Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-07-16

tree by tapping if proper care is taken.
No thoroughly reliable report could
be obtained Of a single instance of a
rubber plantation in Mexico that has
been under cultivation long enough to
prove the claims made for rubber
culture. One of the Mexican Journals
cites an instance of plantation in
Chiapas where, about thirteen years
ago, number of rubber trees were
set out as shade for cacao. Over 5000
OF these trees are now standing and
in good condition. They are said to
yield yearly average of two pounds
OF rubber per tree, tapped once.
There are three hundred trees per
acre and al a price of 90 cents the
income would be $3.50, while the ex-
pense OF gathering would be very
light. 1Ae only thing that throws
doubt upon this statement is the fact
that so remarkable an example is not
made more of by other planters and
does not seem to appear in any gov
eminent report.
An examination of the statistics for
the last ten years shows that scarcely
an item of production can be found
that does not show an increase in
amount. Many lines of railroad are
being constructed and many more are
projected. Most important OF all.
investors have become deeply in
terested and money from outside
sources is flowing in at an un.
preoedented rate. Apparently the
only thing that can arrest this de-
velopment is political upheaval
and at present any disturbance of
this sort seems very remote.
That American capital will continue
to go into Mexico seems assured.
Railroad investments are safe if the
country develops. Mining is under
stood to be of more or less
speculative nature. The investments
about which there is the greatest un-
certainty are those in tropical agri-
culture.
ConsulGeneral Barlow's opinion
should certainly have weight. but the
reasons that he gives in support of it
are weak. That Mexican agricultural
resources have not been developed by
her own people is true. The great
interest of Mexicans is in mining.
No mining country has ever been de-
veloped in agriculture until its
mines commenced to be exhausted
Mr.. Barlow himself states that even
the mines have been developed by
Americans. American methods ami
machinery have vastly increased the
output. Why should it seem unusual
therefore that outsiders and not
MeXlcans are beginning to show what
can be done in agriculture. It is yerv
true, however, as he says, that many
promoted plantations have been hold
Ing out inducements that seem luJi.
circus. But this is not the only line of
industry that is overcapitalized and
supported by overzealous enthusiasm.
with the United States using I'D.
wards OF a million dollars worth Of
tropical products day it is difficult to
understand why the natural resources
OF Mexico may not be utilized. II is
the nearest to our markets of any troD.
ical country and has better shining
facilities.
1t has already been demonstrated
that sugar can be raised with proft
VI course the home demand is now al
most supplied and it is somewhat mr.
certain as to the result when the sur
Plus must be exported to compete with
other countries. The many advan-
n ~ sci, NH
over the present methods of produc-
tlon are too manifest to need any re-
view. There is great uncertainty as 10
whether cultivation is being carried on
along the right lines. The right spe-
cies may not be used; the trees NAV
grow well but may not yield milk and
THE rubber may be inferior. Il must be
thoroughly understood that the indus.
Try is in the experimental stage and
| doubtless much money will be spent in
the experiment. Ii would seem limos.
slble OF belief, however, that a method
lof growing successfully any tree that
/ now grows wild will not be found. II
is certain that such plantations, when
made successful, are bound to yield a
large profit for years to come. In the
meantime there are great number of
fruits and other products tnat can be
raised
The bonanza schemes Offering an in
dependent income for life in return for
an investment Of $3.50 in monthly In.
stalments are not the ones that will
succeed. Good management and con-
sentative expenditure will yield a fair
return. There seems to be no place
for the small plantation as adninistra.
ton expenses AMI machinery are cost
ly II is better, said Mr.. johnson il.
conclusion, to combine capital. but no
! investment should be made until the
around is thoroughly gone over by the
investor himself. or by one whois COM
petent and experienced.