Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-10-30
OLD MEXICO.
Americans Are Changing the Natives
Lazy Customs.

HWeFscans Are changing the Natibee'
Lazy Customs.
The capital, the enterprise and INF
tiative Of the American people have
enabled Mexico to leap from the
tenth to the twentieth century. Mexi-
co.'s fourteen millions Of people are
growing thousand years in n many
weeks. The whole territory of the
republic is owned by about 1000 land
barons. with millions OF poems for
selrfs. American enterprise. with its
Investment of 100000, 600, has dealt
peonage a deadly blow. The peon un-
der the Mexican system earned 10
cents day. and was always kept in
debt by his patron, who held him per-
manently by this obligation. and trans
ferred him with every sale OF the es-
tate to the purchaser. But the Ameri-
cans, with their railroads, farming
methods, smelters and industrial en-
ergy generally, have bid up the price
of labor to 70 cents, 81, and more a
day. The peon thus pays of his debts
and becomes free man. The Mexi-
can Government offers free education
TO his children, from the elementary
school to the university, and schooling
will soon become compulsory.
Mexican trade with the United
States is constantly on the increase.
We sold the sister republic in 1901
1902 a third more than all the rest Of
the world combined We bought from
her four firnac mara than che sold ~
all other nations. The uncertain val
ue of Mexico's silver money affects
trade injuriously, making it a gamble.
The bootblack must raise the price of
his shine when silver depreciates.
Wages do not rise correspondence.
Capital figures on a margin of 80 per
cent, and yet often loses money.
American capital is, in spite of this
drawback, pouring into the land of
tie MOntezumas. Seventy per cent.
Of all American money invested in
Mexico has gone into railroad devel-
opment. The Mexican Central has
taken $3.50, 1000 900; the National. $107,-
100000 Eighty per cent. of all Mex
lean railway capital is American.
There is now a railway mileage there
of 1000, and it. is steadily growing.
All the important systems bu three
are owned by Americans, and in these
three Americans are heavy stock
holders. They have recently acquired
the National from the British and
the Gulf line from the Belgians. The
United States furnishes the operating
officers. conductors. engineers and
So stimes the entire train crew.
American methods are rejuvenat-
ing the old Mexican mines. Ameri-
cans are improving the great ranches
and developing the manufacture of
cotton faster than the raw material
can be supplied by Mexico. Some OF
the raw cotton has thus to be import
ed from the United States. There
everywhere Americans are con-
structing great irrigation dams and
canals. The Mexican people are
adopting American ways. The Amer
lean circus has taken the descendants
of Aztec sun worshipers by storm.
The typewriter is a popular institu-
ton. A wireless telegraph system
connects the opposite shores Of the
Gulf of California. Best OF all, the
Mexicans propose to elect a successor
to Diaz without a revolution. Even
more striking is the grasp of .Ameri-
can capital and enterprise on the
Canadian dominion.
The spirit of Old Glory, therefore,
reigns from Yucatan to Greenland.
and blesses a whole continent with
an Americanization benefiting its
every nterest.-Louisville Herald.