The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-02-15


home to King Philip, the Mex
lean west coast has lured the
restless pioneer. First 1t was the ad-
venturer, scattering his bones over the
trackless hills; then the gold hunter
and mner-and finally the farmer and
cowman, building up homes and for
tunes. II is one of the worlds garden
spots, this rich west coast; n country
of singular charm, of striking contrasts
and varied opportunity. Nowhere on
earth Is life more easy. AS one idler
cleverly phrased II, "You can kick your
breakfast Off tree, any morning In
the year"
Here, with the advent of peace, far
reaching progress must inevitably
dawn. Linked with California by rail
and snil and with two hundred Ameri-
can millions already invested, the fu-
ture of the west coast is peculiarly
tied up with that of the United States
"a question of big trade and mutual
human betterment, says a contributor
to the Los Angeles Times.
1t is a Kaleidoscope, colorful trip
the train ride from the border south,
into West Mexico. Scenic, startling
and full of bright, buoyant life 1t is,
after you have passed Guaymas and
plunged into the primitive Yaqul coun-
try.
Flocks of screeching, squawklng par
rots flap nolslly overhead. Skulking
coyotes twist oddly away into the palo
verde thlckets. In smoky scattered
camps along the railway, Yaqul troops
-patrolling the line against their wild
brothers of the hills-are on duty.
You see them making sandals from
green cowhlde, or cutting up beef
into shreds and hanging the meat on
stunted mesquite trees to dry. From
their outposts comes the dull rattle of
the tomtom. "That Yaqul drum,v one
Mexican officer told me, always gives
the enemy an earache."
At the crowded adobe stations,
where your train halts leisurely to load
beans, hides and Grated chickens, n
horde of tattered. but bewltching
bright-smiling ninas come shyly up,
peddling tamales, oranges and odd ma
tive dulces.
American Influence Grows.
Not so long ago the Spanish impress
lay strong on the west coast-a sur
vivnl of that romantic age when treas
ure-laden galleons sailed between
Acapulco and Manila. But now the
boats that drop anchor and unload at
Acapulco. Mazatlan and Guaymas
pnme from San Ernn ncisco-or Santtla
And the trains that crawl down the
long coastline from the Arizona border
are loaded with American machinery,
and American miners, cattlemen and
farmers. Only of late has this been
true-the ruil-head reaching Tcpic less
than ten years ago. But already YAM
kee customs, habits, influence and Inn
plements are making themselves felt ;
slowly, but hopefully.
Even certain reform waves, popular
IN the United States of America. have
swept over the border and engulfed the
Mexicans. Licensed gambling on the
west coast Is practically abolished.
Bull fights are giving way to baseball.
One day In Hermoslllo saw soldiers
NuTIyinS utHllJoiluS VI ltQullu-
once universal alcoholic drink-carry-
ing them into the street, and smashing
them In the gutter. Pungent smells
floated In the air. "What is II you
do2" / asked native sergeant. "El
Estado es seco" (the state Is dry) he
said, punching his bayonet into an.
other demIjohn. Prohibition had been
decreed. Today you can't legally buy
, n drink from Nogales TO Mazatlan (nor
Illegally, either, without risk of pris
, on.) 1t is so In some other parts of the
republic. Order is better, drunken
|, brawls thing Of the past. Tequila
the old curse Of the land, is effective
ly suppressed.
Life and Sports.
Q Daily life among foreign merchants
n and planters on this west coast Is no
lnllke that Of the colonials In India
China or the Philippines. Servants
are numerous and cheap. Fruits ant
!, vegetables grow in abundance. No
body hurrles. Nervous breakdown
and worry" headaches are unheard
g of.