Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-17

the river. The entire crew and about
thirty passengers were aboard. but not
one Of them was injured In the slightest
degree. When the water receded IL was
Of course impossible TO get the steamer
back to the river, and IL remained lodged
in the branches OF that tree until IL fell
TO pieces from decay. The owners re-
moved all the machinery and equipment.
and people I'm the neighoorhood took away
a good deal Of the hull for fuel and build
ing material There are no more steamers
seen at Brownsville Occasionally enc
comes up to the mouth of the river. but
most OF the merchantmen OF these days
draw too much water to get over the bar.
There are several gasoline launches ply
ing up and down. and sometimes they
tow barees loaded with freight. An in
ternational commission which Ia fixing
the boundary has houseboats to live In
and launches to do their work with. but
they are f1at-bottom crafts and do not
draw more than eighteen inches or two
feet Of water.
Mexican Side Uncultivated.
The Mexican side OF the river is uncu-
uvated No attempt has been made to ir-
rigate II. and vast tracts OF land may be
purchased at a nominal price Already
several cnterprising Americans have
bought ranches as big as counties in the
United States. and expect sooner or later
that they will he Of value. But there is
nothing doing I'm the northeast corner OF
Mexico. not even agriculture.
The Mexicans have seen the Americans
Guild irrigation systems on the northern
side OF the river. which have made the
land worth as much as $40 an acre,
while on the southern side it goes beggtnG
for 30 cents an scre. An American spec
ulator bought . tract Of 10000 acres for
20 cents an acre only q few months ago,
and 1t is claimed that every inch OF the
q n Of
There has been no demonstration on
the Mexican side with regard to the
water rights. which are. OF course, very
valuable. Nor has there been any nego-
tiatton between the two governments on
that subject. The Mexicans are, Of
course. entitled to one-hslf the water OF
the Rio Grande. and farther west at FL
PAso. where the river comes out OF the
mountains. the farmers on the Mexican
side are demanding their share. The
United States reclamation service. which
IL building q reservoir about 100 miles
north Of FL Paso to store the flood
waters Of the Rio Grande, has entered
into an arrangement with the Mexicans
by which the Agricultural interests OF
that section are amply protected, sno
eventually some arrangement OF the same
sort will be made down here. In the
meantime the farmers along the Gulf
Coast railroad will have the exclusive
use OF the water.
Extending Gulf Coast Road.
II the present revolution had not
broken out, gangs OF workmen would
already be engaged in extending the Gulf
Coast road down through Mexico to
Tampdco, Vera Cruz. Coatzacoalcos. the
northern terminus OF the Tehuantepec
railroad at Merida. the capital Of Yucca
tan. B. r. YoAkuM, chairman OF the
board Of directors Of the Frisco railroad.
and promoter OF the Gulf Coast road.
who has been responsible for the great
development I have been telling you
concession from the Mexican government
for a line huggtng the coast the entire
distance from Texas to the Guatemala
border, Just as the late Mr.. Hartman
had concession for building a similar
line along the Pacific coast OF the re-
public. The Hartman line is already
finished nearly to Manzsnillo. and will
be connected with the Mexican Central
lines at GuadaiaJara IN few months
Then it will be possible to go by rail
direct from Los Angeles or San Francisco
to the City Of Mexico along the Pacific
coast. Mr.. Yoakum had his money
ready and had made contracts tor con-
struction material when the present dis
turbances began, and, while they have
never been serious on the gulf coast or
in any Of the eastern states OF Mexico.
1t is not considered advisable TO enter
upon 50 large an undertaking until peace
is entirely restored. II is expected that
construction work viii begin es soon AZ
is re-established:
There IL no revolution around
although the insurrectos.
almost the universal sympathy OF the
people, and the population OF Browns
Vile, which is At least two-thiros
are strongly IN sympaans
with any movement that VIII upset
the present government.
Diaz in Brownsville.
After Diaz escaped from Mexico In
1855 he took refuge in Brownsville. and
lived here in the Stillman house sor
several months. as I have already told
you. His sympathizers came in such
crowds to confer with him and Gen.
Gonzalez his right hand man. that the
Of the United States COM
PEELED him to leave. He crossed the
river to the San Pedro ranch. nine miles
above Brownsville. on the Mexican side,
where Don Sabas Cabasos, the owner.
and one OF the richest men in northern
Mexico. loaned him $4,000. which was
expended for arms and ammunition. As
soon as the time was ripe DiAx organ
lied q little army and marched on
where the garrison sur
rendered without firing shot: Con-
zales. who was in command OF the rev.
oners f Hfs pseliow-to~nsmeD Wer.
ready to receive him and with their
assistance DiaS organized a force OF
several thousand men. marched on
Monterey and then to the capital
After serving himself for four years
Diax made Gonzales president because
the constitution did not permit him to
have Q second term Immediately after
the first. When he succeeded Gonzales
he changed the constitution by remov.
ing that obstruction, and has occupied
the executive chair for more than thir.
tY yAara Several citizens OF MatamO-