Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-16

may feel deep interest in the affairs
of our sister republic below the Rio
lGrande, since it is there that American
trade reaches it's high water mark of
supremacy. The Mexicans get 66 per cent
of all their imports from the United
Estates, and send 80 per cent of their ex-
lports to this country. England and Ger
many both have come to realize that
American interests are supreme in Mex
lean trade circles, and practically are
iconceding that field to the United States.
That the United States Is taking ad-
vantage of this occasion is shown by
the fact that nearly Loco. 900 of Amer
lean capital Is invested in Mexican en-
lterprises. The rod OF wealth from north
of the Rio Grande is shifting the rock
lof undeveloped resources in Mexico and
making a stream of golden treasure to
iflow from 1t. There are more than 3d.
loco Americans in Mexico today, and the
Mexican government, seeing that they
are doing so much toward making that
Icountry a land OF present opportunity,
IFS extending them a hearty welcome.
Few people realize that nearly one
half of the entire territory of Mexico
lies north Of the southernmost point of
the United States, and fewer still know
that practically half of this territory is
on tablelands so high that the climate Is
as cool as the most temperate part of
the United States. The country has a
coast line almost as long as that OF the
UnitsA States, although it's area Is only
about one-third as great. It's popu1a-
ton amounts to approximately 15,000,-
1000, and although education 10 beginning
to become general, more than 100000
of Its people can neither read nor write.
Longevity is characteristic OF the
Mexican. the last census showing that
there were 5000 who were over 80 years
of age. and 700 who were more than 100.
In gion there are 100000 Roman
Catholics, under the pastoral care of
5000 priests. Nineteen per cent Of the
population is white As per cent mixed,
and 3S per cent Indians. No race in
America today represents such an ad-
mixture of blood as the Mexican, In
whose veins flows Iberian, Semitic, Ham
lite, Gothic, Vandal Roman and Celtic
blood, to say nothing of the parent
stock OF native Indian and It's Aztec and
Toltec origin.
| II is the wish of General Diaz that
the present centennial year should wit
moss a great revival Of education In his
country To that end he has recon-
lmended that every state and municipali-
ty in the country signalize the year by
establishing schools and other instltu-
lions for the enligh tening of the masses
of the people. We are prone to forget
that Mexico was the very cradle OF
American civilization, that the first uni
versity In the New World was founded
in Mexico almost 100 years before the
Pilgrims landed at Cape Cod, and three
Hafn Ia Cfn NUN
was settled. That university had an I'M
broken existence of three centuries,
lacking two years, and Is to be reopen
ed during the present centennial year.
The first college on New World soil
was a venerable institution when Har-
ward and William and Mary wre found
ed. A. full 1000 years have passed
since Mexicos first cities were built,
and she had towns and villages and
white walled temples and palaces before
the Norseman skirted the shore of New
foundland and Massachusetts,. General
Diaz is in thorough accord with the
| american belief in universal educa-
wash bowls and bath tubs that have be-
ton, and declares that at Is our fore
most interest. We regard It as the foun-
dalton of our prosperity and the basis
OF our very existence" There is moth
ing that makes the Americans who have
interests there more hopeful of Mexico 8
future than this awakening spirit OF uni
versal education.
| No other nation on earth has such a
wide range of interest for the traveller
as the republic of Mexico. With Its
mountains reaching to the realms or
perpetual snow and It's lowlands lying
in the region Of greatest heat in the
| torrid zone, one may at one view behold
all the diversity of climate he would
find in going from the equator TO the
North Pole, and all the range or Vege-
taton from polar to tropic seas. Ihere
are So varieties of mammal quadrupeds
in the republic, 200 kinds OF fowls. ou
species of humming birds, 1853 other
kinds of birds, 1900 varieties OF IN
scots. az species OF reptiles and Varl'
n ETY. of plant life so great that the SCI
entists have not yet catalogueo theh ali
III 49,
II There are now about 10000 miles of rail-
II road in Mexico, large portion OF whlcf
i was built by capital from the United
y States, The mineral wealth OF the re-
4 nublic is estimated to run far into the
n billions. and nearly every important min
s eraI known to the mineralogist is to be
found in quantities that will meet the de-
! n,and of the miner for centuries TO come
As vet the problem of conservation is
not engaging the attention OF the Mex
lean authorities. 1t is Sun question oi
] pioneering and unlocking the great store
Z. houses of treasure that remain all pu'
unopened.
II would be unsafe for anyone to he
carried away by the literature OF promo
. ton concerning Mexican rubber plant
I ations and other agricultural opportuni-
. ties, as very few of them that are adver-
tised are likely to be productive of div
luends In the near future. Yet, for the
pioneer in the farming regions of Mex
| leo, there h abundant opportunity. The