The Cairo bulletin., 1912-08-12
WEATHER AND.
REVOLT BOOST.
COST-Of-L|V|NC
Food Prices Almost Double Since
Mexican Rebellion
Started
GRAIN QUESTION MOREsERIoUS
General Election Of Senators and
Deputies Arouses Storm
OF Protests
GRAIN QUESTION MOREsERI0US

hCAlNI 1870 @NNNsn'
conditions coupled with the reFolu-
ton taking men from the fields and
interrupting railway communica-
ton. have caused a marked increase
in the cost of living in Mexico. The
meat supply, which came from the
grazing lands in Chihuahua, Goa
hula and parts of Sonora, has beer
cut off for many months, and when
| ii became possible 10 snip cattle. II
was found that they had either scat
tered in the hills or been killed BY
the rebels for food The work Of
corraling and driving cattle is still
perilous one, and few men ar
available for the task. The cost c
meat has accordingly risen to full
twice its ordinary level.
The grain question Is still NOR
serious, since it is upon the cereal
that the vast maiorry or the people
depend for sustenance and since il
is therefore upon the poor that thf
burden falls most heavily. In man,
parts of the country the lands hayt
been allowed to lie fallow. This is
partially due TO the inability Of tn
land owners TO get workmen; but it
is also due to the fact that man
wealthy land owners have resorteC
to this means to force the poore
classes to relinquish their demand
for a division of lands. The corr
crop of last year was one OF the
best Mexico has known in man
years. and there are still lars
quantities of grain in the store
houses of the large land owner.
This is being held for what is be
lieved to be the inevitable furthe
rise in the price OF that staple.
The chick pea crop, which 70
years has been one of the riches
outputs of the State of Sonora, is
failure this year, due in part to tn
weather and in part 10 the actiyit
of the Yaqui Indians. The loss vii
run into millions The governor o
the state estimated his personal los
at half a million pesos. The bear
crop. another staple, will be poo
where it has been planted, On &C
count of early frosts and heav,
rains
Early in July the valley land a
the northern extremity OF TIL.
plateau, which Is known as "the ma
tional granary," was flooded unit
in places the water reached dept
of two feet In the open country
The corn crop, then just beginnin
to come up, was ruined, and til
wheat crop, some or which had nc
yet been harvested on account OF tn
disturbed condition and disconten
among the men, was also lost. Thi
was followed shortly by earl
frosts in the valley or Mexico and /,
the Sierra Juarrz. Then came
series of hail storms which furthe
damaged the crops.
So grave has the situation beeom
that the government has been forced
to take cognizance of it, The cit
council Of Mexico city and tn
chamber Of ecumerce are attemnt
ing to reach solution of the di.
ticulty. The method adopted undo
like circumstances by the preyiou.
administration was for The govern
| ment to import grain free OF dut,
from the United States and Arsen
tine and sell it to the people from
government distributing stations a
cost plus the expense of transporta
ton. This method has been tough
SO far by two powerful influences
the land owners and the department
OF the treasury. Many Influential
persons whose crop has not been af
fected or who have grain in store ar
bringing all their influence to bear
| The treasury is low and at the pres
ent time it Is estimated that the Gus
toms will fall $2,500,0OO short O
the revenue derived from that sourc
last year. This, at a time when tn
government is much in need of fund
for the pacification of the country
strong argument. AT best
however, 1t can no more than della
the necessary legislation and it /
certain that the government will no
at this time take the risk of lettin
the people, already impoverished b
war, 60 hungry.