Arizona republican., 1903-07-20
NEW SOUTHERN REPUBLIC
Some Hitherto Unpublished Facts
 About Mexico.

ly returned from an extended visit to the City of Mexico, which he believes Is one of the most attractive places on the western continent. It comprises a district about fifty kilometers square and which has a population of 1000. The population of the city proper is about half a million. Whatever the City of Mexico may have been at one time, Mir. Parish believes there is no other place in America which is at the present time developing so much ener- gy. The volume of building and inn provement is enormous. The country about the castle of Chapultepec is be- ing filled up and similar improvement is being shown in the business dis tricts. All the buildings are of stone or brick and none of them can be more than four stories. a regulation which Is a recognition of the probability of | earthquakes. The Mexican builders excel in stone work and especially in the ornamental work.
 | The American colony in Mexico numbers about 10000 and they 1 are in a large measure re- sponsible not only for the pro- | gressiveness of the city. but for the | growing prosperity of the whole re- public It is shown that there is now 1 invested in various enterprises in Mex ico SSOO,0O0O0O of American money. But in the first place Mir. Parish be- lieves that the prosperity of the coun- try is due to the wise administration of President DiaZ. The new growth of the country began with the demoneti- zation of silver in this country. Before that time there were no manufa ctures in MpXfPn E,xyarxyt hfrr m oh from the United States or other coun- tries and the products of the lead and silver mines had been shipped to the l smelters of this country The use of silver has been to Mexico of the eff feet of a protective tariff. When the value of a dollar sank to half the value | of the American dollar they began making things for themselves. Great factories have sprung up in different cities Of the republic. Before that time there was not a yard of cotton cloth made. Now all that is used in Mexico is made there. They are also making a fine quality of blankets. Big packing houses have been established in the City of Mexico and the whole country Is dotted with huge smelters and re- duction works
 The lessened value of silver in con- sequence of it's characterization in this country has made the wealthier Mexi- cans more economical in the use of it. Formerly they with their families made 1t practice to spend a part of the season in Europe. But when it came to the surrendering of two dollars for one they decided to spend their pleas ure seasons at home, so that those who used to be found in Paris or Madrid or l of her. T.N,,, found in the City of Mexico or in some of the other more pleasant cities of the republ
 Twenty years ago. said MT. Parish the government was without credit either at home or abroad. Its army was ill-fed. ill-clad and ill-disciplined Now it is well dressed and the soldiers will compare favorably with those of any other country. Twenty years ago the imports of the country exceeded the exports by $42, coo. 900, now the exports having increased almost en-fold. ex- ceed the imports by $23.000. 900.
 There are several reasons, said MT Parish, why there can be no trusts in Mexico. The laws in the first place are l against the organization of them. A Mexican law is a somewhat uncertain thing. 1t does not become effective on it's passage. but it Is made applicable at the discretion Ci the president. He can also suspend the operation of it at his pleasure. It will be remembered that less than year ago he broke uI a skillfully formed corner in grain by a suspension of the duty. The act oi suspension of law requires the sub- sequent approval of the congress, but that is never withheld. The people and all the political parties except the so- called church party have the most un- bounded faith in the president.
 Speaking of the church party, there is perhaps no other country in which there is such an absolute divorcement of the affairs of church and state That is. the church can exert no in huence in the state, but the state Keeps the privileges of the church closely hedged about Though four-fifths oi the population Of Mexico is Catholic and most of the members of the gov errment are Catholics, that religion is allowed no privileges over any other and is in fact more closely watched than any other. The influence of the priests upon the ignorant Indians is