The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-12
MINING IN MEXICO
UNDER DIFFICULTIES
Alleged Inability of Government
to Protect Foreigners Hay-
ing Bad Effect.

There appears TO be an inside history to
foreign mining men operating In Mexico.
and the prctense of necessity for recent
order declaring that Government protec-
ton could not be assured seems to have
been somewhat In the nature of farce
playing TO the gallery, as II were, for
foreigners have never received that pro-
lection OF life and property which they
had the right to expect SAYS the Nevada
State journal For years the crcdulous
have accepted without qualification the
assertion OF great deposits OF the precious
metals In Mexico. and old abandoned
mines which have Yielded millions when
operated in the most primitive way can
be had II is said, almost for the asking
Dangerous to Tell Truth,
OF course. 1t cannot be expected that
men who have charge OF vast mines or
reduction plants can tell the whole truth
to the public, for II Is dangerous. 1t Is
positively alleged by those In position
TO know, and our authority Is beyond
question that mining men dare not ven
turc even few mics from railway or
military stations In Chihuahua Sonora or
Slnaloa without an armed escort of at
least hfteon Mexican soldiers. and even
then II is a question whether he Will re-
turn 1t Is not so very long since that
mining party of five people was ussnSSl-
mated In Sonora and only one OF the par
ty- Mr. Miller came back TO tell the
story and he openly charged the Mexican
soldiers with numbering his friends and
soon after il vas quietly lntmated to Mr.
Miller that hIs good health vas cond-
toned on his remaining away from So
nora.
Must Lie or Die.
The Journal does nos expect this posi-
tive charge TO go unanswered yet it Is
fact without doubt tuat men operating
I'm Mexican mines at this time must lie
or die" AT least no reasonable man who
has large interests In McXicnn mines Is
expected to throw up his hat and indorse
thCSo facts at the possible expense, even
probable expense. OF his life and property,
Tor the disturbed state OF that country at
this time seems to warrant the Mexican
Government In announcing publicly that
they cannot protect foreigners. and this
fact alone is entirely sufficient to warrant
us I'm believing that conditions there are
most unsatisfactory yet II certainly is.
In any event, a matter Of earnest ConSid-
Grafton on the part of the United States
Government and well merits immediate
attention. Life and property of Anncri-
cans operating In that country are not
safe, and 1t is even alleged that Gen.
Torres is mainly responsible for this dc
plorable condition.
will Affect Industry.
Certainly n great deal CT American cap-
ltnl is being diverted from Mexico. and
while the mining interests do not seem
TO nave been perccptibly checked as vet,
IL Is only matter OF a short time before
this condition must very materially affect
mining In Chihuahua. Sinuloa and Sonora.
However. the many large enterprises al
ready completed and those commenced
must Of necessity be advanced Tor the
large investment In mines and equip
ments demands continuance Mt least of
present operations even under such posi-
tive adverse conditions. As a matter OF
iact a mining man OF experience and
AGILITY, now operating in Nevada yet who
very recently vas mining in that country
advises US mat he purchased a lot of
mining machinery moro than eighteen
months since and that everything moved
so slowly that the plant is not yet on the
ground. and he believes that It's lnstalla-
tion must be abandoned at least tempo
r&rily,
Diverting Mining Capital
This condition I'm Mexico viii very nat
urally divert mining capital in other di-
rcctions and II Is extremely probable that
the satisfactory development in many Ne
Nada districts viii have its attraction for
those who have heretofore mined I'm Mex
leo.