Search -
Resources and Development of Mexico (1893)
Resources and Development of Mexico - 1893 Author:Hubert Howe Bancroft Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III COMMUNICATION Matt. Service—Cost Of Mail Transportation—Postal Conventions— Organization—Telegraphs—Length Op The Federal Lines—Rates —State Li... more »nes—Private Telegraphic Lines—Railroad Lines—RollIng Stock—Facilities Afforded To Track By Railroads—Cost Of Construction—Annual Revenue—Lines Building And Projected— Highways And Public Roads—Waterways And Navigable Rivers— Suggestions On Waterways. Of all the functions of government there are few more important than the establishment and maintenance of facilities of communication between the different sections of its territory, to link them together and to promote intimate relations among its people. Without such means the development of a country's resources and industries would be utterly impossible, while intellectual progress would also be seriously retarded. Next after the benefits of peace and order come those conferred by suitable means of travel and transportation, and by a well organized postal system. Thus trade is fostered by creating mutual needs among the inhabitants, and the unification of the varied elements constituting the nation is brought about, together with close intercourse between the component parts, however distant they may lie from each other. Mexico, with an immense extent of territory, a large variety of race elements, and diversified social classes, needed above all to blend those elements by bringing them in touch, and creating ideas in common, to lead the people on the path of progress. The POSTAL SYSTEM 71 conquerors, aware of this necessity, constructed a few roads; but their postal communications were limited at first to foot and horseback carriers, and available only to those who, by their wealth or social position, could avail themselves of the privilege. Later, the means o...« less