El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-27

Striking Examples of Man
ner in Which Mechanics
Have Been Developed in
Mexican Railroad Shops.
RAPID RISE IN
PAST FEW YEARS

c. P. Diaz, Mexico. Aug. 27.-As an
example of the rapid advancement Of
the Mexican nation. the car shops and
employees of the National lines Of Mex
leo at this place are striking.
Less than two years ago every ex-
perienced mechanic in the shops was
an American. Now. while there are
over 600 employees in the shops, less
than two score are Americans. This
shows how time has improved the Mex
lean race Speaking Of the situation,
a railroad official said that 1T was not
prejudice in the old days that kept
the Mexican out of such places, but
the Mexican was not then capable Of
holding positions Of responsibility in
machine shops and other such instl-
buttons. Now the Mexican may be
seen operating the most delicate ma
chinery and making repairs upon the
most intricate piece of railroad con-
struction-
There are a few Americans scat
tered about in the big shops, foundry.
roundhouse and car sheds in this place,
but they are not bosses even, except in
certain cases, and Mexicans are hold
ing positions as important Ameri-
cans in many instances more so. That
they are competent, is evidenced by the
fact that the Mexican railways are
operating on as good time as ever,
which would evidently not be the case
If the machinery was not kept in good
condition.
The shops here are not operating
with as many men as in the days be-
fore the consolidation, but still, force
of over 500 men is quite a little army
and makes c. P. Diaz feel its effect
The car wheel foundry has been closed
down. but the car repair shops and
the machine shops are still operating
A great deal Of coal for the Mexican
National lines is sent from here, and as
a result. the division is pretty busy and
many cars used in hauling coal find
their way here for repairs William
Hollis. general fuel supply agent for
the National lines, has his headQuar-
tiers here and looks after the interests
of the company in this city and sec
ton
One of the matters under Mr.. Hol-
ISIS jurisdiction is the real estate of
the railroad company, formerly owned /
bv the old Mexican National railway !
And this is another example Of what II
was necessary for a railroad to do
few years ago to get competent help
When the line was built, and for a
long time afterwards. it was necessary
10 bring all the skilled help from the
states O..
remain here the company had to see
that they were provided with comfort
able homes As a result, block after
block of land was bought up by the
company. on which substantial homes
were erected. These were rented to
the employees Of the offices and shops
and even a firstclass American hotter
was erected and operated. Along the
streets through the reservation in
which these homes were built, the
company planted trees and set out /
grass and this is still the prettiest !
section of c. P. Diaz, but very few
American employees of the road now
reside there-most of them are Next
cans. who are capably filling the po-
sitfons held a few years ago exclu-
sively by the Americans
True. most of the Mexicans who ara
now working as mechanics in the
ehons got their training under the
Americans who were imported years
ago. but they are now competent ana I
It shows the rapid advancement of the |
Mexican people. It is the same thing |
along the railway lines. In many in
stances the operating officials, even the |
division superintendent, are now Mex
leans. whereas a few years ago it was
considered next to Impossible TO oper- /
s+a a train with any help other than 1
Americans. If Mexican got to be |
~brak ke" or a fireman, he thought he /
was doing well. Now there are Next |
can engineers. conductors, operators
and even roadmasters, division super
intendents and dispatchers- Most OF
them have got their training under
the American officials, but they have
proved apt pupils
The Mexican government is giving |
to natives in making pro-
motions. Orders have gone out that
Americans are not to be Disseminated
against insofar as removal is con-
cerned. but in promotions, all things
being equal. preference is to be given
70 the Spanish speaking native. And
this is being done Many American
railroad men in Mexico see nothing un-
fair in this Many think it is hard to
.Gose out after long service with the
Mexican roads, but they say they would
not expect TO see foreigners kept on
American roads if they ever became