Evening journal., 1920-01-24
BY DR. J. A. WATTS.

GAN ANTONIO, Tex, Jan. PA trip
% Mexico today is a problem Of many
angles. When commissioned 10 invest
igate conditions below the border for
The Evening Journal my 1rst prob
lem was getting a passport.
Federal district clerks and county
district clerks are authorized 20 receive
applications for passports But one Is
told 1t will take 30 days 10 set a reg
ular passport and at least five days 10
get an emergency passport. One must
have letters and afildavits showing
what takes him to Mexico.
Arrived at Laredo, the port OF entry
into Mexico that / chose, / found that
by applying to the immigration ON
clals instead Of the federal court
could get a single trip passport with
much less fuss and / took that route.
Mexican time Is half an hour faster
than American central time and was
unable 10 complete my arrangements
10 enter Mexico in time TO catch the
single train a day from NuevO Laredo.
the town on the Mexican side. u left
at $50 a. m. American time.
was able. however. 10 utilize my
time In Laredo by arranging to have
my baggage transferred. crossing to
the Mexican side and exchanging Amer
lean for Mexican money, reservlng ac-
commodations on the train and acquir-
ing all Information which would pre-
clude any poss ,bllity Of my missing the
next days train.
was struck by the excessive charge
as compared 10 the Mexico ! had
known seven years ago. for converting
American gold into Mexican money
This Is due % Mexican gold having
a present premium over our money. IL
cost me 50 90 TO exchange $50 In Ameri-
can gold for $50 pesOs-commonly sup
posed to be worth 80 cents In Anieri-
can money. Such an exchange rate
in the days before the revolution was
,inheard Of but appears 10 be the mo-
dus operandi Of the money exchang-
ers. or as known 10 Mexico. coyotes.
Passage through the customs house
from the American 10 the Mexican SIDE
seems 20 me 20 need some attention.
II is unfortunate for all travellers be
tween the two countries that the rail-
road communication between the Unit
ed states and Mexico Is entirely cut
on mean relative TO the passenger
service, the freight being handled IN
some cases in bonded cars or enure
trains owned by corporations doing
business in Mexico.
Because passenger coaches are not
permitted TO cross the International
Railroad Bridge the transfer Of pas
songers and baggageN Is accomplished
:
wide the opportunity FOR excessive
charges and most travellers, unfamiliar
ss most Of them are with conditions
on either side OF the border. prefer TO
nav these excessive chargs than run
the risk OF missing trains or losing
their belongings.
Charges Are Steep
I ran across one case OF family hav
ing six trunks being forced 20 pay s25
FOR having themselves and their lug
raye hauled across the Rio Grande.
In addition they lost q hours time
As an example OF how less than car
load lois Of freight are handled take
the following:
It cost SIS TO transfer across the
river a shipment Of half barrel OF
motor oil. a lve-pOund tin OF cup
grease and some graphite, all worth
only s3i gold. The charge In this case
was small because the customs trans
FER agent who handled Il was In the
employment OF the corporation which
the shipment was going.
The switching back and forth OF
freight and passenger cars on re-
ciprOcal basis would eliminate most OF
the cost and delay now occssioned at
Laredo and make for less friction be-
tween Mexicans and Americans.