li^ Mk If IS I PLAIK YA.CTS AB®UT AWbivderfiil li J A Mflti^^rful (Eouutrij HOMKU J. DAVIS O. H. DAVIS PUBLISHED BY [BM©TIHIEE 1019 COMMERCE BUILDING KANSAS CITY, MO. Hailraan Prinring Co.. Kansas Cily. Mo (^^ -H.^ro.^:^ _ E F SWIN NEY. Pre H T A B ERNATHY. Vi A C JOBES.ViCE Prel C G. HUTCHESON. Ca G P REICHEL. ASST THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, OF KANSAS CITY.MO CAPITAL $ 500,000,00. SURPLUS $1,000,000,00. ""pSoF^i^ $ E50 000.00 November 28th, 1908. '^' To Whom Interested We beg to advise that Messrs. Davis Brothers, who are now handling land in Mexico, have been valued customers of this bank for a great many years. We have at all times, found them honor- able, upright gentlemen, whose statements could be relied upon. We do not believe these gentlemen would make any representations they could not see their way clear to carry to completion. Your sytr lily, JLiBR""^ »' CONGRESS TWO ccoies aecsived DEC 17 ^soa ! ^ Oopyrlini Entry N 6SS CV XXc Mo, 0^' (n^l President, Vice-President and Caljinet Officers of the Repulilic of Mexico. Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2010 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/plainfactsaboutmOOdavi Just ^lain jfaM T IS our purpose in this booklet to give you the plain facts about a wonderful country — Mexico. But the very fact that this is a wonderful country may cause our statements of fact to appear like fiction. Therefore, as our preface or introductory to what follows in this booklet, we want to say that we expect you to investigate. And, as we incur a considerable expense in putting our statements before you and thous- ands of others, and expecting, as we do, that each one who is interested will investigate, would it be good business for us to misrepre- sent ? Is this not a sufficient argument to con- vince the most skeptical that our statements and our proposition are at least worthy of investigation? What we undertake to tell you about par- ticularly is a portion of the Republic of Mex- ico lying south of the Gulf Coast of Mexico. There is in this portion of Mexico, in the states of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca, a large body of the richest laud in the world. And we claim that it is the most desirable place in the world today for a safe and profit- able investment in land. Our claim is based on the following facts about this land : Its wonderful depth and fertility of soil; Its abundance of rainfall ; Its splendid drainage and its excellent water supply from rumiing streams and from wells of shallow depth ; Its marvelous productiveness and the im- mense variety of its valuable products ; Its unexcelled location from the important standpoint of market facilities ; Its excellent health conditions : Its mild and even climate — tropical, but with no extreme heat and never a frost ; Its advantage in permitting the planting and harvesting of crops the }'ear round — and Its advantage in the cheapness of the cost of good native labor. Tiiis land will produce more corn than can be produced on any land in the United States — two splendid crops on the same land the same year, and with less cultivation than is reffuired in this country. This land will grow any fruit grown in Cal- ifornia or Florida, and many other highly val- uable products and fruits not grown in the United States. This land excels our Southern States for the production of cotton and rice. This land is equal, if not superior, to Cuba for sugar and tobacco. This land is wonderfully productive of coffee, cacao (chocolate), valuable vegetable fibres, bananas, pineapples, cocoanuts and other tropical products and fruits which find an ever increasing market in the United States (duty free) and in the markets of Europe. There is much valuable timber on this land, such as mahogany, black zvalniit and cedar. This land will grow forests of eucalyptus — ■ splendid timber — in four to seven years time, and the growth is progressive and continuous from sprouting stumps after the timber is cut. This land requires absolutely no irrigation for any crop i;rozcn. No Argument Needed. Now, wdien such land as this — rich, virgin soil — with all the advantages briefly indicated in the above-mentioned facts, which following pages will describe and which investigation will prove, when such land can be bought for only a few dollars per acre, can there be any pos- sible doubt of it as an absolutely safe and a tremendously profitable investment? No argument is needed. The prosperous American farmer, who is always a business man ; the successful business- man who is not a farmer, but who always realizes that agriculture is the basis of all real prosperity ; the professional man and the thrifty person in every occupation, who al- ways gives some attention to economic ques-- tions : every one of these, in fact everybody who will read this booklet, knows that "the safest and best inz'cstment on earth is the earth itself." You know this. You know that the price of land, like every- thing else of value, is regulated by the com- mercial law of supply and demand. You know that there can be no increase in the supply of land, and that there is a con- 6 Plain Facts Ahout Mexico. slant increase in the demand for good agri- cultural land because of a steadily increasmg population. People must be fed, they must have clothing and sheher ; and all these things come, directly or indirectly, from the soil. You know that only a few 3-ears ago there were millions upon millions of acres of good agricultural land in this country free to the homesteader. You know that this land is now all taken up and most of it is under cultivation. You know that this land which a few years ago was free to the homesteader is today worth from $15.00 to $100.00 per acre. You know that in Nebraska, in Kansas, in Oklahoma, in Texas, in all the West, South- west and Northwest, even in cold, bleak Can- ada, land values have doubled and redoubled within the past few vears. You know that the expansion of agriculture \\ithin the borders of the United States is about at an end, and entirely at an end for free land or reall)' good land at former low prices. You know that the ambitious, thrifty farmer and investor of years past has prospered and grown rich by expansion — by reaching out for nev,'- fields of virgin soil and building up new empires of rich production. You know that these methods will continue, even though the reach must be beyond the borders of the United States. What you may not know, and what we want 3'ou to know, is that thrifty, enterprising and expanding Ameriean and German, farmers are going to .