The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-01
Mexcos New Schemes for Observation-Disclosures and Irriga
BY FRANK G. CARPENTER.

4
n R.ANY OF the plans which were
SM originated by President Madero
49, have been adopted By his sue
cossor This is especially so as to the
new movements for building up Next
co. The Department of Public Works
and that of Agriculture are being car
iyried on along the same lines, and the
gradual subdivision of the lands and
the giving them back to the people
has been put forth as one of the poll
cies OF the Huerta administration.
Lands mt Few Cents AN Acre.
A short time before President Ma
dero was killed called at the Depart
rient of Public Works and had o Ions
talk with Senior Rafael Hernandez,
who was then a member of the Cabt-
net He Is 4 relative. by marriage, OF
the Madero family, Is a man OF great
ability and has had largely to do with
the origination of the movements here
as to the public and other lands. When
Iscalled upon him he was making plans
for the reclamation OF such lands which
had been coded by Mexico to certain
foreigners. who had not complied with
their conce ssions. Said ne:
mexico has awarded tens of mil
lions OF acres of excellent land to out
siders at few cents per acre. We
have given conce sions TO companies
lie lands and to look into the rights OF
the squatters. In some cases the re-
ward for this trouble has been one
third Of the waste lands. This work
has extended over a number of States.
and In connection with II. the little to
millions OF acres has passed from the
government AS consideration for
surveying 100000 acres in Lower
California, one American company got
In ~ m
also the right 10 buy the rcma ming
5000. 900 acres at a cost Of about 2
cents gold per acre. payable on time
without interest That company now
owns something Ike 100000 acres.
which is fitted for colonization. Its
lands are some of the best in Mexico.
They are already worth a vast sum.
and their value Will be increased by
the completion OF the Panama Canal.
after which the lands will probably
be colorized
Other concessions of great value
have been granted in other localities"
Senior Hernandez continued. and so
much of our best lands have been lost.
What we are doing. however, is 10 go
over the concessions and see whether
the concessionaircs have complied with
the terms upon which they took over
the lands. If they have not done SO. We
are able to get the lands back. nd we
are doing so. We have already been
able to recover $4,000. 900 or 10000. 900
acres. and we shall probably get back
as much more. This will make some
thing like 100000 acres. or consider
ably more than two States the size OF
New York or Pennsylvania"
But that must relate only TO the
lands forfeited by companies which
have not carried out their part of the
bargain?"
Yes relied Senior Hernandez. 1T
is only where the companies have not
carried out their contracts. Where
they have complied with the laws and
regulations their property is safe
as il could be anywhere in the world.
and we would not have IL otherwise.
We are ready to stand by our contracts.
although they may have been bad ones
AT the time they were made
Millions In Chewing Gum.
''How about other concessions outside
OF lands?"
Many concessions have been granted
for almost nothing covering property