tentiaries they so richly deserve. Human
nature is pretty much the same in Mexico,
as in any other part of the world. The
man who believes everybody honest will be
body dishonest will suspect many honor
able men without cause. The same rules OF
common business prudence will apply here
in the making Of investments as would
hold good in any part of the United
States.
One of the most common mistakes OF the
American investor and prospector is a SUI
preme confidence in his own ability and
disdain for the native inhabitants, because
they are of dark complexion and speak
Spanish-evidence of inferiority, to the mind
of the cock-sure ''gringo." The wise man
will remember that local conditions are
never quite the same in any two mining
districts, and he who is willing to learn
from the experience Of men thoroughly ac-
quainted with the ground may save himself
much trouble. The average Mexican miner
cannot or will not do as much work In
day as the white miners of the United
States but he is far superior TO the coohe,
and is as shrewd a judge of mineral values
as can be found in any country. His meth
DDS of mining are very crude, and he mas
to be broken in gradually to the American
system, but the certainty with which expe-
rienced native miners can judge the mineral
values of any given ore is a surprise to
practical miners from the United States.
SHOULD COMPLY WITH LAWS.
The prospector or investor in Mexico
should determine from the start to comply
trouble by doing so, and will acquire the
friendship of the authorities, which is a
valuable asset in country where there Is
no trial by jury, and a foreigner obnoxious
to the government officials might as we'll
pack up and leave. The Mexican mining
laws are not perfect, but on the whole give
greater security to the mine owner than do
those of the United States. There is more
red tape about the law in Mexico than in
the United States, and more delay. This is
the land of a-to-morrow-and or
pasada manana-which is day after to-mor-
row, and very distant indeed. While some
of the requirements seem trivial, and are
certainly vexati0uS and apparently unnec-
essary, 1t is best to meet them fully. A
Mexican lawyer Is apt to be very deIbera-
tive in his actions but it pays to engage his
services. The man who tries to pilot his
own fortunes through the mazes of Mexican
law, on the strength of colloquial knowl-
edge OF Spanish, is taking great many
chances of tangling himself up in way
that will cost him sorely in case he has a
good property. The man who intends en-
gaging in fraudulent mining deal in Mex
leo had better remain in New York or Chi
cago and do his business through an agent
Fraudulent promoters are given no mercy
in Mexico, where they are considered az
vermin and treated as such: Difference to
the prejudices of the countries from which
these gentry hail may prevent their being
shot by the native authorities. but the ras-
Gals will wish they were dead before they
are clear Of the Mexican jails. There should
be one Mexican Jail in every large American
city for the benefit of mine promoters who
are tempted to go wrong.
The unit of Mexican mining claims is the
pertenencia, which is one hectarea of 100
meters square, area 2.f acres. Prospectors
may denounce any mining lands-that Is,
notify the government or their intention to
months in which the claims denounced will
be held for them. The mining lands are
never patented to the claimant. as In the
United States. but may be held as long as
taxes are paid after title is secured. The
tax is $40 per year, Mexican, for each per-
tenencia, payable in three annual INSTALL
ments every four months, but advance
payments can be made by the year. Agri-
cultural lands can be denounced for min
ing purposes, but the miner must recon-
pense the owner for any damages. There
are certain requirements in connection with
the denunciation of claims and the follow
ing steps to secure title, that 1t would be
a mistaken kindness to put in print. The
prospector or investor should engage a
competent Mexican lawyer or a mining
engineer well versed in Mexican law and
the Spanish language to attend to this
work, for if carelessly done ii may leave a
flaw in titles that will prove very costly TO
remedy, il indeed the property be not lost
entirely. in case 1t proves valuable.
HOW TO SECURE TITLE.
There are no extra lateral rights under
the Mexican mining laws. The holder of
title to a Mexican pertenencia owns every
thing of a mining nature down to the GEN.
ter of the earth. The surface of the land
may or may not be held by the owner of
the mineral rights. All mineral rights are
reserved by the government, and all Mexi-
can mines are held by their owners subject
to regular payment of the tax of $40 per
pertenencia per year, nonpayment Of which
works forfeiture. regardless of length of
time of possession. Surveys must be made
Of all mining claims before title can he
gained. Owing to the lack of general sur
veys in most mining sections the engineer
ing work must be carefully done. claims
being tied on to some prominent natural
landmark. AS rule the Mexican SURVEYS
are very we'll done.
Five months TO year are required to se-
cure title, after announcement, and a friend
at court can always expedite matters
good attorney or an experienced mining
that the work is done properly and with
reasonable dispatch, while the self-confident
party will get mired before half wav
through-a modern instance of the race he
tween the tortoise and the hare. There are
various stamp taxes and fees but the total
cost of securing sound government title
is not excessive. IL requires an experienced
pilot to secure valid titles to mining lands
but once secured the title is far safer than
in any part of the United States where
mining is governed by the Federal laws
Forfeiture can only be worked by gross
carelessness in failing to pay the pertenen-
ella taxes promptly.
Taxes are Of numerous varieties I'm Mex
leo. No single tax is very large. but there
are so many that they aggregate a consid-
cradle percentage on the value of mine
production. There are taxes for both state
and federal governments on all gold and