Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-11-23
GIANT TASK OF
RECONSTRUCTION
BEFORE MEXICO
Country Is War-WOrn, Hungry
and Nearly Bankrupt.
WANT AMERICANS TO RETURN
Government Urges Foreigners to Re.
open Mines and Restore Industries
People Making Sincere Effort to
Return to Peace and Prosperity
Vllla's Haunt 10 Still Isolated.


Villas Haunt 10 Still Isolated.
Northern Mexico again Is safe in
spots, and almost sane. Bandltry no
longer Is profitable Towns and ranches
nave been looted and reloOted until
there Is nothing left worth taking.
Foreigners, except the Germans, who
were driven there for safety, have
abandoned the country to It's fate and
starvation faces the whole people,
Unable to get food from the United
States, Mexico now has begun to raise
Its own food. Order has been restored
In many parts Of the republic, more
especially In the states Of the north,
and men who for six years have given
no thought to peaceful vocation now
are working In fields, mipes or fac
tories and are contributing their labor
to the efforts of the government to
restore normal conditions in the coun-
try,
World conditions make the task Of
rehabllltating Mexico a gigantic one
The country has no finances, and be-
cause of the war cannot borrow where
formerly money was easy to obtain.
The Carranza government, failing in
every effort to float loan, has ap-
pealed to the patriotism of the people
and has started campaign for a
popular loan which all classes are
supposed to help raise, workers by
giving a portion Of their wages, sol
dIerS by rellnquiShing one days pay
each month and mining and ranching
companies, merchants, manufacturers
and bankers by submitting to increased
taxation.
Progress Is Still Slow.
Apparently sincere effort is being
made by MeXiCans generally to return
to peace and prosperity but the diff
cultes are admittedly great, and re-
ports from interior states show that
progress is slow. The greatest hand-
cap is the refusal of American and
British mine owners to reopen their
properties. Despite claims set forth
by the Mexican governments publicity
department that all Amcrican-ownod
mines in chihuahua have resumed ac-
tiyty most Of the American mining
men who formerly were in Mexico now
are In Arizona, New Mexico or on the
border, operating mines on the Amcri-
can side or waiting for Mexico to lift
the heavy burden of taxation which
h0s been placed upon foyeisn-owneG
mines by the Carranza government
The cry of Mexicans for "MeXiCo
for MeXicans' has been answered.
There are few foreigners in Mexico,
although now there is apparently a
disposition by some former foreign
residents of the republic to return
there.
Americans who have returned from
trips of inspection into the interior
say anti-Amerlcan feeling appears to
have subsidized and that In Its place
now Is a desire to get the American
money which once made Mexicans
prosperous.
The states of chihuahua and So
nora always largely dependent upon
foreign money and foreign energy to
carry on their industrial activity are
bidding now for return Of the Amer
leans. In Sonora the notorious Cam
era de los Obreros or labor council
which proved so troublesome to Amer
lean mining men by Its demands has
been abolished by Gov. G. G. Soriano
In an edlct just issued at Hermosillo.
In place of the obnoxious council has
been substituted committee Of con-
Citation appointed by the state govern
ment which has none Of the arbitrary
powers Of the former council.
Sonora mines, notably the Cananea
properties the largest In the state,
show no signs yet Of resumption, but
Mexican officials say they have been
encouraged to believe that general
resumption of mining Is shortly to be
expected.
In Chihuahua and Durango, the
principal mining states Of the repub-
lie, few foregn-owned mines are
operating, and the great chihuahua
smelter of the Guggenheims still Is
idle, officials of that company saying
there is no present intention of re-
opening the plant, which normally
gives employment to 5000 men in smell
ter and mines.
Villas Haunt Still Cut OFF.
Durango, where is Francisco villa,
the bandit leader, with the remnant of
his forces, still is closed to either for
elgn or native efforts at restoration
Although believed to have but few
men left Villa still is feared and his
presence in the mountains of Durango
where raids upon villages, ranches and
mines are being made, makes Ameri-
cans chary of returning there, and ma
tive Mexlcans, except those enjoying
immunity through former attiliation
continue to give Villa and his men a
wide berth.
In border Mexican cities Iiestas and
public entertainments of various kinds