^fe.vieo. You know that good farm land in the Mid- dle West is now so high priced that it affords only a moderate income on the investment. You know that, notwithstanding the devel- opment in recent years of practically every acre of agricultural land in the United States, farm products are steadily increasing in price. You know that following the "njoney panic" of 1907, when stocks and bonds, business in- vestments and commercial enterprises gener- ally were badly affected and depressed, farm products and good farm land still commanded high prices and zvere in good demand. You know that the "Great West" of our country suffered comparatively little by that panic, because we had the farm products and people had to be fed. A View of the City of Teliauntepec. A Timely Movement. This movement of farmers and investors to ^lexico is most timely. The conditions here and the conditions there warrant it. "In Mexico there are good things yet to be ob- tained. In ' more developed countries, the good things have "already b(?en taken up by people who intend to keep them." This applies especially to agriculture and good agricultural land. In mining, in railroad building and in many other branches of industrial and commercial activity, j\Iexico has had a marvelous develop- ment during the past thirty years. But agriculture has not kept pace with other advancement. A \\'oxDERFUL Country. Alcxictj is today a large importer of food- stuffs and farm products ; and this fact, in view of her splendid areas of the richest land in the world, is remarkable. It has been due to the peculiar conditions of land ownership in Mexico, which will be ex])lained later under the headino'. "Land Titles." W'e desire now to speak oi the governmental Conditions of Mexico, of the great changes that have been wrought there in the past thirty years, of the present stable government af- fording full protection to person and property, of Mexico's sound financial condition, of the many thousands of Americans now living and prospering in Mexico, and of the vast amount of American capital already invested there. But all this was changed when General I'or- firio Diaz was elected president of the new Republic in 1876. He had been a successful leader of the Revolutionists, and his remark- able capacity for lighting has been exceeded only by his indomitable will for peace, law ancl order, and his wise constructive states- manship. When President Diaz was first elected the constitution of the Republic did not permit of more than one term. But during the ad- ministration following the first term of Diaz the constitution was amended so as to allow of this re-election, which occurred in 1884 and each four years thereafter until 1904, when his re-election wa^ for a term of six years, expiring I'UO. .\l that time he will be 80 TcliauiiKinc Xatiunal Railua\ .Siaii. .1 Teh.nuiKp. The Republic of Mexico. In this country and abroad, Mexico is per- haps best known for her marvelous mineral wealth and because of the wonderful achieve- ments of her chief executive. President Diaz. Xo country in the world has made greater moral and material progress during the past thirty years than has the Republic of Mexico. It is true that prior to thirty years ago the country was in a most deplorable condition of disorder. Mexico has a civilization older than our own. but centuries of Spanish rule and the greed of foreign invasion gave no opportunity for any real civilization or progress These centuries of oppression, of turmoil and strife, had naturally led to lawlessness, brigandage and a warlike spirit among the natives of Mexico. years old. He is still vigorous in mind and body, and may again be re-elected at the end of his present term. But whether he is or not, his great work has been accomplished and will be permanent. In no portion of the world is life or property more safe than it is in the Republic of Mexico. Abuses have been so far corrected, corruption so exposed and punished, that now throughout the coun- try the personal rights of citizens and foreign- ers are as well protected as they are in the United States. Since the first election of President Diaz in 1876 a generation has matured in Mexico that knows nothing of war, and that has a big stake in peace and order. Likewise are the 40,000 Americans now residing there a pow- erful influence for peace and good govern- ment. Plaix Facts About Mexico. The Government of Mexico. The constitution of the Repubhc of ]\Iexico is very similar to that of the United States. The Repubhc is composed of twenty-seven states, three territories and a Federal Dis- trict. The constitutions of the several states also closely resemble those of the United States. The courts are organized on the American plan, although the law is more the Roman than the English common law. Justice is administered impartially. There is perfect religious liberty, tree speech and a free press. American methods are the standard for the educational work of the Mexican government. A few years ago a special commissioner was sent to New York to gather information and especially all necessary data to develop man- ual training in Mexico. The following quotation from the writings of a competent authority, Mr. Lummis, in a series of articles contributed to Harper's Mag- azine as long ago as 1897, will indicate the progress of educational work in Mexico. Mr. Lummis wrote at that time as follows : "In every public school of Mexico above tlie pri- mary grade, in every private school, training school and college, English is a compulsory study — in an- other generation," said Mr. Lummis, "Mexico is Bridge and boat at Santa Lucretia. Education. The government has established free schools in Mexico, and primary education is now com- pulsory. It is true that ignorance and many absurd, but harmless, superstitions, still prevail among the masses of native inhabitants. It is not to be supposed that any high edu- cational standard could have been raised in the few years since the opportunity has been ofifered. The wants of the natives are vgry simple, they live close to nature, they are industrious in their primitive way, they are not atnbitious — they will work for a mere pittance — they are peaceful, faithful, docile and extremely courteous and respectful to foreigners. A remarkable feature of the educational work of the Mexican government is the fact that English is a compulsory study. going to be equipped for business and pleasure in two languages." Including classes for instruction in the arts and trades, there are in the Republic 16,326 government schools. They have an average attendance of 828,- OOO. Primary education is compulsory. There are also many private schools and colleges. In the City of M.exico the Federal government maintains the following institutions: Academy of Fine Arts, School of Civil Engineering, School of Medicine, Law School, Academy of Commerce, Academy of Arts and Trades, Conservatory of Music. Military College, School of Mines, two Nor- mal Schools for teachers of both sexes, also schools for the deaf, for the dumb, and for the blind. In the various staites there are many similar institutions supported by the state governments. Mexico an- nually expends between four million and five million dollars for the education of her people. There are seventv-tw'o public libraries in the coun- try. The National Library at the capital contains 265,000 volumes. At the present time Mexico issues more than 350 periodical