Evening star., 1952-03-25


Ipitals and appears to be busting
lat the seams.
| To Americans 1t appears also q
strange amalgarn Of American in
ldustry Of SO or so years ago. when
Ia 10 per cent return on capital
Twas moderate. and present-day
social security developments. The
welfare state" IS here. but it is
mot a government welfare state.
ut is developed and supported by
Industry itself.
Monterrey Is q city Of about
1850, 900. Its steel plant is the most
important one In Mexico. Its
lbreweries can produce about mil
llion bottles Of beer q day-and
tits good beer. Its beer bottles, as
well as other bottles and jars for
putting up fruit and vegetables.
lare produced in the Monterrey
lglass factory,
Amazing Social Programs.
/ A group of newspaper and
magazine writer's, touring. Mexico
las guests Of industries and the
government, were impressed by
1.-The industries - locally owne d /,
managed and financed. But they
were amazed at the social pro-
lgrams of the industries.
Take, for instance, the Cuauh-
Itemoc brewery. It has a well de-
Iyeloped program which includes
la school for children of workers.
There are classes in singing and
dancing for those who want them.
There is library. an open-air
itheater, a baseball diamond with
islands. a swimming pool, provi-
lsions for other sports, large
cafeteria where a full meal can
be bought for 20 cents or less, a
soda fountain and a store where
clothing can be bought cheaply.
For example, a shirt may cost
from $1.56 to about 81. Shoe
lprices are about at our level. A
lgood- looking pair Of shoes was
displayed for $9.25. but those not
lconnected with the brewery would
Ihave to pay $10.86.
The steel mill is the Compania
lFundidora de Fierro y Acero and
Twas founded in 1900. It has about
$4,000 youngsters in its primary
school, the children of employees.
There is nursery for 200 chill
ldren Of employed mothers. There
lis spic and span maternity hos
lpital for the wives of workers.
births average two q day. The
doctor in charge is Abelardo
lSalas, who served for a time on
1.-THE staff of the Naval Hospital
lat Bethesda.
| The industries support a TECH
|nical school. which drews students
from all Of Mexico. The buildings
Iare attractive, well equipped and
Ispotless. The students dress like
American college students. The
local version of the 'hot rod" is
lone of the numerous Model A
Ford's in this area which the
lstudent fixes up and keeps rum
ming.
so Years without Strike.
Monterrey industrialists say the
Icosts are well worth while. The
unions are local and have no con-
nection with the national unions.
Labor relations are peaceful in the
Iextreme. The brewery has been
running for 60 years without a
strike.
There is, therefore, hard
headed business aspect to the well
fare programs. But the business
men say, and apparently with full
sincerity, that the chief assets of
Mexico are the people and they are
making an investment for Mexico
lin healthful, trained and educated
manpower.
Monterrey is said to have 800 or
more millionaires. Some are peso
millionaires Ca million pesos equals
l$115, 5000, but many are dollar
millionaires.
Capital gets a good return. A
lgilt-edged investment yields from
l8 to 10 per cents II there is a risk