The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-03-11

ing-Gringoes Versus
Unpopularity OF Americans-Big
Capitalizaiions Which Pay Big Mon
ey-Companics Which Own Towns
and Other Companies Which the
small Man Should Beware OF.
Copyright. 1913. by Frank u. car
MEXICO CITY.
Does Uncle Sam own Mexico?
The question is startling, but it is
one which the fingers Of destiny are
writing in letters of gold upon the sky
OF the financial universe. The answer,
Is:
NO. not now: but the time when he
will own il is already in sight"
This is Il foregone conclusion, and
1t is Independent of the peace or of
war. as the following figures will show.
We may not fiaunt our title in the face
of the world, and We may keep our
controlling partnership silent. But the
facts are that we already own two
thirds OF all the wealth of this coun-
try, and tina tit is "a question whether
our possessions are not already greater
thar those Of the Mexicans them
selves.
have before me a table of finan-
cial statistics which was transmitted
only last July to our government at
Washington by Consul Maion Letche,
Chihuahua. THIS gives al itemized
balance sheet of the wealth of Mexico
according to the nationality Of the
owners. Consul Letcher states that
his figures are those Of a mining en-
gineer OF long experience in the Next
can republic, mt that they are based
upon the reports of the Mexican ma
tional and state governments and
upon the directories and reports Of
business houses and Of the various
other industrial companies, banks and
financial institutions.
How MexicO's Wealth is Divided.
In this estimate Consul Letcher puts
the aggregate wealth of Mexico at a
little under $4,000, 900, 900, and he
shows just how the money Is divided,
classifying the investments as Next
can and as American, English, French
and other foreign Ow~nerships. OF the
$500. 900. 900 he gives more than ST.
0 100000 900 as owned by Americans,
and less than $500, 900, 900 as owned
by the MeXicanS. He puts the posses
sion OF the English at 1921, 1000. 900, of
the French at $143, 900, 900 and Of all
other nations at a little more than
$11S,00O, 600.
Just before the present revolution
airy trouble began American money
was rolling in here by the tens Of mil
ions a month. The flood is now DOM
med back by the unSettlee conditions,
but when peace and stability come it
will pour in aeain, and this proportion,
already two-fifths, will rapidly in
crease to the point where. considering
Mexico as a capitalized stock PROPOSE
ton. Uncle Sam will own by far the
majority of all the stock of the COM
pany. / leave the question as to how
far this will ultimately control the
politics and government of Mexico to
President Wilson and his Congress and
To the editorial writer.
Where Our Money is Invested.
IT Is interesting to know where the
American money is n how our in
vestmentS compare with those of other
nations. The following is based upor
the figures given by Consul Letcher
According to his statement, we owr
more than half Of the railroad securi
ties. Our railway stocks and bond:
have a combined value of $64O, 900, OO(
while the Mexicans, in round numbers
have invested therein only $4,000,
600 n the English $16S,00 900.
AS to the stock in Mexican bank.
and bank deposits, we have about $50,
900, 900 to Mexico's 1892, 600, 900, AM
In all the investments the French leai
us as far as bank stock alone is con
cerned. They have an equal amour
Of stock with the Mexicans,, the grea
surplus Of the latter being in banl
deposits only, which amount to abou
1000, 900.
Taking next the item of mines. tn,
Mexicans are pikers compared to tn,
Americans. Their investments in thei
W country amount to only $500,
600. while ours are equal to $223, 90,
900. an amount which more thai
equals three fourths of all the min
eral properties in Mexico. We hav
over two thirds of the smelling in
vestments. more than half Of the ne
troleum properties and many million
in lands. factories an dother indus
tries.
In Lands and Live Stock,
In timber lands, ranches and farm
we have $4,000. 900 to Mexico's $SS,
600. 900. while in cattle and other ly
stock their investments are more tina
five times ours. The Mexicans hav
large holdings in houses and persona
property: they do the bulk of the re
tail business, and they have $4,000
600 invested in various institution