The oasis., 1911-01-14
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT.
A Contrast.
Mexican Herald. l


 On the occasion of the inaugura- ton of this the eighth term to the presidency of General Por6rio Diaz, it seems appropriate to present, graphically, few facts and figures which illustrate strikingly, but only partially, what the Diaz ad- ministration has done for the country.
 We will give the figures first, in regard to which it is to be observed that it has not been possible to compare in all cases the same years, as was to have been desired.
 We have preferred, in general, as the first term of the comparison, a year, fiscal or calendar, near to the year 1884. rather than the year 1876 or 1877, for it may be said that it was the beginning of his second term on December 1st, 1884, that Porfrio Diaz initiated that brilliant program of admins trative achievements which have won for him, by universal consent, one of the highest places in modern constructive statesmanship.
 In regard to some important features 1t has been impossible to secure figures, but it may be said that the development along lines not here mentioned has been as great as along the lines mentioned.
 FIGURES.
 The following figures speak for themselves, showing the great con trast between the present and the past:
 Revenue of the Federation ........ $50 66O, ASA
 18S4-S5 Treasury Reserves es................,.... Nil. Imports. ts......................$ ,6S4 (gold) Exports. ts.....,...............$ 46,67OS45 (silver)
 1877 Railways .6l7 kilometers or sSs miles.
 l877-7S Telegraph lines T. ,lS6 kilometers or 4,l3l miles Capital of Chartered Banks .......$ fl, ,O5O,OOO
 lS84-85 Production of gold ld...................S l,804, ,66S Production of silver........ .......$ 33, ,226 ,24l
 1s97-9S Units of mail matter handled ....... 1l2 slO, ,S9O
 1908 1909 Revenue of the Federation ........$ 19S, ,775. .5lO
 l906l909 Treasury Reserves. ...............$ 76022, ,5ll
 l9O9-l9lO Imports s....................$ 194,857.547 (siver) Exports ts...................$ 26O O,O56,2S (silver) Railways. 24.559 kilometers or l5,26O miles.
 1910 Telegraph lines. Over 5O,OOO kilms or 3l O6s mls.
 1910 Capital of Chartered Banks ........$ l76 600, ,O0O
 190S-1909 Production of gold, 44SSl 62O Production ot silver. 77,O76,O97
 1908 1909 Units of mail ma tier handled ...... POP 000, ,000 |NoTE.-Qn connection with the comparison of revenue 1t is to be noted that 1908-1909 was a bad year, having been the period of time in which Mexico felt with greatest acuteness the effects of the crisis which began in the United States in the autumn of 1907 and was world. wide in it's repercussion. The revenue of the Federation in l9O6-l9O7.was STA 14,3S6,122).
 FACTS.
 The main services, or adminis- trative achievements, which Mexico owes to President Diaz number 15. In some cases these services cover one or other of the points to which the figures given above refer.
 Above all other services, how ever, is this, that Diaz has given to his countrymen the inestimable blessings of peace and security for life and property.
 Had Diaz done nothing else, that service alone would entitle him to the lasting gratitude of his country men, for peace and order were what the republic chiefly needed for the