The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-24
Is
MexicO'S
Greatest
Governor Works Miracles for
His People With
Good Schools.
by Mark Larkin.)

MeH'ca". Lower California. Juno %
outside OF President f,r,,,,, ,,,
"o"N no more dominant person.
,se ~ az OF Mexico than Colonel t.stc
Dan Cantu. military governor oc ~
"or.hern district Of Lower Ca,iforni,
Snroudcd hy veil OF mystery ia
personality Of this man fires tho ~
asination. During the six year. ~,
nus nation has been bathed In b,ood 10
mas heid aloof from warfare and b..
."a"s "'a.co campaign of upbuildinr
WHEN promises to make his state tbc
most progressive in Mexico.
ne mas surrounded himself with tho
most intellectual people that hi. r.
tion affords. His military aides AFRO
graduates of Charultcrer. Mexico.s
west Point. His constructive crc;
heers arc college bred and rcnora,,v
speak several languages. uc is o,,;,i,
10 ADOPT and apply modern methods IN
al mes or activity within his district
~ French extraction. Colonel cantu
came 10 Lower California from Mex
lco CltS 20 take command OF tho
troops In the northern district and
iater succeeded to the post OF roy-
crnor
Country Was Waste,
~ that time the country was rrac-
tlcaIiy waste. Some deyclopmcn,
work had been done by American CON
ccssionarics. but for the most part tho
country was desert. With the build :
ing OF the Imperial valley irrigation
system an American enterprise IL be-
came possible to irrigate the Tmpcri,,
valley on both sides of the line lower
California then took her first stcn
forward.
Being a rocky. dcsolate thnly-
populated district, there was no means
whereby the state government could
raise necessary revenue for much
needed improvements. When Cantu
first took hold there wasn't even a
road In his domain. When he wanted
to go from Mexicali, on the east side
OF the state. to Tiaiuana and En-
sencda on the west. he had to use
highways OF Uncle Sam.
Americans Helped.
The coming of American capital
made it possible to develop Lower
California. Cantu taxed Americans
for the privilege of operating south of
the border, and used the money thus
obtained to build up his community.
In order to engage in business or in
dustry below the line it is first nee
essary to buy a concession from the
governor and also to pay n tax on
production. In addition to this a heavy
export duty is charged
Claiming unjust taxation, planters
south OF the border recently appealed
to the American government for help.
The matter was taken mp through
George Carruthers. special agent of
the state department. and an adjust
ment of the duty on cotton was OBJ
tained. An export duty OF approx
mately so bale Is now charged. but
next season new schedule will
greatly reduce this levy.
Helps People Much.
No Mexican official ever did more
for his community and people than
Estcban Cantu is doing III Lower Cali
fornia. Besides spending money in
thousand and million dollar allotments
for civic and state bettermcnt, he
sends a considerable portion of his
income to Mexico city regularly. to be
used in rcfinancing the Mexican gov
eminent.
cantu is the only Mexican governor
who has been able at all times to pay
all Of his officials in gold during the
revolution.