The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-14
n, MARK =.

:, MARK $. Watson, special Investigate,
o THE SuN and, Chicago Tribune.
~ MARK =. WATSON.
To him who knows the enormous pains
taken in the construction Of the Mexican
,aIways and the dominant role the ad-
mirably constructed and equipped trafic
arteries played in the swift development
ofMexico's great there is none
.nons the many tragedies Of the south
Or, republic more appalling thar that Of
roads.
Destruction may he said to have
rarted with a comparatively proper mo-
tive. the interruption Of pursuing troop
This swiftly gave way to
,be programme OF destroying whatever
helogned to the hostile Government. and
MS last gave way long age to destruc-
ton for It's own a
An army officer who a a few hours
before seized an automobile by his mill
,ary authority. and used II for the most
outrageous sort Of B~acchanal,an revel.
assured an American friend that where
as the other faction was made up Of
bandits. his faction was inspired in all
il did by the high ideals Of revolution"
Inc Ndfnt nlku lutdiS udNt utplTcu
the demolition Of the roads Witness the
vrecking and burning Of passenger
trains in tunnels. the loosing. OF a pas
Wnser train on the grade Of the Vera
Cruz line and allowing II to plunge
downward to disaster. the fiendish MUIR
der Of innocen,s and the burning Of such
OF the baggage and freight as was not
wished. in addition to the irreplaceable
and invaluable rolling stock.
Equipment In Ruins.
OF the 72s locomotives Of the National
Railways l3s are still disable and 30
Of them are under repairs. OF the
is.te2 freight cars only 3.400 are known
to be still hanging together. OF the
Mexican railway Vera Cruz line)
equipment. seven Of the mountain. loco
motives out of tw%enty-nine are in SER
VICE, and a like number of the seventy
used for level haul.
The fine sleeping cars. built especially
for the tropics. with extra wide bodies
and cold air compartments In the roof.
have been taken chiefly as private cars
for the generals, but two remaining for
third Of the 1911 locomotives and 1892
cars OF the Interoceanic. with its sub
salaries. the Mexican Eastern and Mex
inan Southern, remain.
The railroad revenues which had been
growing rapidly under the Mexican de-
velopment and which generally had been
turned back into properties instead Of
being distributed as dividends, OF course
began to dwindle when the revolution
started. The complete disaster did not
come. however, until the properties were
taken over by the Government. and the
patriots tNex.) were put In charge.
The lnteroceanic vas largely English
owned. When the holders of the $lc.-
$50, 900 I and Az per cent. debentures
were forced under moratorium to get
along without their interest. II was on
the statement that 3S25.s33 Of the loss
could be charged to the American occu-
patton Of Vera Cruz. or rather the re-
prisals which accompanied. This Is one
OF the interesting claims which the
United States must fight.
The loss to the National system. built
BY American capital, Is vastly heavier.
because there was more to be damaged.
Its trackage covered HAS kilos. or
1888 miles. It's property investment was
t27.sS2,lsS pesos. or $4,000, 900 United
States gold. With the present depreci.
ated currency the investment amounts
to 5000. 900. 900 pesos. and the damage
done. theoretically. the Mexican Govern
ment must remedy That Job would tar
we lIt hiotiNs
presses. but the situation is worse. for
equipment dealers and builders insist
on having money which is negotiable.
The loss TO the holders Of 100000 zoo
OF United States currency securities IL
impossible to gauge. Net earnings had
been running at Sl2.500. 900 UNITED
states) "A year. and this has been en-
t!rely lost, and will continue lost until
rebuilding OF the load n resumption
Of industries. =. cash outlay Is neces'
sary for the notes issued to pay ono
interest. the whole amounting already u
tl5,00o,00O United States gold.
II business could now be resumed, over
tracks in perfect condition. with equip
nent IN ~rerfect condition, and with nor
nal business assured-none OF which IL
poss:ble-the old rates would have to bt
Increased by 600 per cent. az ID result o,
tae collapse Of exchange. merely to pay
expense
II fixed charges should be higher. az
be necessary. AND this is not a good slim
illus 20 the general industry. whose pros
p"r!tv was TIM initial condition to TN
whole theory. When one tries TO SCI
where the railroads are coming out N
moves IN a wearying circle.
As ~ actual property loss. the mos
consrr,dtive estimate by railroad experts
T7't'''t'N' Nv NV So''f
present nearly a billion pesos. OF this
tie damage 10 the National was abou
81 per cent.
TWO-'hlris OF the ties must be replaced
Over m, 200 miles. Practically 100 pc
Cent ~ the bridges must be repaired
and IN that mountainous country the!
ae many, there being left only a feV
bridge and the stone culverts. Nearl!
a. tine buildings must be replaced. AM
ne telegraph equipment. The losses II
rollins stock have been mentioned.
Even tn shops have been damaged
t"s' % Monterey being entirely de
t''oycI by fire, along with the station
Tu' larger shops. at Aguascalientes
Sni.n .a1 advanced almost TO the stag
Nn.r' lew locomotives could be bull
pt"0'o.Iy, are still working. but the in
jurE =" machinery. ir~replaceable withou
hgn .us', has been considerable.
The National Railways owned tn
u-Nl"llrau and the Vera Cruz an
ls'HluH- railways, Thus, save for a 10
kIp stretch on the Tehuantepec, ther
W. -,'tu.. over it's owned and cor
nn|'I .u"s from points on the Texa
b"'I'r 10 .\yutla, Guatemala.
On" Line Ceased 20 Pay.
Il-' i'fore the revolution the govern
mont Ne striving to force the Nations
$3.50 to take the government owne
IenuaN'cpec railway, long used by Lor
'"HdraF to transfer freight between IN
Atlantic port of CoatSacoalcos, In IN
pay " 'ampeche. and Salina cruz, "