Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1917 — Mexican Bad Lands. [ARTICLE]

Mexican Bad Lands.

We are accustomed to talk of Mexico as a wonderful country, the treasure house of the world, etc. Those statements are correct and, at the same time, there Is as much poverty in Mexico as anywhere on earth. The reason is that morg than 90 per cent of Mexico Is arid. The arable land Is not sufficient to support the population In prosperity? There are few rivers In Mexico and there is a lot of desert land. Where agricultural conditions are good the yields are marvelous, but to the vast majority of the people life Is a desperate struggle. • It Is possible by water conservation, by scientific work to reclaim much of the arid land, but the Mexicans neither have., the money nor the ability, even If they had the desire to do so. Most of the waste land Is In northern Mexlco. Most of the fruitful land Is In central or southern Mexico. Someone suggested Mexico would know peace If it was split up, If northern Mexico was separated from the rest of the republic. Perhaps that la so, but the Mexican is a proud person, •nd he’d rather be poor and have his pride than rich and prosperous.— Financial America.