New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-15
RAILROADS OPERATED By THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.

tarv Of the Treasury. Minister of Finance he Is
called here. The whole transaction for the pur-
chase of controlling interest in these roads
was conceived and carried out by secretary
Limantour Occupying the high position OF
trI1st with the government that he does. he had
10 difficulty in convincing President Dlaz and
the national Congress that it was wise thing
10 do.
He announced at the time the deal was made
that the object of the government was to pro-
tect the traffic through the port Of Vera Cruz
and through the ports OF entry on the no
Grande border as well as to exert general re-
strafning effect against oppression by railroads
throughout the country. 1t is charged by some
that Secretary Limantour of the belief that
this great coup which he conceived and &C
complished so readily, would make him very
popular with the people and cause him to be
elevated TO the Vice-Presidency Of the repub-
lie. which Office is considered but a stepping
stone to the Presidency. If he had planned to
reap the Vice-Presidency as the harvest OF MS
railroad ownership sowing, he was doomed to
disappointment President Daz favored Ramon
Corral for that position. and to-day it is Vice
President Corral instead Of President Ii
mantour. Tomorrow it may be President Cor
raj. The opponents Of the government owner
ship Of railroads say that 1t viii never be Presl-
dent Iimantour.
TIRED OF THE EXPERIMENT.
Whether Secretary Limantour's political fort
unes were involved IN his purchase of these
railroads on behalf Of the government may
never be publicly known. It is certain that at
this time this Cabinet officer Of the Mexican
government is the active manager Of the prop
critics in question and that he is tired of the
experiment It will not be surprising If the
nouncement does not before great while
that the railroads comprising the merger sys-
TEN" have passed from the control Of the gov
eminent
Many instances and detailed circumstances Of
unuise acts committed, and bad policy pur-
sued in the conduct Of the affairs Of the merger
system could be given upon the authority
Of some of the largest manufacturers and ship
eminent in granting to its railroad COM
Of a strip of territory twenty miles wide and
bordering the Rio Grande from its mouth to a
point opposite Del Rio Tex. a distance of
about 450 miles is severely criticised by those
who have the development Of the resources Of
the country at heart Under the terms Of that
concession other railroad build across
this narrow zone. It has the effect of prevent
ing the building Of any other railroad to the
Texas border.
At the time the concession was granted the
Mexican Central had large force OF men en-
ployed the construction Of its line from
Paredon, north to San Antonio. Tex. This road
would Of course. have had to cross the terri
tory that was aiterward embraced in the pro-
hibited zone. It would have given the Mexican
Central q short line between the border and
Mexico City, which would have been a strong
competitor Of the National line Of the merger
system" To prevent the road from being built
the government granted the merger system
a concession which practically debars ali other
roads from reaching the United States border.