publications, including the daily and weekly newspapers, also magazines, literary reviews and organs of its variou.s industries and in- terests." A Wonderful Couxtry. Taxes. In general, land taxes throughout ^Mexico are verj^ low, and may be considered merely nominal, ranging as low as S2.00 to $3.00 per year on 1,000 acres. The assessment is generally made according to the maximum recorded transfer value of the land. The principal revenues of the country are collected at the custom houses and from rev- enue stamps. It has been urged by some authorities that the extremely low land taxes have contributed "That the financial future of Mexico is very bright there can be no doubt. Mexico is now on a gold basis, with steady exchange rates, and the business man, capitalist and in- vestor knows what he can depend on in mak- ing his calculations. "In no country are there better or more carefully and precisely adjusted banks than in ]vIexico. This is especially exact with the banks of issue in the Citj' of Mexico and in the principal cities of the various states of the Union, which are directly under the control and inspection of the Federal Government, and which comply strictly with the provisions and requirements of the national banking law Building a Native's House. to the lack of agricultural development in Mexico in proportion to other progress, inas- much as the low taxes have permitted the Spanish and I\Ie.xican owners of immense tracts of this land to hold same with a feeling of indilTerence as to its cultivation. Mexico's Solid Financial Condition. Of all the splendid achievements of the administration of President Diaz in recent years, none is more remarkable than the ex- cellent fiscal policy of the government. It is generally recognized by the world's greatest financiers, and the work of Senor Limantour, the present Secretary of the Mex- ican Treasury, is especially commended. We quote from the writings of a leading authoritv as follows: and their respective charters. Xo Mexican bank, operating under a Alexican charter, has failed since the first charters were granted in 1880." Americans in Mexico. As before stated, there are now more than 40,000 Americans residing in Mexico. And at the present time more than S700,- 000.000.00 of American capital i.s invested in the Republic. The government of Diaz and the younger generation of splendid statesmen associated with him as A'ice-President of the Republic, as members of the Cabinet, as foreign min- isters and as governors of the various states of Alexico. encourages and protects the.se American and other foreign investments. 10 Plain Facts About Mexico. Not only has American capital been most conspicuous in the development of Mexico from a material standpoint, but American ideas, Ainerican energy and American skill have been leading factors. This has applied to the building of railroads and the construc- tion of harbors, to mining, to agriculture, to the building of many electric light and power plants, gas plants, waterworks plants, tele- phone systems, street car systems. In all these enterprises, and many others, American people and American money are the prevailing en- ergy. It is no exaggeration to say that Mexico is already very much Americanized — Anglo- Saxonized, if you please, and there is a con- stantly increasing tendency in that direction. Before leaving this subject of "Americans in Mexico" we desire to quote from a speech of our Ambassador to Mexico, upon the oc- casion of the official reception of Secretary Root in the City of Mexico in the fall of 1907 when our Secretary of State made a tour of the Southern countries. A part of our Ambassador's address was as follows : "Industrially, the advance of Mexico during the time of Diaz, and especially during the past ten years, has been the marvel of the world. Thirty years ago there was little known of the railway in Mexico, the line from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, comprising 263 miles, being all there was in the country at that time. Today, Mexico is re- markably well covered with this great civilizer ; and the end is not yet, because railway projects and con- struction are to be found in every direction. "Agriculturally speaking, the changes have been as pronounced as the changes in railway conditions ; and the mining industry of Mexico has reached a point where it practically occupies the attention of the world. "Thirty years ago there were practically no Amer- icans in Mexico, and the few that were here, with now and then an exception, were here because they could not stay at home ; and there was no American capital invested in the Republic. Today what a dif- ferent condition we find: There are now, in the Re- public of Mexico, something like 40,000 Americans, and the majority of them are honest and industrious people who would be a credit to any country. Their sphere of action covers practically every known oc- cupation ; and the amount of American money in- vested in Mexico is thought to be something like $700,000,000. "That these changes have been brought about by the great force, ability as a constructor and the tact of President Diaz, no one can question. He has made it possible for all of us to live here in con- tentment and under prosperous conditions." Present Opportunity in Mexico. '[Tr' HE development of Mexico and the Sf^ profitable investment of American cap- ital there is far beyond the experi- mental stage. Yet it is a fact that its greatest advance- ment has occurred only in the past ten years. Much remains to be done, and therefore op- portunity is still young. And nowhere is this opportunity so bright, nowhere, so promising, nowhere so absolutely safe as in an investment in Mexico Gulf Coast Land. In this comiection we want to quote from a book on Mexico published by the Interna- tional Bureau of American Republics and printed in the United States government print- ing office in Washington. D. C. In reviewing the agricultural possibilities of Mexico, this book says in part as follows : "Frederick A. Ober, in one of his works, draws attention to the fact that the shape of Mexico on the map is that of a cornucopia, and calls the Aztec land "a horn of plenty." Nature has certainly showered her gifts upon the Republic with lavish hand. Her niines are practically inexhaustible, her forests rich in every variety of precious woods, her soil blessed with wonderful fecundity. "Yet with all these natural conditions in their favor the Mexicans for more than tw^o centuries delved into the bowels of the earth in search of silver and gold, and left the fields to lie fallow and the forests untouched, save where their products were needed purely for domestic purposes. "It has been stated that had the money which has been spent in mining in tlie couutvv been invested in agriculture, Mexico would have been at least four times as rich as it is today. It has to go to the United States for many of the necessities of life. The vegetable products of the co.untry are varied in the extreme, owing to