The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-09

that this American estimate is too low,
and that the property our citizens own
is nearer a billion and Il half than ono
billion And | have talked with some
men who put the total at less than one
billion In speaking of Consul Letchei's
figures. G. r. Hudson, the vice-pres
dent of the National Railways of McXi-
co, thinks the railway estimate should
be cut down. as q great proportion of
the stocks and bonds of Mexican rail-
ways are held in Europe. He says the
Impression as to their American owner
ship comes largely from the fact that
they were placed there by New York
bankers, and therefore credited as
American investments. Tie also thinks
That the estimate as to American
ranches and farms is 700 low II should
he something like Sl0.OO0,00O, rather
than a little more than $4,000 600 and
aiso that The Item of mine ownership is
probably little 200 high. There is no
doubt, however, but that our holdings
III Mexico are enormous. and that they
VIII continue to increase so rapidly
as 10 make 1t imperative that the pres
cnt state of brigondage and revolution
must be donc away with
Foreigners In Mexico.
AS 10 Just now many foreigners there
are now living in the Mexican rcpub-
nc the number has materially decreas-
ed since the revolution began. several
ncighborhood of 10000 Of which Il is
estimated there wero from 10000 to 40
0OU Americans. about 10000 Spania rds
and perhaps about 5000 each of British
and Germans. This might now be cut
There arc at present here something
IKE 10000 Guatcmalans. 5000 italians,
",uov Ffench and perhaps an equal
me Spaniards. who rank second i'm
number TO the Americans control the
grocery and grain trace OF the repub-
Nc. They 3re also largely professional
men. and they act as clerks. bookkeep-
ers and farmers. The French have tile
Wholesale and retail dry goods stores.
and they own most of the cotton mills,
having IN that industry alone some
thing like $50. 100000. They have put
more than S3,000,060 in tobacco factor
les. The Germans control the hard
ware stores. and they have many plan
tations Tie English have some large
mines. big Investments in timber and
farms. large part OF the oil business
and many tramways and electric light
plants, There. are many British sales
agents in Mexico, representing English
importing houses.
what Some Americans DO.
our mighty investments give some
idea of what our people are doing south
OF the Rio Grande River. a great num-
Der Of those who have Investments are
cII lic pT0tiilt 10 take care OF them.
There are hundreds of American miners
and scores Of American civil electrical
and mining engineers. There are
American farmers with American fore
men and American coffee planters and
many fruit raisers There are a large
number OF Americans engaged in the
OIL business. not only in the properties
belonging to the citizens OF the United
Statcs. but as oycraeers, we'll drillcrs
and laborcrs in prospecting tho oil
territory and caring for the petroleum
Every large city has it's American col
ony and you can find an American
boarding house. usually run by an
American woman. in every important
town. There are Il number OF such at
tho capital. and they are usually bot
ter than The hotels, with much lower
pricos.
The big railroads are largely man
aged by Americans. although of late
years the engineers, conductors and
brakemsn have bSen replaced by ma
tiyes. There are many American pro
fessional men, aid especially doctors
and dentists. 7 am told there are two
American physicians at the capital who
have practices worth $4,000 a year,
and ] know OF numerous dentists from
the United States who are putting peas
OF silver amalgam into the mouths OF
MeMxicans and taking pumpkins OF
gold out Of their pockets.
AS far back au ten years ago. ouI
consul-Reneral to Mexico City cstimat-
ed that there were 900 American COM
panies and capitalists Who had invest