Chinese Labor in Mexico 



was outlined and its execution begun. 

 There has not been time for a thorough 

 trial, but its installation has had an ex- 

 cellent effect. The patrolling of the 

 tract has been greatly improved, and 

 the neighbors now voluntarily report 

 all fires, whether on or off the tract. 

 There has not been a serious fire on that 

 tract this season. This splendid show- 

 ing is an impressive object lesson. It 

 proves the efficiency of intelligent care 

 and of fighting fires at the start. The 

 present fire laws of the state are incom- 

 plete and inadequate. One result of the 

 work of the Service will be the recom- 

 mendation of a fire law which, if adopt- 

 ed, will be the best ever passed by any 

 state. 



The most encouraging fact in forest 

 management is the growing determina- 

 tion of large timberland owners to em- 

 ploy private foresters to handle their 

 holdings. This will ensure a method of 

 lumbering less wasteful than that at 

 present practiced, and, more important 

 by far, it will be the means of better 

 protecting the forests and making them 

 yield a continuous crop. Such expert 

 control will be especially valuable in 

 solving the problem of the best way to 

 get rid of the slash, w r hich, until burned, 

 is a constant menace to the forests. Ex- 

 tensive experiments in slash burning 

 have already been carried on by the 

 Service with satisfactory results. 



The study of chaparral has led to 

 fruitful practical conclusions. It shows 

 in California the same remarkable ability 

 to encroach upon and spread over open 

 country that it exhibits in Texas and 

 elsewhere in the semi-arid portions of 

 the southwest. It makes a satisfactory 

 watershed cover and almost constantly 

 replaces a forest destroyed by fire. Its 

 composition varies with aspect and ele- 

 vation and with damage by fire. 



"^'CHINESE LABOR FOR MEXICO 



UNITED States Consul Anderson, 

 of Atnoy, China, reports that the 

 owaers of certain plantations in Mexico, 



especially in Yucatan, seem to be making 

 an effort to secure Chinese labor for their 

 establishments. According to an adver- 

 tisement in a native paper, the Japanese 

 now have charge of the work of enlisting 

 men in this proposed agricultural army. 

 The advertisement, as translated, says, 

 among other things : 



' 'About a year ago a certain agricul- 

 tural concern in Mexico sent a special 

 agent to Fuchau for the purpose of se- 

 curing Chinese laborers, such laborers 

 to take their families with them if nec- 

 essary. They were to be shipped to 

 Mexico to work on hemp plantations, 

 but to do no other work. This enter- 

 prise had the consent of the governor of 

 Yucatan, Mexico, but owing to the igno- 

 rance of Chinese law on the part of the 

 agent, he undertook to issue an official 

 proclamation himself, and consequently 

 his mission was brought to a sudden end 

 by the order of the Mexican consul. 

 The agriculturists of Mexico need labor 

 just as badly now as a year ago, and 

 have applied to the Cho Kiu Kan, emi- 

 gration agents of Japan, for assist- 

 ance. . . . Everything set forth in 

 this notice is entitled to confidence. In- 

 cidentally, it may be added that the 

 treaty concluded between China and 

 Mexico provides for the free emigration 

 of citizens of either country and for the 

 mutual protection of such emigrants. 

 Emigrants take no risk whatever. It 

 is understood that the foreign office in 

 Fuchau has issued a proclamation on 

 the subject, publishing all treaties and 

 regulations relating thereto." 



The response to this proposition does 

 not seem to have been as general from 

 any part of this province as was hoped, 

 but it is probable that it will be general 

 enough to make up a fair-sized shipment 

 of coolies to Mexican territory. Not 

 less than 2,500,000 people from the 

 Amoy district are abroad in such enter- 

 prises. 



The number of Chinese emigrants 

 leaving Amoy this year seems to be 

 about the same as usual. Something 



