Farmer Protected from Imaginary Danger. 21 



Snch is the inviting picture drawn by one of the most 

 prominent Mexicans of his native land. Before the pro- 

 duction and fattening of cattle can be carried on to 

 such an extent as to be a danger to the American farmer, 

 a change must be made to a larger breed, many millions 

 of dollars be laid out in providing water, and dangerous 

 and pestiferous creatures must be destroyed. Mr. Shaw 

 is at least a generation ahead of time. 



A few facts concerning the population of Mexico from 

 the Statesman's Year Book, 1902 : The population in 1900 

 consisted of 6,716,007 males and 6,829,455 females. Of 

 the total population 19% are of pure, or nearly pure, 

 white race, 43% of mixed race, and 38% of Indian race. 

 Natives descended from ancient Indian tribes, and speak- 

 ing little or no Spanish, numbered in 1895 1,908,707. Of 

 the mixed and Indian race only a very small proportion 

 can be regarded as civilized." ''In 1895 10,345,899 of 

 the population could neither read nor write; 1,782,822 

 could read and write; 323,336 could only read, and the 

 attainments of 39,516 persons were unknown. ' ' 



Matas Eomero states that the average annual value of 

 live stock exported for f^jQ years, 1891-1896, was $1,124,- 

 560. This is understood to be young animals of an aver- 

 age value of $5 to $9. This is the present showing of 

 one of the nations that Mr. Shaw is tremblingly afraid 

 will, in the near future, swamp our markets with beef 

 products. 



