Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-11-01
TO / RECLAIM LAND
Madero Government viii Redeem
Promises to People.
Some Of the Intended Reforms In
Mexico Delayed Because Of Oif.
f1cuities Encountered In q
Technical Way.

Mexico City.-One OF the plans
evolved by the government through
its department Of public welfare. cob
onization and industry. to provide
arabic lands for division among the
people-one Of the chief planks Of Ma
deros revolutionary Platforms un'
der way. 1t contemDlates the drain
age and filling in Of the great bed of
Lake Texcoco, some two and half
miles east Of the capital. The work
will require five years, it is estimated,
and an expenditure Of 100000 pesos
($2, 100000 gold).
Thousands of acres Of waste land.
now partly covered with water to the
depth Of two feet, and the remainder
either useless swamps or dry, sandy
stretches. tho latter giving rise to the
frequent dust-storms which sweep the
capital In the dry season; are to be
reclaimed. This land, according to
plans which are being worked out, 10
to be placed on sale to individual Mexi-
cans at the lowest possible figure and
on long-term payments.
Lake Texcoco is the last remnant Of
tho once mighty body Of water which
covered the plateau and completely
surrounded the ancient city Of Memo
chitlan, now the capital Of the re-
public. Legend has 1t that somewhere
In its depths the treasure Of Monte
yuma was sunk to prevent its falling
Into the hands Of fernando Cortez.
It has been searched for in vain dur
Ing the hundreds of years since tho
conquest, and 1t is regarded as pos
sible, though hardly probable, that 1t
will come to light in the conversion Of
this lake bed.
Three bills. intended to put into ef-
feet some Of the reforms which were
promised to the people by President
Madero, were not presented to the ma
tional assembly because a great deal
Of difficulty was met in the legal tech
picalities Of the measures. Two Of the
bills dealt with the land question and
the third was an employers liability
act. The drafting Of the bills also
have been in the hands Of Carlos Ire
10Y Lerdo de Tejada. attorney gen.
eral Of the federal district.
President Madero's cabinet has de.
cided to cancel fishing concession on
the east and west coasts Of Lower
California and the western part Of the
mainland granted to the Mexican Elk.
ploration company by the Diaz govern.
ment. The company 10 British. and
will receive $15o.O00 indemnity. 1t
Is stated that the canceling Of tho con.
cession has nothing to do with the
late japanese talk, but 10 aimed sim.
ply to return to the people on the
coast the fishing rights Of which they
had been deprived and which in many
Instances constituted their only means
Of livelihood.
The inherent politeness Of . Mexi-
can referee nearly annulled the effect
Of q clean knockout during q recent
boxing match in tho capital. Incident
ally the row which followed the UNI
pire's decision in favor Of the Mexican
pugilist, who was pitted against Jim
Smith. q negro. has resulted in an Of
fetal ban on the sport within the fed
eral district.
Circumference Aguilar. the Mexican.
went through the ropes in the fourth
round. The umpire, carried away by
the calamity which had befallen the
peoples idol, rushed to his aid and
was about to try to put him on his
feet.
1.-THE count! The count" yelled
half hundred Americans in the audi.
ence.
Several seconds later the umpire re-
membered his Office and to all appear.
ances Aguilar was down and out. The
umpire then declared the blow foul
because 1t had been struck after the
gong sounded. It was pointed out that
the gong was broken and could not be
heard. but the decision stood. Tho
meeting broke up in fuss that threat.
ened to result In further f1sticuffs.