El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-16
u S. JARS IN MEXICO WOULD HELP
TRADE; NEED SAFEGUARDS

THE succession Of Zach Lamar Cobb that the United
States raFoad administration lend freight cars and
other rolling stock to equip Mexican railroads viii win ap
proval here Il made with the mere idea Of tae-
tang communications for the benefit Of Mexico. It's
main purpose is to provide means whereby Amecans may
get their goods into the interior Of Mexico and may also
receive other merchandise and products Of varied character
from Mexico.
II Is variation Of the suggestion heretofore offered
frcm several that american freight be sent
into Mexico but that idea for American firms to fun
ish their rolling stock. Naturally only firms this
side with large capital to buy cars If they did rot
their OWL could do anything OF that kind It is being
done BY American firms in Mexico There smet
ing concerns for instance which would have had to shut
down for lack Of transportation had they been unable TO
furnish their trains.
The government railroad administration IN Mexico Is
unable to provide enough rolling stock for trade demands
The years revolution the destruction Of many loco
motives and cars, the reduction Of many junk
status and the destruction Of many costly bridges and
miles Of track Bridges and traekage have been repaired
but It has been impossible so lar Tor the government Of
cals charge Of the railroads to equipment
Tebuh repair rolling stock equip the roads
at al adequately Moreover much Of the train equipment
which Mexico does possess necessarily must be given over
su TO troop transportation and the Of mill
tsry supplies. When Gen. Jesus kgustin Castro comes
to JuareE from Chihuahua City he and his troops and their
equipment require trains When Gen Fortunate Zuazua
went into northwestern Chihuahua to engage Martin
Lopez Epfanio Holgun and their bandit gangs trains
we've necessary And the engines and freight and passen
gsr which these movements required thereby
dersd unavailable for ordinary business transportation
from and to the border This Is unavoidable Of
mat any business at all may be earned on IN Mexico Il is
essential TO curb bandit depTsdstons and to do that the
use Of railroad facilities is necessary.
So in the predioament in which the Mexican railroad
administration and the shippers Of both Mexico and the
United States md themselves with respect to Mexican
trade the suggestion that Mr. Cobb has made the best
yet offered there is TO be any relief at all It be
prompt and large scale TO meet pressing requirements
The plan that the shippers furnish their rolling stock
IS pointed out previously, Impractical except IN iso
lated instances For Mexico to have engines and cars
manufactured would also be Impractical financially and
because Of the long time il would require
One possible drawback TO Mr. Cobbs plan visible
might be shortage Of cars in this country According
Nh Cobbs estimates only one-sxtieth of per cent
Of the rolling in this country would be required to
be loaned to Mexico to bring about satisfactory Transport
tatiou conditions south Of the line That ought to
increase very much whatever Inconvenience shippers
this side suffering for lack Of for shipments within
she United States while It undoubtedly would be Of very
great assistance in Mexico
At the time If rolling stock were to be sent from
the Unied States into Mexico, contemplated IN Mt
CobBs proposal should be done only under busnesse
arrangements. We know, for example, that trains On the
Mexican Central between JuaIez and Chihuahua City
very apt to be dynamed dered and burned OF other
wise destroyed damaged Such incidents, caused by
bandit operations becoming less frequent as time
passes but they DO The is true on the rail
roads running ont Of Tampeo and the VeraeruzMezico
City line L the past year there has been relatively
lttle destruction Of rolling stock the Mexico North
western and the Southern Pacific Of Mexico lines Also
the Mexican government does not have the best facilities
1or repairing engines and and the depreciation is
therefore rapid than It ought to BE-
If rolling stock is sent into Mexico therefore, the Mez