the diversified climate. Its productiveness is perhaps unsurpassed by any other country on the globe. The soil produces all the cereals and all the fruits of the United States and Euiope, besides those properly incident to the Tropics." Land Titles. The peculiar conditions of land ownership in Mexico have undoubtedly been largely re- sponsible for the tardiness of agricultural de- velopment. Until very recent years all the desirable ag- ricultural lands of the Republic have been held in large tracts by a comparatively small num- ber of owners. The system of land owner- ship which prevailed there dates back to the subdivisions of the lands of New Spain (Mex- ico) by the Spanish crown among soldiers and adventurers who aided in the conquest. Lands were for man}' years practicall)' ex- empt from taxation. The great haciendas of the country have remained for many generations in possession of the descendants of the original owners. These original land grants from the King of Spain have been confirmed by the Federal government, the present Republic of Mexico. The basis of land titles in Mexico is there- fore perfectly sound. In fact, a good title in, Me.rico is as good as the best in the world. A W'u.NUERFUL Country. 11 Complications frequently arise, however, be- cause of the numerous and distantly located heirs to these large, undivided estates — the difficulty often being more in the matter of getting the consent of all the heirs to sell or subdivide than in obtaining perfect title in the event of such sale or subdivision. Many advantageous purchases have been frustrated by this difficulty. Our connections are such as to relieve our customers of all doubts and perplexities in the matter of titles or concern- ing the actual acquirement of lands bought through us. Mexico Needs Agricultural Development. As we have said before, agriculture has not kept pace with other prorgess in Mexico. In like manner as American capital, Amer- ican brains and American energy and enter- prise have profited by industrial and commer- Not All Good. You no doubt know that, in proportion to the total area, there is only a small part of Me.xico that is really desirable for agriculture. In fact many people condemn the whole country from this standpoint, because they have seen only the Xorthern part of it across the Texas border, or they have formed their opinions from what they could see along the railroads enroute to the City of Mexico. It is true that the Xorthern and Western portions of the Republic are principally dry, arid and mountainous. Some of the lands in these undesirable por- tions have rich soil, and will be productive some day, perhajis, with irrigation ; but that is expensive and in many ways objectionable in comparison with cultivation of land where there is always an abundance of rainfall — Xature's own method of sniijilying nKiisture. Native's Home in cial pursuits in Me.xico — just so is the oppor- tunity now presented for American farmers, stock raisers and fruit growers to show the way and reap the benefits of developing the splendid agricultural resources of the Gulf Coast Country of Mexico. The conditions are favorable ; the time is ripe for this enterprise. Mexico today is a heavy importer of farm l)roducts, beef, pork and foodstuffs generally. The home market for produce is better than it is in the United States. Very extensive and increasing mining operations, continued rail- road building and other vast industrial and commercial enterprises in Alexico, as else- where, contribute to the importance and to the advantage of agriculture, and this means a rapid increase in the price and value of everv acre of jrood farm land. Tropical Me.xico. Climatic conditions must also be carefully considered. In no other country in the world, perhaps, are there such variations in climate and rainfall as in ]\Ie.xico. The great length of the country from Xorth to South, its nar- row width from East to West between the two oceans, and the greatly varying altitudes or general topography of the country account for these remarkable differences. Then there is a considerable portion of Mexico still remote from traffic ways. Without doubt, it behooves the investor to investigate before buying land. We expect and invite investigation of our proposition. We, ourselves, have investigated. We have been on the ground. We have spent months in ^Mexico inspect- ing lands and making a study of all pertinent 12 Plain Facts About ]\Iexico. conditions in widely different portions of the Republic. As a result zve arc iioiu offering the best land in a locatioji ivhich c.vcels in climate, health conditions, general crop conditions, and in its splendid market facilities. Not a Speculation. There is no speculation, no risk, no unknown factors about this Mexico Gulf Coast Land. Its many advantages are real ; its disadvan- tages exist only in the minds of those who have not seen it and who have not investi- gated its true conditions. This Gulf Coast Country of Mexico pos- the Gulf or Atlantic Coast, the summer heat is not so great as some days in Texas, Okla- homa, Kansas or Nebraska ; and the nights are always cool and pleasant. There is absolutely nothing that can prevent this Mexico Gulf Coast Country from becom- ing one of the most delightful and profitable garden spots of the zvorld. Location and Market Facilities. To many people "jNIexico" sounds far away. As a matter of fact, even Southern Mexico is not so far from Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago or any points east of Kansas City as is Los Angeles, California. A typical scene in Tropical Mexico. sesses every advantage of the best farm lands of the United States, with separate and dis- tinct advantages peculiar to Mexico. With low priced land and cheap native labor, it offers every inducement to the settler. Li our portion of the Gulf Coast Country blighting frosts and drouths are unknown. In this country the winters can only be compared with the month of May in the North. You can work out in the open 365 days in the year. There is no closed season ; you can raise two or three crops a year. The sheltering and feeding of live stock is unnec- essary. You can raise a variety' of valuable products not equalled anywhere else on this continent. Transportation facilities are al- ready established and are unexcelled. The climate is tropical, but with no exces- sive heat in summer. Tempered by the de- lightful breezes which constantly blow from From St. Louis to Los Angeles the distance is 2,090 miles. From St. Louis to the City of [Mexico only LS79 miles by rail, and much less by water. From New York to Los Angeles the rail- road distance is 3,147 miles, and by water the distance is so great as to be utterly imprac- ticable even when the Panama canal is com- pleted. From New York City to the City of Mex- ico by rail tlie distance is 2,939 miles, and by cheap water transportation the distance be- tween New York and Vera Cruz or the Port of Mexico is only 1,980 miles. From New Orleans to either of these Southern Mexico ports the distance by water is only 788 miles; from Galveston only 611 miles. It will therefore be seen that the Gulf Coast Cduntrv of Mexico has a slight advantage A Wonderful Country. 