The Holbrook news., 1911-06-02

S3, 3,OO0 square miles and has popula- ton of about 35O,000 A long noun tain chain, the Sierra Madre, occupies the western part of the state, and the eastern is high arid tableland and gen erally sterile in the absence of irriga- ton. The state is rich in minerals, including gold, silver, copper, lead, tin and cinnibar. The great silver mines of the Sierra Madre were formerly very productive and some of them are again being operated by American cap ital under modern mining methods The chief wealth of the people con sists of herds of cattle, horses and mules The ancient city of Chihuahua is the capital of the state, It is on the Mexican Central railroad and has a considerable population. It is proud of its great stone cathedral, which cost almost a million dollars. For merly 1t was simply sleepy old ca thedral town, but In recent years, the city of Chihuahua has taken on new life through the investment of Amer ican capital in the vicinity in mining enterprises. The nearness of the city to the American border also has made it the headquarters for the revolution ists.
 Sonora is the northwestern state of Mexico, bordering Chihuahua on the west. It covers 77,0O0 square miles and a large part of it's area is prac- tically unknown The Sierra Madre range breaks up the eastern part or the state, making an almost inaccess- ible home and stronghold for Indians bandits and revolutionists. The high valley and plateaus to the west of the range have a rich soil fertile only un- der irrigation. The northwestern part of the state is a desert similar to that in Arizona Sonora, like Chihuahua, is rich in mineral wealth, and some of its mines of gold and silver have long been world famous. Mining Is the only important industry, although there are large herds of cattle on the ranges in the north. The population is about 250,000, composed largely Of Indians who retain their old customs and languages and are practically in dependent of the Mexican government
 The condition of master and man in Mexico today is about the same as 1t was in the United States before the | Civil war, except that slaves were property in the United States, and therefore treated as such, and bought and sold as any other commodity. In Mexico the condition of the peon is different. A peon Is the offspring Of an intermarriage of either full blooded Indian and Aztec or vice yer sa. The Yaqui Indians, the holders of the gold treasure of Mexico, the most warlike and heroic natives living in Mexico today, claiming to be descend ants of the unhappy Emperor Mon- tezuma, are well educated and have been explained by John Smith, of Cal ifornia, for years, but they would be designated by Castilians, the aristoc- racy of Mexico, as peons. What coolie implies in China, the word peon means in Mexico-that is, laborer. If yon should go to Mexico today and pur- chase a tract of land either for mining or agricultural purposes you purchase not alone the land, but likewise the hu- man beings dwelling thereon. The neons living on the land before your nurchase cannot be elected from the land by the new purchaser. If you require their labor you must pay them their price for all labor rendered to you. The alcalde of your village or hacienda will see to it that they per form SO much labor for so much money. Each family of peons living on the property have their own little match of ground that they cultivate, and they generally have broncho or pony, chickens, game cocks and milch COW and don't care two cents if they are working or not But if they work for you. they are absolute lv faithful Should you develop your property and need more help than you have already on our estate, you can get all the help that you need for very little money. You must remember al so that what little your help needs for breadstuffs is growing on your land, with very little market for it, unless if he coffee, rubber or the sap of the mesquite. which is called pulque or aqnardiente, a horrible drink. The American by nature is a hard master, and generally he drives himself at such a terrific speed that the peons either run away claiming that their master is the son of the Devil, or they try to emulate him as best they may.