Vol. XVIIL No. 8 



WASHINGTON 



August, 1907 



ifnl 



LOr 



Tl 



ATIIONAIL 



©(SIEAFMIKD 



ACSAEME 



/rnl 



o 



MEXICO-THE TREASURE HOUSE OF THE 



WORLD* 



By N. H. Darton 



Geologist, U. S. Geological Survey 



THE great development of Mex- 

 ico's resources during the last 

 thirty years has justified to a 

 large degree the statement of Baron 

 von Humboldt that "Mexico is the treas- 

 ure house of the world." Her rich sil- 

 ver mines have continued to produce in 

 increasing amount, gold has become an 

 important product, and she has taken 

 prominent rank in the copper industry. 

 Her agricultural products have gained 

 rapidly in value, manufacturing has in- 

 creased to an encouraging extent, and 

 commerce with the outside world has 

 multiplied many fold. 



Foreign capital has flowed into the 

 Republic, especially in later years, and 

 many investors, confident of a contin- 

 uance of the present stable conditions, 

 are eagerly taking advantage of the 

 many mining, railroading, manufactur- 

 ing, and other openings which are avail- 

 able. The finances of the country are 

 on a most satisfactory basis, many great 

 public improvements have been made, 

 and the government is offering encour- 

 aging facilities along all lines of develop- 

 ment. Colonists are coming slowly, but 



as the conditions become better known 

 they will undoubtedly take advantage of 

 the large areas of public lands that are 

 easily obtainable and in many regions 

 can be utilized with great profit. 



The native labor is increasing in ef- 

 fectiveness, for many of the laboring 

 people are showing considerable capabil- 

 ity as workmen and artisans when prop- 

 erly trained. Lawlessness is no longer a 

 menace to person or property, railroads 

 are rapidly penetrating all parts of the 

 country, and conditions of living are 

 greatly improved. 



There is but a relatively small propor- 

 tion of Mexico which is unhealthful to 

 foreigners, and many improvements 

 have been made in this regard, notably 

 in draining the overflow area about the 

 City of Mexico. 



With her wide range of altitude, lat- 

 itude, and rainfall, Mexico presents 

 various climatic conditions with a corre- 

 sponding variety of agricultural possibil- 

 ities. She has large areas suited for 

 wheat, corn, and other products of the 

 temperate zone, and in the hot, moist 

 lowlands can raise a great variety of 



* An address to the National Geographic Society, April 5, 1907 