13 over California to all important inland cities of the United States in the matter of trans- portation, and a decided advantage to New York and all our eastern coast cities by cheap vs-ater transportation. Furthermore, all the splendid markets of Europe are available from this Mexico Gulf Coast Country by direct water routes, also all foreign markets reached from the Pacific Coast are equally available. Another comparison with California is quoted from a leading authority as follows : "In California, citrus fruits are raised by expen- sive irrigation systems, with more or less danger of frosts. In the Me.xican Tropics there is ample rain- fall for the growth of fruits, and all classes of tropical vegetation, without irrigation. Frosts are unknown, while fruits mature two months earlier than in California under natural conditions; the color, size and flavor are superior to that grown by irrigation." From the important standpoint of market facilities, you may look the entire world over and you cannot find a location superior to that of our lands in the Isthmus of Tehaunte- pec. in the states of \'era Cruz and Oaxaca, in the Republic of Mexico. Please refer to the map in this booklet. You will note that there is a line of railroad (the Tehauntepec National line) running from the Port of Me.xico on the Gulf or Atlantic coast to the Port of .Salina Cruz on the Pa- cific coast. This Tehauntepec Xational Railroad is only about 190 miles in length. }et it is a trans- continental line — it connects the two oceans — and already has an immense trafific. .\t the Port of Mexico millions of dollars are being spent in making it one of the best harbors in the world, and at both the Atlantic and Pacific coast terminals of this Tehaunte- pec National Railroail the latest improved methods of loading from freight cars to ocean- going vessels, and vice Z'crsa, are being in- stalled. Reference to the map will also show the splendid railroad facilities to the City of Mex- ico and thence to all the best portions of the Republic, to the mining districts, and the sev- eral connections with the railroads of the United States. jl'ithoitt doubt, our location is perfect both for the excellent home markets of Mexico and for the markets of the zcorld. Climate. ^Marvels abound in the Gulf Coast Country of Mexico, and of all these the greatest, per- haps, is the climate. Located about 10" far- ther South than our southern coast, and only about 18° north of the equator, the natural supposition would be that this Mexico Gulf Coast Country must be very hot. But it is not so. As a matter of fact, there is no more invigorating and healthful climate to be found on the American continent than in many por- tions of this Gulf Coast Country. The rea- son is found in the delightful breeze blowing almost constantly from the Gulf, and to the mountain ranges lying to the South. The nights, especially, in this country are cool and pleasant, and the most remarkable thing about the climate is the slight variation in temperatures during an entire year. It is never extremely hot and it is never cold. The thermometer ranges between 53° and 95° above zero. The average high temperature is about 85°. The average low temperature is about 65°. The variation in temperature dur- ing the year seldom exceeds 35°, and the offi- cial weather reports show 44° to be the ex- treme variation in any one year. Preparing Cocoanuts for Market. 14 Plain Facts Adout Mexico. The following government reports of temperatures are quoted from Fitzgerrell's Official Guide. STATIOXS— YEAKS. Near Tlerra Blanea. Veracruz. Ver ] Lowest Temperature L Difference in Teniperaturt Temperature at a. m Temperature at noon Temperature at Ij p. ni Higrliest Temperature Lowest Temperature Difference in Temperature. p 5 .2 a '^ fe " S 70.1 7' 74.2 76.2 81 ID 77.5 80.2 84.4 89 05.2 66.5 6S.2 68 73 SO 91 94 98 94 4S 5S 48 58 62 32 46 40 32 7-^ 70.3 72.6 78 75 83 78 83 83 86 60 58 62 63 64 20 20 23 22 63.2 64.4 70 73.2 75.5 74 7S.8 80.7 Sfi.5 90.3 7?.5 75.4 75.4 78.8 85.3 SO 89 93 95 98 .=)7 57 63 (i3 68 29 32 30 32 30 81.7 87.9 75.4 '^ < 80 6 80.4 S6.5 83.5 74,8 75.3 98 91 T>. 72 26 19 78 79.5 .SSI 91 69 60 20 30 78 3 75 88 90 80 82.6 96 93 73 24 22 ■^ a a g > - •z. Q 75.3 7'' 5 68.3 81,4 79.8 75.6 69,7 65.2 61.9 86 86 82 64 59 50 22 29 32 78.9 76.5 72.5 89 86 82 69 67 60 20 19 22 713 68.3 65.7 8'-!.4 80.6 75 72 2 73.5 70.8 91 86 81 63 60 61 28 26 20 In addition, we call attention to the following report of Air. J. C. Dennis, manager of the Joliet Plantation, this report covering- the year 1907 : TEMPERATURE. HiL'hest tor Montli. Lowest for Month. Average tor Jlontli. Greatest Range for Month. Greatest Range for Day. Lowest Range for Day. Day of Month. .80 • 81 88 95 101 96 92 89 SI 8I> S3 SO 60 57 63 02 6S 72 68 70 09 66 63 37 71. 71.1 76.1 81.3 81.8 S3.3 78.9 78. 74.9 75.5 74. 69.8 20 24 33 33 24 24 19 13 20 IS 23 14 15 17 25 24 19 14 14 12 12 13 17 1 9 10 10 3 6 6 6 3 3 5th Fchruarv 3cl Jlarch April 31st 2d JIa,y 18th 18th .Inl.y 4th 31st September 28th 14th 15th & 16th 2(1 Highest average for tlie year ^"-'.l Lo\vest average for year 64.73 General average for year 70.3 Average Daily Variation for year 11 It will be noted that a more even temperature could hardly be found anywhere, the greatest annual variation only being 4 degrees Fahrenheit, and 100 degrees passed but once, May 15th, in the height of the dry season. The daily variation runs from 1 to 24 degrees, with a yearly average of 11 degrees during the 24 hours. During the dry season, there is a very heavy nightly dew, amounting to a shower, keeping all crops in splendid growing condition. Health Conditions. We quote from a leading authority as follows: "One of the most erroneous opinions that has gained currency in northern countries is that health is more precarious and disease more virulent in southern latitudes than in the North. Many causes have contributed to establish this belief. Each re- gion has its own peculiar ailments. We become ac- customed to sickness that we see .around us every dav, while an unknOAvn disease with an unfamiliar name causes dread not felt for what we are familiar with. "A warm climate, while an absolute preventive of one form of disease, induces the habits of living (es- pecially among the lower classes) favorable to an- other. Foreigners in Mexico who conform to the conditions of the country are as healthy as they would be at home." A WoNDERFi'L Country. 