The sun., 1903-08-14
PROGRESS IN MEXECO.

| QlStInct standards ny WHICH ndIlOllai PloS-
ress may be measured the social and tho
industrial Measured by either Of these,
Mexico's development within the last two
decades has been striking II is manifestly
unfair to compare her civilization OF to-
day with that of the United States or Can
ada. Comparison can be fairly instituted
only with her own condition a quarter OF a
century ago.
In 1921 Mexico emerged from the throes
OF a prolonged and bloody revolution and
declared her national independence. For
nearly sixty years, broken only by occa-
sional and comparatively brief periods of
calm. the land was battle-ground. After
thirty-six years Of civil strife, there came
that invasion of the army Of the United
States, about which the less said the better,
which followed the annexation of Texas.
Other years Of revolution and civil war
followed until, in 1861, France, Spain and
England sent hostile fleets and took pos
session of the harbor Of Vera Cruz. NOM
inaly for the purpose Of collecting claims
against the country. England and Spain
withdrew. Franco remained, and, after
vigorous fighting, M,ximilan became En-
peror. The United States was too busy
with its own civil war TO pay special at
tention to this infraction Of the Monroe
Doctrine, but il is probable that the issue
would have been actively raised when the
United States had somewhat less Of i'm
portant business on its hands, had not the
revolutionists against the Maximilian gov
ernment succeeded in overthrowing it, in
1857. 1t was during this struggle that
Gr,x In svIN Nnxt-
can history.
Although it was under the presidency of
Bento JuareZ that the conditions were
developed which were the immediate cause
of the French Intervention, Juarez again
became President upon the downfall of
the empire, and held the position until his
death, in 1872. The intervening years, and
the period which followed, under the ad-
ministration of Lerdo, were again time
Of persistent strife. With the election Of
Daz to the Presidency. in 1879. new era
began in Mexico. Broad minded, clear
sighted and strong handed. Porfirio Diaz
has built up new land in which peace and
progress have been, throughout his ad-
ministration, the dominant notes The
Constitution prohibiting reelection Man
and during his term Of office the Constitu-
tion was amended. Diaz was again elected
in 1884, and has ever since held the reins
OF administration in Mexico
Of the two standards by which national
progress is measurable, one may be shown
in figures while the other can be chiefly
displayed only in statements Of facts. At
the time of the second election Of Diaz
Mexico had little more than 1000 miles Of
railway. and about 5000 miles of telegraph
lines Diaz saw the wisdom and the neces-
sitv of extending the lines Of communica-
ton. Railways and telegraphs would not
only open up the industrial resources Of the
country. but they would also. by facilitating
the distribution of troops, be of immeasur-
able importance in the suppression and
prevention of rebellion and insurrection.
Ten years later Mexico had more than
5000 miles Of railway and nearly 10000
miles Of telegraph lines. To-day she has
more than 10 600 miles of railway and some
As 900 miles of teegra ph
Governmental conditions in Mexico, |
twenty or twenty-five years ago, were
such that reliable statistics are not TO be |
had The population at that time was be- !
tween 0 900 900 and 100000 n is to-day |
about l4.OOO.000. The increase in the i'm |
port trade has been less notable than the |
increase in export trade. The comparative |
limitation Of the import business is doubt |
less to be accounted for BY the fact that |
the great mass Of Mexican people is Of the
poorer classes, large perce entage of whose
requirements find supply from local sources.
Thus rn,irh thc greater mart Of their food !
and drink is Of their own production; their
bones are constructed Of material which
abounds in their own vicinity. and local |
tnxtila factories supply large part Of the |
m1reri,l used for wearing apparel cotton,
woo llcn. and even silk The import trade
Of 1850 "a eftimatrd NJ something less than
$40, 900 .Oo0, that of 1890 approximat"d $50 |
OOO, 900; and the imports Of 1907 are given as |
So, ,8t6. 600 The-" figures are given in
gold The exports or lFS0 are estimated |
as about the sam" as the imports $30,-
900 900. The showing fo' 1902 stands as
follows
Merchandise ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. %',27io?o
Precious metals. Observation-Disclosures. 6Ss97 l28
Total .,.,.,..,...,.....,...,.. Si5s I6s l4s
The export figures are reported in silver,
which shows flnctuatiug value, thus max
ing it difficult to convert then with accur-
acv into gold values The United States
and England are the Leading customers of
Mexico Her exports to those countries
for the last five years are given in the trade
reports of those countries. in gold values,
as follows;
min nd