The Washington herald., 1908-04-19


Northern Mexico, and possibly has re-
ceived some impulse from the activity
displayed IN our country, but from what
ever cause, Special Agent Butman writes
some interesting things about the enter
prise and push OF the Mexieans who
make Monterey their home He says:
Monterey Is called the Chicago Of Mex
leo, With population Of about 5000, It
is an active commercial city, and one Of
the largest distributing points Of the re-
public The territory supplied from this
center includes the state OF Suevo Leon.
OF which Monterey is the capital; por-
tions Of the states of Tamaulipas and
Ceahuila, and. in fact. the greater part
of Northern Mexico.
The facilities for distribution are good
The Mexican Central Railroad runs
southeast 10 the important Gulf port Of
Tampic0, s22 miles distant. and north
west TO Ciudad Juarez. opposite FL Paso.
on the Rio Grande The Mexican Ma
tional lines lead eastward 20 MatamoFas,
opposite Brownsville north and east TO
NueyO Laredo, and north 20 Ciudad Por-
iirlo Diaz, across the river from Eagle
Pass.
The fact that Monterey is so important
a railway center has added great impetus
toward the establishment OF trades and
| industries and the city Is now the most
important manufacturing town In North
ern Mexico. It's people are progressive
and show wide activity In business AZ
fairs, while the vast manufacturing In
terests afford employment to thousands
whose purchasing capacity may well be
taken into account.
Becomes a Sanitary City.
One Of the most complete sewerage sys-
TENS known the automatic flush tank
system, is being installed throughout the
city. which, when completed, viii place
Monterey ia first rank as regards santa
I ton. a splendid new water system has
been recently installed and viii be placed
/ in operation upon the completion Of the
sewerage system. Contracts for paving
the principal streets have been entered
upon. which provide for asphalt pave
ments for the central streets and brick
IN other instances. the latter over a con-
crete foundation.
The old mule ears have been taken OF
the lines and replaced by the modern
electric car service. which system Is be-
ing enlarged by the addition OF new cir
cults. Real estate values are hrm and
advancing. considerable building is going
on, and, all in all. the appearance Of this
Northern Mexican city is one of pros
perity and advancement.
Among the industries Of principal i'm
I p0rtance may be mentioned three large
sme.ters. fOundries and the largest iron
and steel plant in the republic capital
( ICED at 100000 (Mexlcan) and employ
/ ing under full capacity 900 hands. ore
+ for the consumption Of this plant is Sc
cured at Golondrlnas. 120 kllometers xii
ometer equals 0:62 OF mile) from the
/ city on the National Railroad: also from
/ Monelova. In the state Of Coahuila, and
/ is Of high grade. running 10 SIS per cent
! The output includes pig iron, angle
/ iron, iron, gray iron castings, brass
and steel castings, channels, steel
beams, mild steel bars, octagon drill
steel and steel rails, - IS, %, ., 90, 40,
/ 80 and g. pounds. Common laborers IN
the industry receive a wage OF $3.50,
skilled workmen up to IS tMexican) per
/ day, The output Of the plant is in no
wise sufficient To meet the demands Of
/ Mexico's iron and steel markets. which
afford large opportunities for American
manufactures of the same order
wooden and other Industries.
Other industries include wooden and
cotton mills. candy factory, and brick
yards cement mandatory has been
recently established thlrty-eight kilome-
tiers north of Monterey. The plant is
complete and modern in every respect
and is equipped with the best machinery
/ for crushing. grinding, and burning by
/ the most improved methods. The raw
material used is from properties owned
/ by the company. which Is known as "Ce-
mentOs Hidalgo. S A" The rock-buiit
water reservoirs Of the plant have a ca
paeity Of 100000 gallons. while the ca
pacity OF the factory is stated 20 be 800
! barrels daily The laboratories are In
charge Of expert American chemists.
The "Cuauhtemoc Brewery" perhaps
| the largest and most important brewery
/ in the republic, is situated in Monterey,
and is a very successful commercial en-
terprise. The establishment covers 1000
/ coo square feet of land. with an admTa-
/ bly, well equipped factory. having a capa-
/ BILE output of 100000 bottles per day,
manufactured according TO the most
modern processes. The fermentation de-
partment contains 5000 barrels and the
/ boiling department SO barrels. Electric
/ ity furnishes the motive power of 2000
/ horsepower. Employment is given to
! ]. 200 persons. The outpu; for the last
year was valued at 100000 (MeXiean).
! The tonnage brought TO Monterey by
/ the railways centering here is second
only to that carried BY the railways to
one other city in Mexico. and that the
capital city.
What the Estate Owners Buy.
Monterey being a center for wholesale
trade, I would mention perhaps, first OF
all. the haciendadOs. or farmers who
come into the city in large numbers for
needed supplies OF every character. The
haeiendado IS a large buyer. and as sci
entific agriculture advances and the per-
sonaI requirements OF the laborer grow
more advanced he will without doubt be-
come one of the best buyers in Mexico,
There are in the republic about 10000 ha-
eiendas. or farms, with which the same
number Of usual farms in the United
States may in no wise be compared.
All Mexican farms cover large estates,
1.0o0 acres being considered small and the
average size varying from 1900 to 500,o0t
acres. am told Of the existence Of one
hacienda In the northern state Of Du-
range comprising l0000,O0 acres.
The farmers have their managers, sub
managers, bO0kkeepers, timekeepers
cashiers. ana hundreds Of laborers. while
the home of the owner or resident mana
ger is large and fine. In addition "a
/ farming machinery and implements
wagons. hardware. paints. roofing. we'll
/ drilling machinery. windmills. weighing
scales. blacksmith and carpenter tools