15 The climate of the Alexico Gulf Coast Country, where our lands are located, is ex- empt from the sudden and violent changes that cause many serious ailments in the North. Pneumonia, typhoid fever, diphtheria, scarlet fever and other diseases common to the colder climates are practically unknown. Our lands are generally rolling, thus pro- viding excellent natural drainage, which is needed because of the abundance of rainfall. In brief, it may be truthfully said that all conditions, including the mild and even clim- ate, harmonize to promote good health and comfort to both man and beast. On this important subject of health condi- tions, we quote the following: An American pliysician who recently investi- gated general conditions in the Tropics of Mexi- co, makes the following statement : "Of the many great surprises Tropical Mexico offers the investigator, whose previous information has been derived from newspaper impressions and hearsay, the greatest is the ideal health condi- tions existing in the Tropics, where drainage is good and sanitation normal. The superabund- ance of oxygen derived from the exhalation of tropical plant growth, makes one feel young again and causes such exhilaration of good feeling that even thought of disease is banished from one's mind." And no more reliable evidence could be of- fered on this subject of health conditions than the following report, pertaining as it does to a class of people subject to every exposure and working day and night shifts : Report of the Sanitary and Health Department of the Vera Cruz and Pacific Railway, Heart of the Tropics Route. Territory covered: For the year ending Dec. 31, 1907. Cordoba to Santa Lucrecia 326 kilometers Vera Cruz to Tierra Blanca ^ 100 kilometers Hospital Report. Average nuniljcr of employes working daily - 7q4 Xumbcr of patients treated in hospital during the year 100 Number of deaths during the year from following causes: Run over by train 3 Knife wound caused by stabbing 1 Pistol shot wound 1 .Alcoholic congestion j ."Kntipyrine poisoning by self -treatment 1 Chronic dysentery ] Bilious remittent fever 1 Cold abscess ] Tuberculosis I Pulmonary hemorrhage \ ]2 Total number of deaths from natural causes 5 Total number of deaths from accidental causes 7 ]2 Percentage of deaths per annum from natural causes 7-lOths of 1 per cent Number of deaths per 1.000 from natural causes during year 7 The report gives 704 as the average number of daily employes, but this does not include a large number of men employed on contract work, wlio, wlien sick, go to the railroad hospital and come under the care of the company surgeon. NOTE the unequaled health conditions in the "Heart of the Tropics," making it one of the most desirable places on the North .\meri'-.an Continent to live. 16 Plain Facts About Mexico. Rainfall and Water Supply. There is no question about the water supply, without irrigation, in our section of the Gulf Coast Country of Mexico. There is an abundance of rainfall as is shown by the following- figures compiled from Official Government reports of localities near our lands : STATIONS— YE.VRS. Joliet Plantation. Tierra Blanca. Veracruz. Montlil.v rainfall — inches Number of days of rainfall Santa liucreeia, V^ Monthly rainfall — inches — Nnnil:ter of ilays of rainfall- 3.25 7.00; 6.50( 4.25 0.90i 0.13' 0.95' 3.2i 5i 31 6j ! 1.82! 0.2o! 2.50 3.94 4.98 12 2.37 s .0 SI a .a a tjo -2 g ■4 rr. K: Q 14.00 10.00 17.00 9.50 2.10 21.95 S.28 8.97 4.08 0.71 23 16 S 30.00 30.30 5.94 4.44 1.90 23 19 1 Report of Mr. J. C. Dennis, Manager of the Joliet Plantation Company. And equally interesting and reliable is the following report of Mr. J. C. Dennis, Man- ager of the Joliet Plantation Co. This report is for the year 1907, and is especially inter- esting because it shows that notwithstanding the heavy rainfall there were 225 days in the year when the sun shone. The report is as follows : WEATHER. BAINFALL. Clear No. Days. Cloudy No. Days. Part Cloudy No. Days. Inches Joliet Inches Tierra Plant. Blanca. 24 16 30 17 17 7 12 11 6 13 10 11 ' 174 12 1 13 14 23 10 00 21 16 15 ■ 8 140 00 00 00 00 00 OO 9 20 3 5 12 ' 51 1.66 1.90 .73 .00 .28 .65 11.52 .50 Marcli -- - - 1.00 2.28 10.95 July 15.13 23.60 21.17 , 22.S6 14.79 14.62 8.46 1.88 1.32 77.59 9.67 2.85 1.48 92.20 Never failing wells of pure and sparkling water can be had on our lands at depths ranging from 20 to 40 feet. The springs and running streams provide ample stock water on much of the land, and where wells must be depended upon for this purpose the supply will be ample and reliable. A Wonderful Couxtrv. 17 In this connection we quote from a letter written by .Mr. Geo. S. Gould, Manager of the San Gabriel Plantation in Vera Cruz, as follows: "Aly experience has been that in this neighborhood, water can be had in a driven well at a depth of from 15 to 30 feet. On the Esmerelda Plantation, a few miles below here, I put down five wells to the depth of 26 feet and found a splendid flow of good water, which we used to drink as well as for milling purposes. In this locality we have springs of good fresh water." And the following letter from Mr. Dennis of the Tierra Blanca and Joliet Plantations: "As to the question of water supply for household purposes, we not only have an abundance of good water for that purpose, but plenty and never less, at our dryest times. Our hacienda is located on quite an elevation. We have three wells, two of them about 80 feet and one 30 feet deep, that supply a'l and more than is necessary for drinking and house purposes. A hydraulic ram furnishes water a distance of 1,100 feet, 100 feet high, for all needs at barn and for other purposes, water coming from springs." Plantation Home Mexico. Soil. The wonderful fertility of the soil of Trop- ical Mexico requires an explanation which we can best give by quoting from Fitzgerrell's Official Guide, and in this connection we want to say that this Guide is a book published under the auspices of the Federal Government of Mexico. As a reliable source of informa- tion it can be compared with official reports in this country published by our Department of Agriculture. Air. Fitzgerrell's report on the soils of Trop- ical [Mexico is in part as follows : It is almost impossible for the dwellers of the northland to comprehend, without seeing it, the dense tropical growth on these lands of timber, vines, ferns and the most beautiful flowers — all making a picture of riotous growth impossible to imagine. It is a country where the soil never fails of feeding its luxuriant plant life. Under the influence of a con- tinuous summer sun, with a rainfall from 100 to 120 inches per annum, vegetation runs riot. Everything planted in the ground and cared for grows vigor- ously. The story of continuous crops, of the pos- sibility of raising four crops on the same ground, and of two regular crops of corn, under proper cul- tivation of the soil, is founded on the actual experi- ence of reliable planters. The countless ages of "wash" from the mountain sides — the decayed vegetation of many centuries of tropical growth — has produced a vegetable "humus," a dark sandy loam two to twenty feet in depth, and of the most wonderful fertility. The different soils and elevations of land are very valuable for different products. The low-lying lands for siogar cane, .rice, para grass, etc. The valley lands 'for corn, potatoes, yuca and all the vegetables, fruits, cacao, coffee, spices, nuts