The Washington herald., 1910-04-24

For the purpose OF acquiring as much
as possible. If not all OF the public lands
IN Mexico. Brazil Bolivia. Peru and other
Latin American countries, a gigantic
combination Of capitalists has been ef-
fected under the laws Of Arizona 10 be
known as the South American Explolta-
ton and Colonization Company. Ac-
cording 10 the Mexico Daily Record, the
concern is capitalized al 100000 gold.
but there is no doubt that far greater re-
sources are at its disposal.
II is the intention Of the organizers
Of this project TO operate through a
number Of subsidiary companies, that
in Mexico being already organized and
in operation under the name Of the
Mexican National Land Scrip Company.
Similar companies will be formed in
every other country south Of the Rio
Grande.
Nothing IN the history OF mankind
seems 10 parallel this undertaking. the
great COnQuests Of antiquity not excepted
Compared with It the greatest modern
land deal. the acquisition Of Rhodesia by
the ChartereS Company OF England,
fades into utter insignihcance. The pub
lie lands IN South America form still
more than two-thirds Of the entire area.
being in Mexico, the best settled Of them
all. a little over one-foUrth OF the whole.
Must Appease Governments.
/ How the various governments will take
I 10 this enterprise is not known, al
though the necessary concessions are be-
/ ing considered by some OF them. That
all or any Of them would IN considera-
( ton OF a mere bagatelle-for such the
present purchase price Of the land when
considered with its ultimate value is
part with their public domain is not
thought possible unless corruption figures
largely in the matter. The ambition OF
the men behind this movement IS bound
less and their identity may be said 10
| be unknown az this time.
The men whose names appear IN con-
nection with the scheme seem 10 be mere
Il agents Of a vast combination OF
money, none Of them having much repE-
| tation in American or Mexican finances
/ The more prominent Americans idenu-
fed with the syndicate are Frederick e
4 Kenaston and G. T. Proper Of Mn
Ineapolis. Orlando a. Robertson. Edward
r. Young. attorney general Of the State
Of Minnesota, and Joseph =. Wood OF
St Paul
That there is a great opportunity wait
ing for this combine cannot be denied.
Mexico alone holds 100000 acres OF
public lands which could be acquired for
about p cents an acre or even less
Most Of this land is well timbered, has
a fine soil. is rich in minerals and is for
the greater part located in fine climates.
Practically the same holds true in tie
case Of the other Latin Americas.
Colonization n Pretext
While the alleged intention OF the syn
dicste is 10 acquire these lands for coIoni-
zation there can be no doubt that its
real intention IS 20 hold these lands as
an investment and pocket the mere
ment. Il would be quite impossible 70
even settle small fraction Of the land
20 be acquired. because the resources
behind this move. while they may be
great would not be great enough 20 effect
this Settlement by Indians is out OF
the question for the reason that much Of
the lana mas Drtl occupied uN LAen AoE
centuries without much good resulting
= therefrom. and is doubtful whether
enough white farmers could be found,
even 10 make an impression on the vast
tracts For these reasons the holding Of
the land would be exploitation in its
strictest sense, for the land instead Of
. being held for gradual demand ard for
posterity at a nominal price or as free
grants would be the object of private
control and all which that coEdition i'm
plies.
Whether II viii be possible TO carry
through this gigantic scheme is stiu ar
unsettled question for a great deal OF
opposition on the part OF sane Latin
American statemen will have 10 be met
The concession asked for in Mexico IS
as yet subject 20 the action Of the Mexi-
can congress and is liable 10 be defeated
? in the end. An act OF that body dated
| December Is. 1909, may have been some
what Of an anticipatory move for il
p withdraws from the market all public
lands until all surveys have been recti-
fed by a competent commission.