The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-02-04

ings of s3se. He then took up his old
job at So a month and will work
at that until the next contemplating J
season. He spent his money TO buy
n lot at Brownsville. and his next
years savings will build him a house.
A Walk Into Mexico.
IT cost me just one nickel 10 ge,
INTO the Mexican republic. This was
the toll over the wagon bridge which
crosses the Lilo Grande ints Nuevo
Laredo l was stopped on the Mexi-
can side by three officials and asked I
II | had any guns or other ammuni-
uon, and In returning one OF our
customs officers X me if l had
any dutlabie goods il my clothes.
n difference in the prosperity Of
the two republics was apparent as
soon as / left the bridge. The first
man l met was a blind beggar who
asked me for aims. and L met more
poor people as | came IN into the
town n went hrouo', the narrow.
unpaved streets. Laredo, Texas, is a
city or the rich. Many Of its PEOPLE
AVE money to burn, and they are
raising gold dollars on the lands
which lie all around them. The peo-
pie or NuevO Laredo seem to be Just
the reverse. although they are sur
by a country equally good.
The town is gone TO seed. and its
O'1No oAANhp ONCIco Will StuttO
and painted all the colors Of the rain
Dow, are battered and worn. The
only sign OF active life was in the
plaza, where a gaily uniformed band
was playing excellent music. I saw
soldiers here and there, and now and
then passed one off, the federal in
fantry patrolling the streets.
Killed for His Hat.
I understand that there is need
OF he federal and local police just
now almost everywhere. The unset
tied conditions as regards the govern
ment nave made the thieves and other
criminals more courageous than they
nave been IN he past. Brieandage
Is common in many districts, and
travel In the mountains is almost
everywhere unsafe. There are many
thefts, and crime, which could ke
kept in check when the country was
quiet, now goes on unpublished.
AS an instance Of this, the other
| night a rich Mexican, the owner Of a
large hacienda, was standing on the
2 steps or a Pullman car. He was Some
thing of a dandy. and wore d beauti-
l full sombrero, embroidered with silver
5 n loaded with a heavy silver cord.
2 Such q hat is worth 325 or more
The train had stopped at a wayside
station, n the man was STANDING
y looking out toward the east, smoking
: a cigarette. 1t was evening, and the
n electric lights on the car made bright
I the silver trimmings Of the sombrero
They caught the eye of q peon, who
was sneakmg up on the westward side
of the train. and he, climbing the
t steps. stabbed the man in the back
f Snatched the sOmbrero and got ava,
before he could be apprehended. The
American who saw this tells me tn.
stabbed man died.
8 I have been warned by severa
o travellers to keep the curtains Of IN,
berth down when riding at night owe
: the Mexican railroads, and when
6 asked why, the reply was that severa
rocks had been thrown into the car
aimed at travellers who sat by tn
e windows. One such traveller wa
e sleeping. The stone scattered tn
y pieces Of glass all over him. and Gu
Is a cash or SO In his face. His eye
It were saved by the fact that he wa
sleeping when the stone came.
q I would say. however. that thes
Is cases T extraordinary. Tailroa
travel in Mexico is undoubtedly NOR
s. dangerous just now than in the past
s. n hOld-ups in certain districts ar
s common. I understand, however, tina
81 many OF the roads nave been run
q ming their trains uninterruptedly dur
ing the past year, and hope t
1 traveI over he greater part Of tn
IS Mexican republic without being rob
l. bed. I shall start south 10 Aontere
/ tomorrow, and will write of condition
20 and other things as I find them.
- Fortunes in Onions.
II Before leaving Uncle Sans col1ntr.
a however, | want to give you some c
the big stories the Texans are pcurin
~ into my ears. They say their Stat
50 is growing faster than the gourd {
o old Jonah. Right here in Laredo the
10 have proved TO my satisfaction thu
N they are making fortunes in onion
~ Five years g the land s~urroundin
=, the town was practically a deser
"a and it could re bought for from ST.
in " 90 pei = NJ" Sou hafc
~ There are already more than ten thol
- sand acres under cultivation, an
u much Of this Is in yarden nafrhe