Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-14
THE MEXICAN CENTENNIAL
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

lief in universal education, and declares
that cit is our foremost interest We re-
gard it as the foundation of our prosper
ity and the basis of our very existence
There is nothing that makes Americans
who have interests there more hopeful
Of Mexico's future than this awakening
spirit of universal education.
No other nation on earth has such a
wide range of interest for the traveller
as the republic
Great Diversity of Mexico. With
of Climate Offered. r rss mountains m .hs
realms Of perpetual snow and its low
lands 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 of vege-
tation from polar to tropic seas. There
are ffty-twO varieties of mammal quad
rupeds in the republic, BOB kinds of fowls,
% species Of humning birds, 3j3 other
kinds of birds, 1860 varieties of insects,
43 species of reptiles and a variety of
plant life so great that the scientists have
not yet catalogued them all.
There are now about 10000 miles of
railroad in Mexico; a large portion of
United States. The mineral wealth of
the republic is estimated to run far into
the billions, and nearly every important
mineral known to the mineralosst is to
be found in quantities that will meet the
demand of the miner for centuries to
come. AS yet the problem of conservation
is not engaging the attention of the
Mexican authorities. It is still question
of pioneering and unlocking the great
sterehouses of treasure that remain all
but unopened.
~
1t would be unsafe for any one to be
carried away by the literature of pro-
motion con-
Abundant Opportunity corning Mex
in Farming Regions. naa nations ues
and other agricultural opportunities, as
very few Of them that are advertised are
likely to be productive of dividends in
the near future. Yet, for the pioneer in
the farming regions of Mexico there is
abundant opportunity. The tablelands Of
fer climate that for uniformity and de-
ightfulness Is excelled nowhere, and
there are millions of fertile acres that
are available for cultivation. 1t has been
shown that oranges may be grown in
Mexico and sent to New York reaching
there two full months ahead of the Calf
forn1a crop, and that lemons flourish the
whole year round. 1t will be recalled that
at the end of the Boer war Mexico offer
ed the Beers a great stretch of territory
in the state of Chihuahua. Many accepted
the offer, and the Boer colony in Chichua-
hua is now one of the most interesting
farming communities of the whole repub-
lie. Among those who came over was
Gen. -Viljoen, and a sturdy race of Viii
joens is growing up. Only lately Senior
Enrique Creel, late ambassador to the
United States. stood godfather for the
latest arrival in the Viljoen family.
One of the influences retarding Mexican
growth is the peon and his pitiable condi-
ton. He lives in dirt, squalor and igno-
rance. but is as ready to assist a friend
as he Is to resent a wrong or avenge an
insult. He. works like a Trojan if en-
couraged. but shirks like a Hottentot if
bullied He has ambition to be rich
or to climb the ladder of intelligence. AS
long he has his tortillas well baked
an6 plenty of>pulque to drink he cares
little for progress Or the betterment of
his own condition.