The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-30
BOOMING nIEXICO.
1t Is Said That the boomers Are Over
doing the Thing.

doing the Thing.
City Of Mexico Letter in New York World.
Mexico is advancing in all industrial lines
and as compared with the Mexico of only
ten years ago the Transformation is surpris-
ing.
For many years the Mexican government
has sought by various means TO tempt the
foreign investor to come here and develop
the dormant resources of the country. Rail
road projectors were encouraged and subsi-
dies were literally advanced. The great
Mexican railroad systems have done mde
than all else TO place the republic on a solid
financial foundation.
The chief railroad systems OF Mexico are
operated by Americans, and through them
literature by the ton, descriptive OF the won
derful commercial possibilities of Mexico,
has been disseminated throughout the United
States England, Germany and France. Be
sides this the few newspapers printed in the
English language in the republic vie with
each other in sounding the praises of modern
Mexico. But knowledge of the true cOnd-
ton of affairs inspired by a protracted stayin
the country Will convince the most skeptical
that the incentive to the newspapers in thus
booming the country Is not desire to bene-
fit the foreigner who contemplates casting
his lot in the land of the Aztec, but is due
rather TO a sense OF loyalty to the giVer of
bountiful stipend
Much of this descriptive matter, whether
railroad or newspaper literature, is exag-
gerated. Marvellous Mexico the land of
untold wealth in gold and silver, in rubber
cotton, sugar, timber-the land for the mod
est or heavy investor in every conceiva BILE
line of industry''-this is a sample of the
reading matter which is sent out to the
four quarters Of the earth from the offices
of the Mexican trunk lines and the news
papers. Much Of the printed matter which
is issued descriptive OF MeXicO'S progress
and business opportunities for the delecta-
ton of American readers originates in New
York and Chicago.
There is one thing, however, which these
publications do not err in, and that is the
physical conformation of the republic the
scenery and the climate. To the newly ar
rived tourist Mexico is a land of sunshine
and song, a joy forever. The natives in their
wretched poverty are looked upon with a
sort OF sympathetic curiosity. But how rude
will be the awakening to the stern reality
of the true character of these seemingly
meek and lOWly people In the event of the
tourist becoming a permanent resident.
Mexico is growing, but there is no boom;
and the manufacturer or investor in the
United States whose interest has been
awakened by a persual of the literature re-
ferred to will do well to investigate care
fully before committing himself to any en-
terprise in this republic, however alluring
the prospect. Inability to speak the Span
ish language, the character of the ma
tives the requirements OF the government
with regard to taxation imposed upon all
industrial enterprises, seriously handicap
the newcomer.
Needless to say, Mexico is not the coun-
try for the laboring man, for the reason
that there is so much native unskilled Ia
Dor there, the result being that wages are
States would not have a competitive
chance.
For the man of limited capital who in
tends manufacturing, the question of liv-
ing is a serious matter. The cost Of main
tanning an American family in Mexico City
for example, living about on the same scale
as in the United States, is materially
higher. Unless one goes to the one or two
first class hotels ii is difficult to obtain
such food the average American family
is accustomed TO in his own country As
a matter of fact, many of the table COM
modites used by resident Americans are
imported from the United States-such as
butter. cheese and canned goods Meats
vegetables. fruits, all differ in taste from
those in the United States and cannot be
compared 10 the latter. Rents are high
and servants are inefficient and unreliable
the average Mexican peon, male or female
that is safe.
Manufacturing in many lines is overdone
Failures in business are Of daily occurrence
! Not a few enterprises have been com
menced in Mexico City, some of them at
imported machinery, and which after a few
months desultory operations have been
| abandoned or seized by creditors
IL is but short time ago that the great
American house of Swift x Co. constructed
an enormous packing plant in Mexico City.
| After brief career the plant was aban-
dOned and il stands 4 wreck to-day
The average Mexican has no faith i'm
| goods manufactured in his own country.
F! he prefers the American, English German
| or French imports. Many manufacturers
| therefore put fictitious foreign brands on
| their goods.
| Drunkenness and the most abiect now
| erty prevail among the lower classes to an
extent unheard Of anywhere else on this
continent