Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-08-25
MUCH AMERICAN
MONEY IN MEXICO
Vast Wealth Invested in Mines.
Oil Fields and Rubber
Plantations.
TOTAL over BILLION DOLLARS
Investors In Railroad Securities Hard
Hit by Conditions In Recent Years
Millions in Bonds Floated in
New York.

New YOrk.-The question as to the
total amount of American and foreign
investments in Mexico has been much
discussed in Wall street since the sit
uatiOn on the border reached crit.
cal stage. Estimates run from $1,000.
100000 to $1,5OO,OOO,OOO, and most
banking houses with Mexican connec.
tons are agreed that the lower figure
was altogether too conservative.
For many years, in fact since the
Mexican war, American capital has
poured into northern Mexico because
of the enormous mineral resources of
the states of Sonora, Chihuahua,
COahuila and NuevO Leon.
Many millions also have gone into
the sections around Tampico, where
the great oil wells are situated, and
great sums have been invested in the
rubber plantations of Tampiche and
Yucatan.
Public Utilities Investments.
American capital has also gone into
public utilities in large amounts, and
American bdnkers and their clients
have very large Investments in the
Mexican National railways and their
subsidiaries.
The national railways of Mexico
alone have stock issue of $3.50, 100000
and bonds aggregating $495.OOO,OOO
The Mexican government owns So per
cent Of the outstanding capital stock
and a substantial amount of the
bonds, and the remainder is owned In
the United States. Great Britain and
France. The prepOnderant interest.
however. in the minority stock Is held
abroad. IT is said that about 20 per
cent only is held In this country. This
Is also true Of the bonds.
French investors have been the
hardest hit by the financial difficulties
of the Mexican railways resulting
from the series of revolutions that has
taken place in the last four years.
Cash dividends and interest have been
suspended for several years altOgeth-
er, although some Of the obligations
have been paid In scrip.
1t Is impossible to enumerate all
the mining properties in the northern
part Of Mexico which represent Amer
lean Investments. The Greene-Cana-
nea is one Of the largest Of these. 1t
has a total capitalization Of $60,OOO,-
600, practically all Of which is owned
in the United States.
The American Smelling and Refin-
ing company has enormous invest
ments in mining and refining plants
Mexico. 1t has principal
refineries at Monterey, Aguascalientes
and Chihuahua. These three refineries
alone have an annual metal capacity
Of over 1,6OO,OOO tons. The invest
ments Of the company south of the
Rio Grande probably represent total
Of no less than $25,OO0.OOO.
Mexican Petroleum Investments.
Phelps. Dodge & Co. Also have very
large investments, although majority
Of their properties are north of the
border. The Mexican Petroleum COM
pany, whose plants are entirely south
Of the Rio Grande and principally in
the Tampico district. has a total CAPT.
talization of $72,OOO.0OO, which con-
sists of S4S.OOO,OOO in preferred stock,
81, 100000 In common stock and S12,-
100000 in bonds. The company is con-
trolled in the United States. although
a large interest is held in Great Brit
ain.
The Southern Pacific railway owns
the Southern Pacific railway of Mexi-