The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1909-07-10
sWo7Z1 a. 7HZ 722'-z7zZzN6 za76Z o54V5ZM6 c24N

Much interest has been excited by
the announcement that an extensive
area Of Northwest Mexico is to be
exploited by British Canadian enter
prise, with. however. American and
Mexican cooperation. which II valued
for ite intimate acquaintance with the
country.
Northwest Mexico's attractiveness
as promising field for enterprise
has long been manifest. inasmuch a.
it borders the United States and il
known to possess great natural re-
sources ~ well a. fertile soil and
. perfect climate. It has certainly
been traversed-at wide intervals
by American lines running southwark
to the Mexican capital or westward to
the Pacific coast, but those lines have
been moro concerned with their ter
n,inals than with the development Of
the country's reRources.
Indeed. the best areas are OF the
beaten tracks and lie westward Of
Chihuahua. the capital Of the state
no named and the chief city Of North
ern Mexico. In that region-which
has been sparsely served hitherto
are magnificent pastures and arabic
lands unsurpassed for fertility In
North America. But still more impor-
tant are the immense forests Of white
rine and the great abundance Of min
erals which has made the Sierra Madre
region fame2s even In the primitive
times Of male transport.
Local lines operating west and
north Of chihuahua have disclosed
the great possibilities that lie beyond.
These lines are now the germ Of q
far-reaching system. Having taken
over the existing lines. extensions
viii be built which will not only give
q great impetus to local development
but connect with tho American and
Mexican trunk lines running north
and south. east and west. from the
great cities Of Americas middle states
to the Mexican capital In the former
direction. from the gulf ports to the
Pacific coast on the other. The az.
tended system will form connections
at various points.
1t would b dimcult to convey by
mere verbal recital what those vari.
Gus extensions and connections i'm
ply; ut = system 30 advantageously
situated. and working from the inter.
for Of . far-reaching network OF rail.
ways-ons which will have 600 miles
Of its own By the beginning of 1911.
Of which 200 are in actual operation
now-cAA scAscsly be- . negligible
quantity - principal or auxiliary. II
seems, indeed, to supply the key to
great problems In transportation, and,
among other possibilities Of the fu.
ture, to assure that there shall be ef.
fective northern competition with the
Panama canal. Considerable timber
tramc and milling profits are assured
to the new railroad by its ownership
Of magnificent forest lands and saw.
mills. It will convey the immigrants
who are already streaming to the in
terror, and It win carry their produce
and their cattle to the markets OF
America or for shipment to Europe.
It will create new industries for the
good Of the country and Its own profit
bring new centers Of activity into
being, and stimulate towns that have
lanxuished for lack of communica-
tons.
Mining has hitherto been carried
on under dihiculties, which would
have been insuperable were 1t not
that ores rich enough to bear the cost
of mule transport to the shelters
were available. Inferior ores which.
had there been . railway. might have
been probably shipped, were thrown
On, she dumps a. useless, and mines
were pes3ectad which. under more
reasonable coalitions, would have
bsen excellent propositions. A trans
formation. in that respect will be
wrought when the railway is ready
to serve the highly mineralized areas
and development begins in earnest
on modern lines.
Cattle-raising IL already assuming
importance in view Of the rapid alien
alton Of the cattle lands IN the United
states for agricultural requirements
snd the consequent southern migra-
ton Of the ranchers to Mexico. where
the ind IDEAL conditions for the sue
ososful prosecution Of their industry.
The one drawback to it, rapid dsvsl.
oenent has besn he lack Of tssas-
pese fAcilit1ss b rsasoaabls eoatioolty
= ~ Gne0e Do0eRoo-o haA11mo