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

own also the hot els and theaters. the
most of the brewerieS and about half
the insurance Investments, although
we have twice az much of the latter
as they.
Americans have $4,000, 900 invested
in timber lands, $4,000. 900 in live
stock. over 9,OOO,O 900 in factories and
a little more than $4,000, 900 in whole
sale and reta stores. Our Oil invest
ments are put down at $15,0OO,00O
and our rubber industries at the sa1le
amoun
One Thousand Million Dollars.
Adding the various items, the grand
total Of American ownership equals
the enormous sum Of $1,O57,77O,O0O.
This is Consul Letcher's estimate. Ac-
cording to the figures given by Sir
Edmund Walker, president of the
Canadian Bank Of Commerce, at an
annual meeting of that bank, regard
ing it's Mexican branch, our possess
sions are equal to one thousand mil
lions, of which 35 per cent are in rail-
ways, As per cent in mines and the
balance in other industries. Sir Ed
mund Walker estimates the British
investments at 500. 900, 900 and the
French. German, Belgian, Dutch and
Spanish at less than half that.
I ave met other men here who say
that this American estimate is too low,
and that the property our citizens own
is nearer a billion and a half than one
billion, and I have talked with some
one billion. In speaking of Consul
Letcher's figures. Mr.. G. r.. Hudson,
the vice-president Of the National
Railways of Mexico, thinks the rail-
way estimate should be cut down, as
a great proportion Of the stocks and
bonds of Mexican railways are held in
Europe. He says the impression as
to their American ownership comes
largely from the fact that they were
placed there by New York bankers.
and therefore credited as American
investments. He also thinks that the
estimate as to American ranches and
farms is too low. 1t should be some
thing like $40, 900. 900 rather than a
little more than $4,00O,00O, n also
that the item of mine ownership is
probably a little too high. There is
no doubt, however, but that our hold
iEgs in Mexico are enormous and
that they will continue to increase SO
rapidly as to make it imperative that
the present state Of brigandage and
revolution must be done away with.
Foreigners in Mexico.
AS to just how many foreigners
. there are now living in the Mexican
republic, the number has materially
decreased since the revolution began
several years ago. 1t hen numbered
in the neighborhOod Of 100000, o.
t which it is estimated there were from
t $4,000 to 10000 Americans, abour
10000 Spaniards and perhaps abou
5000 each of British and Germans
This might now be cut down to one
!, half the abov figures. There are a
present here something like 1O,00t
: G~uatemalans, 5000 Italians, 3,O0t
: French and perhaps an equal numbel
of Cubans.
The Spaniards. who rank second i,
: number to the Americans, control tn,
grocery and grain trade Of the repub
: lie. They are also largely profession
: al men and they act as clerks, book
S keepers nj farmers. The Frencl
: have the wholesale and retail DIR,
goods stores, and they own most o
the cotton mills, having in that in
s dustry alone something like $780, 900.
: OO0. They have put more than SO,
e 000,00O in tobacco factories. TIL
Germans contrib the hardware stores
e and they have many plantations. TIL
English have some large mines, bi
investments In timber n farms,
: large part of the oil business an
IS many tramways and electric ligh
plants. There are many British sale