OH, SHOOT! 



Governor Cantu is generally liked by Amer- 

 icans, and is credited with progressive ideas 

 for the development of his state. He main- 

 tains internal order, and considerable Ameri- 

 can capital is invested near the border. 



One American, however, told me an experi- 

 ence which, if true, reflects no credit upon the 

 present state government. During the war, 

 he learned there were vast herds of wild burros 

 in Lower California, and obtained a conces- 

 sion to build and operate a slaughterhouse and 

 reduction works for the purpose of meeting 

 the shortage of oils and fats. The hides were 

 to be saved and the carcasses reduced to 

 fertilizer. As a tax, he agreed to pay fifty 

 cents for every animal killed. After he had 

 built his plant and operated it a short time, 

 the tax was arbitrarily raised to three dollars 

 and fifty cents per head, and he had to shut 

 down. 



There is also a story of a Russian colony 

 which took up land and planted wheat with 

 the understanding that the government I 

 was told this meant the governor himself 

 would build a mill to grind the grain. This 

 was done, but at a price of a dollar a bushel, 

 which broke the community flat. 



260 



