The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-04-08
Mexican Conditions Worse Than Ever
Especial Correspondence Engineering and Mining word)

Few appreciate the Importance and
value To the Mexican country of The
indefatigable efforts OF our American
mining companies to keep their mines
and mills running under The most Try
ing circumstances, and in spite of al
most insurmountable obstacles, re-
gradless of cost. They keep thousands
and thousands of men employed, and
are the greatest source of revenue To
the government, as we'll as the great
lest source of export value, providing
spite of the increasing eNactions by
way of taxes and special contrib
lions. In Jalisco, they have just levied
a loan of 100000 pesos, and the man
ager of the Cinco Minas has just re-
ceiNed a telegram to the effect that he
is called on for 100000 pesos. lie has
just paid out some $4,000 to get sup
plies down there by special train, and
as much more in taxes on bullion and
concentrates exported, in order TO keep
the several thousand men and their
families of that district from starry
|ation. Another received a message to
the effect that he must pay 1000 pesos
for the agency which was
looted and has been out of commission
for over a year.
Another 1000 pesos has been levied
on the with threat of seiz-
ure if not Immediately paid. Railroad
rates are now being collected on a
gold basis equal to about four times
the old rate. An effort Is being made
to assess export taxes on ores and bull
lion at 10 per cent of the total gross
value--just double the present rate,
and four times the rate of d year ago.
tation is irregular uncertain and in
efficient. Two cars of ore shipped last
November are still lost and three
cars shipped in December have just
this week arrived at Chihuahua.
These efforts on the part of Americans
are of course not entirely from unset
fish motives, for although it is impos
sible for them to operate at a profit,
they feel that their plants depreciate
less if kept running, and also that
there is much less danger of their
being looted or destroyed. However,
1t is certainly discouraging work and
they deserve great credit.
The writer met George C. Carrothers
and Duval West-special personal rep
resentative of President WilsOn-last
night They have just been inspect
ing the territory dominated by villa
and have just left the latter at Tor
reon. Surely we are in an anomalous
position. Mr. CorrOthers returns to-
morrow night to Torreon. He states
that Gen. Villa has made thorough
cleanup of Jalisco and as far south
as Queretaro, and that he will now
devote his attention to the northern
Observation-Disclosures and Tampco. He
must have the coal from the Monclova
coal mines and the fuel oil from Tam
pico before he can do anything else.
Once he has these, we look for ma
terial Improvement in all the section
where we are operating, and believe
that we can then count on fairly
normal railroad service. Mr.. Vests
testimony is to the effeC' taai h" found
tranquility prevailing all through the
Villa territory, and that he Is giving
full protection to all foreign Interests,
1t would seem that Villa is pretty
sure to obtain military control of the
entire country before long. The gen.
eral belief among foreigners, and the
majority of natives, is that he offers
the only possible solution Of the rev
|olutionary troubles in sight. The con-
trast between the guarantees given by
Villa and the supposed guarantees of
the rest of the contending parties is
very 81 eat. However, the complicated
problems involved call for the highest
possible craftsmanship, and the high
est patriotism 10 well as great intel
ligence and experience. SO far, fail
to see these qualities, and consequent
ly have little hope for the future. The
foreign colonies and the prOpertJ hold
ing natives are practically ruined. and
the business of the entire country Is
demaralized.
Under the best of conditions, it will
take years for recovery, and 1t is a
terrible shame and overwhelming re-
sponsiblity for those who have stood
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