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

cial awakening which has taken place in
Mexico in the last ten years Railroads
have been built, mines operated great ranches
established, and large plantations developed.
Probably nowhere else in the world agr-
cultural conditions so favorable, as with this
neighbor Of ours, In the tropical section espe-
cially are found rich deep auvial soil, and
warm moist climate. Frosts and blghts
known, and, as 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 Planta-
tion property, OF the International Lumber and
Development Company, said by experts in trop-
cal agriculture to be the best and most valuable
estate in the country.
To begin with, its location is admirable, COM
mercially and climatically. 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 equabe, and the soil deep rich black
vegetable loam
The plantation has frontage OF "a miles
the Gulf, and its own seaport, Chenkan. 1t IS
only short journey by water to the markets of
the United States an important factor in the
shipping particularly of pershable products.
To state that the plantation includes 2S8,ooo
acres gives but an inadequate idea OF its inn
mense size
Two hundred and cght-eight thousand acres
is nearly one-half the entire area of Rhode
Island. In strip half a mile wide, it would
reach across the entire Gulf of Mexico, from
the plantation TO Mobile, Alabama, and rs miles
beyond. Ii would make an avenue quarter of
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 are famous the world over for
their quality. Fourteen steamship-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 Company's 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 Company's railroad, now extending 81 miles
lotto tia baart az the beaxrsy timber
1t is estimated that 100000 tons OF the most
valuable acknowledgement and fustic-are
standing in the Company's forests. The contract
| will soon be let for cutting these, and will un-
doubtedy 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 Yucca
tan is the raising of henequen, or hemp-plant
used for making bnding-twine, rope, bags, mat
tings, brushes, etc. It's 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 a 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. It's annual yield
is variousy estimated at from 500 to $3.50 an
acre. Twelve thousand acres will be planted 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 SIPS per pound, and a
supDlv inadeouate ia the demand the available
wild rubber-trees-not less than 6oooo--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 emnently
suited to rubber cultivation, and has already
planted 500 acres. Eventually 100000 trees will