The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-24
PRESIDENT D|Az A
FRIEND OF MINING
IIIustriOus Chief Executive of
Mexico Comes to Rescue
of Industry.
PUBLIC OPINION IS
A POWER DOWN THERE
Foreign Capital Nearly Lost
Safeguard by Action of
the Cabinet.

Gently returned from NcNlcp' ae the 'N'
quest of The Tribune. has given an eN'
plauation of the famous article lil mat
ter which so agitated capital the world
over not long ago, and the happy out
come of the same to the salvation OF
foreign interests in Mexican mining
properties. The statement IS as tol'
lows:
con the l4th instant the president s
cabinet Of the Republic OF Mexico, &c
cided against the retention OF article
144. aud the chapter relating TO the re-
sponsibihty of minc owners for acci-
dents. in the draft of mining laws now
being pnssed by the Mexican congress-
and tbercupou President Dial made an
official declaration rejecting both the
said article and the chapter, which dec
laration cffectuallv killed the same.
"The provision in article la, wniea
met with the strong opposition that
family rejected the article, reads as
follows: Foreign corporate bodies are
incapable OF denouncing and acquiring
henceforth by any process, either MN
ing properties or liens thereon within
the TERRITORY of the Mexican republic.
"Thc chapter on civil responsibilities,
which was also rejected, made mining
companies, generally, responsible Tor
that these provisions were made known
to the public. which occurred about the
latter part Of Nav last, they met with
formidable opposition from many. OF
the leading mining men, corporations
and government officials or Mexico.
and from corporations aud investors OF
the United States and Europe. who had
a gloom over Mexican investments bN
foreigners. and while Mcxicans. who
were best informed as 10 their govern
mcnt, were confident that such pro
visions could not be enacted into law,
still, foreigners were exceedingly ap-
prehensivc, and the result was cessa.
ton, in large part, of investments and
contemplated investments 10y foreigners
in that republic When il is considered
that about $3.50 100000, or more, have
been invested in Mexican mines by for
eieners, it can readily be perceived how
adversely such laws would affect the
investing public and deter them from
making further investments, and when
ii is further considered, as shown by
leading publications, that about s,og,-
600 600 year Of foreign capital IS
lowing into Mexico, II also can readily
be perceived how such legislation
would intimdate foreign investors, per
sons and corporations. who have In.
vested largely in that republic.
d" Now. however, that such drastic
legislation has been thus summarilv
disposed of by unanimous decision OF
the cabinet with the concurrence Of
the illustrious president Of the repub-
lie. il will readily be accepted that the
government of Mexico Is in competent
hands; that the interests OF foreign in.
vestors will have nothing to fear, and
that such foreign investments will have
the protection which . lust goyerument
ALWAYS affords confiding public.
cone OF the most rcassuring signs
which has been exhibited through this
struggle is the fact that the proposed
| iniauitous legislation was killed in EN-.
| brvo largely as the result OF pub
| lie oInuion, Notwithstanding the fact
| that some strong men of Mexico ap
! peared and defended the legislation
Several OF the ministers were, in the
! first instance. favorable to it, but
| finally. through the influence OF public
| opinion. which manifested itself in the
! shape of kilograms and letters from al
| parts of the republic and from tn,
| United States and Europe, the decision
rejecting the legislation was unanimous
| This is demonstrative of the fact that
! public opinion, which is, or ought TO be
ono of tho prominent characteristic,
! OF every republic. manifests itself an(
asserts its power in the Republic OF
| Mexico as well as in the United States
"While therefore. this proposed leg
s!ation, for the time being. bad ten
! deucy TO check the flow of foreign capi
| tai into Mexico. the result. as IL nov
! appears and has been doeared by th
president of the republic, will have
tendency to create additional confidence
| in the government, and Will cnceura q
foreign capital TO continue to assist il
developing the immense mineral re
sources OF that portion of the Ameri
can continent Foreign capital. Away
timid and apprehensive, will doubtles
have renewed confidence in investment
under the government and laws o
Mexico, and it is believed that our 81:
ter republic will III tho near futur,
have activities in mining operation
such that it has never before enjoyed.
HIt is generally well understoo
J among mining men that the minera
bearing zones Of Mexico occur at fr,
duent intervals. in high state of mil
eradication with strong and persister
lodges, and that Mexico is one Of tn
richest mineral countries in the worl,
The eyes of the mining world are br
ing turned upon that country. and
would seem to be but a question. Of
little moro time until the Republic {
Mexico will present mining fields of til
greatest activity under the laws /;
they now exist. The railroads no
pullulnS aud IN Sohtcnlpldttoh VIII u
veop that country and practically elm
nate the present Grade methods of mil
ing and the transportation OF ores l
burros. The Mexican mining laws al
favorable TO the mining business, an
entail much less litigation than OF
own. The system of vertical lines
vogue there eliminates all such expo
sive litigation as we have In the Unite
States on the apex questions. Su,
| questions cannot arise there.
.'Op the whole. the Mexican COVER
ment is TO be congratulated on havir
demonstrated to the world that it
abe 10 do Justice alike TO domestic ar
foreign capital. The republic is doub
less entering upon great era OF pro
perity.'