Evening journal., 1907-03-02
RESOURCES OF MEXICO.
CFrom Munsey's Magazine for March.)

established, and large plantations developed
Probably nowhere else in the world agri-
cultural conditions so favorable, as with this
neghbor Of ours In the tropical section espe-
cally are found rich deep alluvial soil, and a
warm moist climate. Frosts and blights
known, and, a result, crops are really remark
able. and the forests contain enormous quanti-
ties of the finest cabinet woods in the world
The capitalists OF the United States were quick
to recognize the great opportunities thus offered,
and American money is now working all over
Mexico.
Some of the best tracts are being developed by
Americans, among them the San Pablo Panta-
tion property, of the International Lumber and
Development Company, said by experts in trop-
ical agriculture to be the best and most valuable
estate in the country.
To begin with, its location is admirable, COM
mercally and cmaticay. 1t is situated in Cam
peche a province of Yucatan, the most fertile
state OF Mexico, on the bay Of Campeche, an arm
of the Gulf Of Mexico Swept from all sides by
ocean breezes with an average rainfall Of 90
inches annually, it is bathed in the moisture so
necessary to tropical vegetation. The climate is
warm and equable, and the soil deep rich black
vegetable loan.
The plantation has frontage of "a miles on
the Gulf and its own seaport Chenkan 1t is
only short journey by water to the markets of
IlS 0HliSA RldlSaf dil lliJOlidht idStOl III bhS
shipping, particularly of perishable products
To state that the plantation includes $4,000
acres gives but an inadequate idea of its inn
mense size.
Two hundred and eight-eight thousand acres
is nearly one-half the entire area of Rhode
Island In strip half mile wide, it would
reach across the entire Gulf of Mexico, from
the plantation to Mobile Alabama, and Is miles
beyond. 1t would make an avenue quarter OF
a mile wide from New York to Galveston
Texas This immense acreage secures marked
advantages over smaller plantations in presenting
different conditions of soil and location, adapt
able to almost every crop tropical and semi
tropical.
The greatest source of income at present is
lumber At least two-thirds of the estate are
covered with vast forests of mahogany, Spanish
cedar, rosewood, logwood, and othe rcabinet and
dye woods The mahogany and logwood of the
Campeche district arc famous the world over for
their quality. Fourteen steanshp-loads Of ma
hogany and Spanish cedar have already been
shipped to this country, and expert lumbermen
value the timber still standing at more than ten
million dollars, when landed in the United
States, this would pay the Companys dividends
Of eight per cent for twenty-five years Probably
nowhere else in Mexico is the cost of getting out
the lumber so small. The heavy expense of land
and river transportation is overcome by the
location of the property, on the coast, and|by
the Companys raroSsI now extending 81 miles
into the heart of the heavy timber.
1t is estimated that a5osoo ton, Of the most
valuable dyewoods-logwooA, and fustic-are
standing in the Companys forests The contract
will soon be let for cutting ltleseS> and will un-
doubtedly prove very profitable. Nothing has
ever been found to take the place of logwood for
producing good black dye, and that exported
from Campeche brings highest prices in New
York and foreign markets
One Of the most important industries of Yuca-
tan is the raising of henequen, or hemp-pant,
used for making binding-twine, rope. bags, mat
tings brushes, etc Its large profits can be judg-
ed from the prosperity of Merida, the capital Of
Yucatan This town of $4,000 inhabitants boasts
40 fortunes of million or over. all made in
henequen. Unaffected by heat, drought, storm,
or insects. the henequen crop is certain, and the
price is stable The quality Of the Yucatan hene-
quen is superior to all others. Its annual yield
is variously estimated at from 500 to $3.50 an
acre Twelve thousand acres Will De planteu on
the estate, and already considerable progress has
been made, 1000 acres being cleared and over
100000 plants growing.
In the face Of the rising rubber market, with
crude rubber selling at $I.a5 per pound, and a
supply inadequate to the demand, the available
wild rubber-trees-not less than 6o.ooo-now
standing on the plantation are one Of its best
assets. Many of these trees are mature and have
never been tapped. In addition the Company has
selected tract Of land of 5000 acres eminently
! suited TO rubber cultivation, and has already
be planted, 200 to the acre, and as the average
yield OF a 1o-year-old rubber-tree is pounds
per year. the income from this source will un-