El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-06

w YHAT has the year 1915 in store
w for revolution ridden Mexico?
If the answer to that oft re-
peated question will be Peace" and
any reliance can be placed upon the
truth Of the answer, Ell Paso viii be
nightly pleased.
The reports by customs officials OF
the greatly increased business done
with Mexico during the year 1914 after
Villa carried the war from the border
to the interior of the republic. give an
inkling of what might be POSSIBLE if
war should cease altogether through
out the whole of Mexico.
Eject Of Partial Peace.
Even with heavy falling Off in eX-
ports of lumber and cattle, the two
great staples Of MeXiCO's export trade
the aggregate Of business done to and
from Mexico in 1914 was more than
double that done during the previous
year
Much Of the increase noted, particu-
larry in the matter of exports, was due
to the shipment by way of FL PasO Of
great quantities Of cotton and guayuie
which, hitherto, had either been manu-
featured in Mexican ills or had been
shipped to Europe by way of TampicO,
NeracTu2 or some other seaDOrt
FL PasO a Gotten Market.
FL PasO, for time, was one Of the
great cotton markets Of the world.
thanks to the difficulties thrown in
the way Of Mexican manufacturers and
to inability on the part of producers Of
cotton to get to market by way OF the
sea Present indications are that the
Mexican cotton crop Of 1914 Will re-
Quire to be handled through the port
OF FL Paso as was the crop Of the pre-
ceding year, and for the same or
similar reason. The same is true of the
guayule crop of last year.
Muck Mining StiII Done.
The customs reports also show that,
contrary to the generally accepted
notion regarding the conditions pre-
vafling in the mining districts of the
Mexican republic, the production %
gold and silver at least as reflected
by the exports of those metals in 1914
was greatly in excess Of the exports
of the same metals in the year before
This leads to the opinion that, despite
the general belief to the contrary,
mining is far from being at a stand
still I'm Mexico.
Hore For Better Conditions.
Notwithstanding the good showing
reflected by the figures taken from the
annual report Of the collector of Gus
toms at FL PasO, there are many
reasons why those interested in the
Mexico should hope for greater de-
gree OF peace south Of the Rio Grande.
There is stiN room for Improvement
down there and until there is estab-
lshed a feeling of confidence, a GREATER
security, it is hardly to be believed
that foreign capital can be induced TO
seek investment in mines or other in
dustrial enterprises in that country.
One Good Effect of War.
One of the good effects Of the tur-
mOil Of the past four years upon FL
Paso has been to cause many in
fiuential Mexicans TO become acquaint-
ed with FL PasO and its advantages,
which may lead to closer business re-
latiOns after permanent peace has been
restored. There are hundreds. il not
thousands, of Mexicans who know, as
2 result of the recent disturbances,
that FL PasO is on the map and good
port through which to ship products
OF their ranches and farms; who, UP
to this time. had but a very hazy con-
ception of where the town really was,
to say nothing of it's advantages as a
gateway to and from their native
country.
As a result Of their enforced ex-
periences they will hereafter trade
through FL PasO and in this respect the
city has gained wonderful prestige.
Lumber Country To Open.
With the completion. within the next
80 days, of the switchback around the
Cumbre tunnel, which was destroyed
just about a year ago. communication
will be restored between the great
lumber mills of the MADEIRA lumber