The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-08-20
RAIN AND REVOLUTION HAVE
PUT THE PRICE OF FOOD Be
YOND REACH OF POOR.
SITUATION EXTREMELY GRAVE
Government Is Trying to Relieve the
Distress, But the Treasury Is Low,
and Customs Receipts VIII Fall
S2,5OO,OO Short.

government is Trying 10 heIlSNS llS
Distress, But the Treasury Is Low,
and Customs Receipts Will Fall
$2,5OO,OOO Short.
MEXICO CITY-Weather condi-
tions coupled with the revolution
taking men from the fields and in
terrupting railway communication
have caused a marked increase in
the cost of living in Mexico. The
meat supply, which came from the
grazing lands in Chihuahua, Coahuila
and parts of Sonora, has been cut off
for many months, and when it be-
came possible to ship cattle it was
found that they had either scattered
in the hills or been killed by the
rebels for food. The work of corral
ing and driving the cattle is still a
perilous one, and few men are avail
able for the task. The cost of meat
has accordingly risen to fully twice
its ordinary level.
The grain question is still more
serious, since it is upon the cereals
that the vast majority of the people
depend for sustenance and since it
is therefore upon the poor that the
burden falls most heavily. In many
parts of the country the lands have
been allowed to lie fallow. This is
partially due to the inability of the
land owners to get workmen; but it
is also due to the fact that many
wealthy land owners have resorted
to this means to force the poorer
classes to relinquish their demands
for a division of lands. The corn
crop of last year was one of the best
Mexico has known in many years,
and there are still large quantities of
grain in the storehouses of the large
land owners. This is being held for
what is believed to be the inevitable
rise in the price of that staple.
Yaquis Ruin the Crops.
The chick pea crop, which for
years has been one of the richest
outputs of the state Of Sonora, is
failure this year, due in part to the
weather and part to the activity of
the Yaqui Indians. The loss will
run into millions. The governor of
the state estimates his personal loss
at half a million pesos. The bean
crop, another staple, will be poor
where it has been planted on account
of early frosts and heavy rains.
Early in July the valley land at
the northern extremity of the plat
eau. which is known as the national
granary," was flooded until in places
the water reached a depth of two feet
in the open country. The corn crop,
then Just beginning to come up, was
ruined, and the wheat crop, some of
which had not been harvested on &C
count of the disturbed condition and
discomfort among the men, was also
lost. This was followed shortly by
early frosts in the valley of Mexico
and in the Sierra Juarez. Then came
a series of hail storms which further
damaged the crops.
Importing Grain.
So grave has the situation become
that the government has been forced
to take cognizance of it. The city
council of Mexico and the chamber
of commere are attempting to reach
A solution of the difficulty. The
method adopted under like circum-
stances by the previous administra-
ton was for the government to i'm
port grain free of duty from the
United States and Argentine and sell
it to the people from government
distributing stations at cost plus the
expense of transportation. This
method has been fought so far by
two powerful influences, the lane
owners and the department of the
treasurer. Many influential persons
whose crops have not been affected
or who have grain in store are bring
ing all their influence to bear.
The treasury is low and at the
present time it is estimated that the
customs will fall $2,500,000 short
of the revenue derived from that
source last year. This at a time
when the government is much in
need of funds for the pacitication OF
the country is a strong argument.
At best, however, it can no more
than delay the necessary legislation
and it is certain that the government
will not at this time take the risk
of letting the people, already impoV-