and dif- ferent grasses. The mountain lands are very val- uable for coffee, indigo, henequen, pita and the fruits. No country in the world has such a small percentage of really waste lands. Ordinary soil analysis fails to account for the extraordinary fertility of tropical soils. It takes 18 Plain Facts About Mexico. into account only the mineral and organic elements of the soil, giving the other elements a general classification as vegetable matter or humus. It is now coming to be generally recognized that the soil is not a dead, inert thing, but is teeming with life and full of bacteria. Any analysis of a soil that does not include micro- scopic examination and experimental trial, is incom- plete. Doubtless there are bacterial constituents in the soil of which we are as yet completely unin- formed. Ordinary analysis of tropical soil, as compared with soils of the temperate zone, fail to give any explanation of the superior fertility of the former ; the difference in climate is assigned as accounting for the difference in fertility. In one way this is correct, but the fact is that the tropical soils contain bacteria (especially of nitrification), that the freez- ing of the soils in the colder climes destroy. Tropical soils with the same inorganic analysis as given by soils where the earth within the reach of the roots of ordinary crops is frozen, every year, or once in a decade, are invariably found to be more fertile in practice, and the real reason is that bac- teria maintains an existence in the soil of the Southern climes. Some of these bacteria no doubt exist in some Northern soils, as the fact of what Northern farmers know as winter killing shows, but there are also, no doubt, many varieties that are unable to survive in Northern localities. The fact that soils in the tropics that have been cultivated for over a century without any manuring, "rest" or fer- tilization, and still maintain a wonderful fertility and capacity to maintain crops, is really and natur- ally incredible to a Northern agriculturist, but the fact remains nevertheless, and can only be accounted for by accepting the theory that the number and variety of bacteria in the tropical soil draws (through the plants) nitrogen from the air, and dissolves the otherwise unavailable elements in the soil. In no other way can a reasonable theory be given to explain the facts. The length of the growing season in the tropics and the absence of frosts and freezing of the 5oil, or, in other words, the difference in the climate is a good general reason, but this does not explain the facts met with in tropical agriculture, or account for the extraordinary and peculiar fertility of the tropical soil. Cultivation and methods that in the North would quickly exhaust the best of soils, here in the tropics have but little bad effect for a generation. It is quite common to see fields with the most wasteful handling (according to the Northern ideas and cus- toms), that after a century of such abuse, still re- tain a fertility that is astonishing.' Things that Grow in Tropical Mexico. ^X THE following account of the products ^ of this marvelous Gulf Coast Country of Mexico we are quoting from two author- ities, viz : Fitzgerrell's Official Guide, the re- liability of which has been explained under the heading of "Soil," and a book on iMe.xico published by the International Bureau of American Republics in Washington, D. C. A general list of the products is as follows: Tropical Products and Fruits. Coffee, rubber, vanilla, sugar cane, cacao, cocoanuts, papa3'as, bananas, pineapples, or- anges, limes, lemons, grape fruit, figs, pome- granates, nectarines, mangoes, mameyes, agua- cates, tamarindos, zapotes (bianco and negro) chirimoyas, nanches (like crab apples), capu- lines (a red berry), poma rosa (rose apple), granada, guayaba, granadilla de China, jini- quiles (a pod), ersaladas (eaten raw), coyoles (a palm nut, the palm oil of commerce), ajon- joli (making an oil equivalent to olive oil), in- digo, jobo (a fruit like a plum, makes an ex- cellent wine), gooseberry, huckleberry, black- berry, strawberry, olives, sago, almonds, Eng- lish walnuts, apricots, prunes, pears, tunas, dates, cashaw nuts, otaheite, apples, jack fruit, honey, etc. Cereals, Vegetables, Etc. Corn, rice, kaffir corn, r3'e, barley, broom- corn, tobacco, cotton (bath plant and tree, dif- ferent species), castor beans (which grow to a tree here), ramie, hemp, hops, gumbo, pop- pies, artichokes, all kinds of potatoes, princi- pally the sweet varieties, yuca, tomatoes of different kinds and varieties that grow wild here and in great profusion, cabbage, turnips, radish, lettuce, cauliflower, egg plant, string beans, peas, chayotes, squash, pumpkins, musk- melons, watermelons, cantaloupes, celery (very fine ) , beets, onions, kale, mustard, cucumbers, peppers of chile (many different kinds and varieties , lima beans, cutels, meloco tones (a half melon and half squash, good either cooked or raw), garbanzos, verdolagas (wild greens .>v\ mi>nlli in llir Tapping a Rubljer Troo. year, but September, October, Xovember and December give the best yield and the least injury to the trees. There are several varieties of the Castilla tree growing on the Isthmus of Tehauntepec, and there seems to be considerable difiference in the same variety, when grown on the Gulf side or on the Pacific side of the Isthmus. Sufficient time has not elapsed to determine from experiments made, what species or va- rieties are best adapted to the different clim- atic and rainfall conditions, to be found in the various portions of the Tropics. It should be borne in mind that on the Gulf side, the rainfall is greater and more continuous than on the Pacific side, where from October to ■May it is very light. Experienced growers know there is con- siderable difiference in the yield from indi- vidual trees, but this can be ascertained only from tapping, there being no outward sjgns. No Castilla tree '"bleeds to death" from opening the latex containing vessels only. The death of the tree results from cutting into the wood, and severing the connection of the sap vessels, which are necessary to the life of the tree. Until experience has proven beyond a doubt which are the best varieties of rubber to raise, plantation managers, in selecting seed for planting, should obtain it from such trees as are known to be good milk producers. Mr. T- Herbert Foster, manager of the "Tula (ic los Tuxtlas" Plantation, Postoffice Tula, \'. C, writes: "We are just beginning the tapping of our rubber trees. Last year, when they were six years old, by tests I found that an average tree contained about six ounces of dry creamed rubber, and this year, as the increase is about one-third per cut, the average capacity would be about eight ounces, but we are tapping only one ounce, as we do not wish to risk injuring the trees. The above yield refers to the average sized trees, our average being eight inches diameter a foot above the ground, although we have many more than a foot thick. The height is from 20 to 40 feet. Last year's cuts are healed o\-er, and new cuts made across or between them, yield as much latex as elsewhere in the tree. In tapping we are using a V-shaped carpenter's chisel, with a guard to prevent its going too deep into the tree. We make seven cuts, aboui eight inches long, and place an enameled iron cup at the lower end of each, to catch the latex. With this number of cuts the trees, according to size, give from one-half to one ounce of dry creamed rubber. We will tap twice or three times this year. The latex is diluted in about twentv times its volume of water, to enable us to strain it, then stands twenty-four hours. The rubber comes to the surface, nnd' much of the allnunen and other ele- ments not wanted liy the manufacturer are elim- inated. One of our nei vigorously after the fourth and fifth cutting, and seedling trees over thirty years old sl^mut after a eutting, as thriftily as young 42 I'l.Aix !-' ACTS About AIexico. Ilia, states in a letter to the Sacramento V'al- le}' Development Association as published in the Pacific Fruit World, April 4, 1908, the following items among others : "I planted about 250,000 Eucalyptus trees of the different varieties, in all probably about thirty. The best results I had was blue gum. Eleven j'ears old, twenty-eight inches in diameter and 104 feet high. I recently sold about $4000 worth of this variety for wharf piles. This variety will last about three times as long as the redwood or the Oregon pine. "The red gum (Eucalyptus Rostrata) when fin- ished, can not be told from mahogany. It is a hard- zvood easily zuorkcd, even better than mahogany, quarter-sazved oak or lualnut, for furniture. "I have a red gum tree thirty-one years old, which contains nearly 2,000 feet of lumber, and if sawed, dried and ready for finishing offices, banks, etc., it would have a value of about $200 for the single tree." With land in tlie (lulf Coast Country of Mexico costing but a small fraction of the price of California land, with more favorable climatic conditions and an abundance of rain- fall producing even more rapid growth than in California, with greater accessibility and cheaper transportation to the world's markets, we claim that the Gulf Coast Country of Mex- ico is superior to Southern California for the l^rofitable growth of Eucalyptus. ■Cocoanut Palms, Isthmus of Tehauntepec. trees — indeed, it is almost impossible lo kill tin stumps of old Eucalyptus trees, or to prci'ent tlu sprouting of old roots after the siuinps liuz-e ban grubbed out. No one factor has so much influence in govern- ing the extension of Eucalyptus as temperatu' e The fact that its planting range is practically re stricted to California, is wholly attributable to the frost-tenderness of the genus. For best results. Eucalyptus plantations should be set out not closer than 6x6 feet, and not widci than 10x10 feet for any purpose. Under favorable roudilions. seedling plantaticm have reached a nta.viinnm deielopincnt of Hve inches in diameter, and si.vty-sevcn feet in height in fcui years. This represents an average of seventeen feet height grozvth per year, though a grozvth of ten to fifteen feet in height vearlv is the general azw-agt MARVELOUS GROWTH— In the height of the first growing season, seedlings have frequently been observed to make an average height grozvth of si i inches a day. The most rapid seedling growth noted was made by a tree which in nine years reacaea a height of 125 feet, and a diameter of thirti'-six inches. As is usual among vigorously sprouting trees sprouts upon old root systems surpass 5cca- linQ:s in rate of growth. From sorouts growths m ei.Qhteen months a maximum diameter of thin irches and thirty-four feet height, has been reached While in three years a maximum diameter of scmii inches and sez'cnty feet in height has been attaint d The Hon. Elwood Cooper of Santa Bar- bara, California, for 25 or 30 years president of the State Board of H(Trticulture, Califor- A \\'0XDERFLiL CoUXTRV. 43 &t^^■T-~^3^g^fV>^fe».-'■ A Lemon Grove in Tropical Mexico. CONCLUSION. A\'e have endeavored in the preceding pages to give you the benefit of information about Mexico which we have obtained by careful and extended personal sight-seeing and investi- gation, in connection with facts compiled by us from the most reliable authorities. In our tour of inspection and investigation of Mexico, we met a great many Americans, especially in the Gulf Coast Country of ^ilexico, who have lived there for years and who are qualified to speak from experience.' Naturally we placed much reliance upon the information and opinions gained from these Americans, and we found them universallv favoralile to the Gulf Coast Country from every standpoint. Our account of the conditions of ]\Iexico in general and of the Gulf Coast Country in particular may seem to you too glowing — that is, if you have not seen that country and studied its conditions. If you have seen what we have attempted to describe, then you must know that we have not onlv not exaggerated, but that we have not done the subject full justice. In conclusion, we again assert that there is absolutelv nothing that can prevent this Gulf Coast Country from very soon becoming one of the most delightful and profitable garden .spots of the world. It is going to be settled up largelv by American people. The move- ment is already well under wav. And we also assert that nowhere and at no time has there ever been offered a better ojiportunity for an absolutely safe and an immensely profitable investment in land than that which is now presented in this Gulf Coast Countrv of the Republic of Mexico. Respectfully submitted. DAMS P.ROS., Investment Brokers, 101^) Commerce Bh Kansas Citv, "Slo. Cable: "WOOLRICH" Apavrado No. 7. mmwm ESo W®®Hipn(sljii T®Ihs!naonft®p®(£= A. B. C 4a EDICION Tehauntepec, Dec, 2, 1908. Messrs. Davis Bros., Kansas City, Mo. Dear Si rs : Replying to your inquiry concerning the health conditions of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec . Mexico, will say that I can probably reply best by referring to my own experience. I am now 78 years old and have lived 52 years on the Isthmus of Tehauntepec, and I am pleased to say that I do not know of any place where I could have en- joyed better health or more physical comfort. This is called by some the "hot country" of Mexico but people who have been here in the summer time know that it is cooler in that season than in most parts of the United States. Of course, we have no real winters here as the thermometer never gets as low as the freezing point . Well knowing the great fertility of the soil and plenti- ful rainfall of the central part of the Isthmus, the excellent climate and the present rapid development in these parts, I do not hesitate to recommend to the honest American, this part of Mexico as a place where he can prosper under good and healthful conditions. Yours truly, J1^ J^ Tf^Tndvp^^ Miiiii iiiii iiiii Mill iiiii iiiii iiiii mil mil mil iiiiii iii iiii 015 847 119 A