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June 16, 1909. THJ?
all religions. The religious feature of
the proposed school was made clear to
him and he entered heartily Into a discussion
of the plans and location. He
said he would give his Interest and cooperation
wherever In the State of Nuevo
Leon the sfchool was placed, but that he
could do more for it, If it were located,
as it should be, in his opinion, near Monterey,
the capital. We were very pleasantly
impressed with our call on the*
Governor.
At Linares, about 90 miles toward Tanipico
from Monterey, we found the Rev.
H. L. Ross waiting for us. He was seated
in a substantial road wagon, trying to
hold to the earth an animal by the name
of "Greenwood" (so called from Greenwood,
Miss.), who was making frantic
efforts to place miles between himself
and the locomotive. In due time, however,
we arrived in safety at the Graybill
home, of which I had often heard.
This horse did good service in taking
us to see the various places offered for
the school; this week he is pulling the
same wagon and the Ross brothers on an
itinerary, which includes the outlying
stations of the mission.
We were shown properties ranging in
price from ten thousand, to thirty thousand
dollars Mexican money, all of them
on fine roads and only a few minutes from
the center of the city. They would not
be considered as large acreage in proportion
to the price asked for them, but
they are all irrigated and have their own
permanent water rights. It must be
remembered that irrigable property U
worth a good price anywhere. It is especially
valuable in Mexico, where such
land is limited, and where all produce
generally brings a good price. Either one
of the larger properties offered would
be capable of supplying a considerable
part of the funds needed for runuing?
expenses, besides furnishing all that
would be needed in the way of produce
for the table and feed for the animals
required in connection with the school.
The highest priced place can give early
returns from a large planting of sugan
cane already in line growing condfTTou.
A mill to crush the cane goes with the
place. This is run by water power. There
is an attractive small grove of orange
trees as well as many pecans and aguacates,
or alligator pears. I know of no
reason wny orange ana lemon growing
should not be profitable in Linares. Other
profitable industries would be a modern
dairy and small ice plant in connection
with it and a poultry plant. The large
markets of Monterey and Tampico are
only a few hours distant The staple
crops are sugar cane and corn. It was
refreshing to me to see the broad green
fields, and the fine large pecan and aguacate
trees with their abundant shade. The
people were complaining of the long
drouth, but to me, even as it was, it was
something wonderful. I am accustomed to
live where the outlook is ever upon barren
mountains and sun-scnrched, windswept
plains, where the climate is the
very finest, but where running water
is scarce and where there has not been
a shower since last September. I conthnnch
tho woofhnr waa mnra than
warm at Linares, and they told me it
would be still warmer. Johnson grass
also grows along with the sugar cane.
Montemorelos had been a strong sec
PRXSBYTCRIAN OP THE SOUT
ond in Presbytery for the location of the
school, so we went there from Linares.
It is only thirty-two miles distant in the
direction of Monterey and yet claims all
kinds of superiority in climate, health
and soil. It may be as well to bear in
mind that these points are not conceded
by Linares, and that hot weather and
Johnson grass are common to them both.
The town is beautifully located and it
also, is a place where irrigation is largely
in use. It is becoming celebrated for
its fine oranges, and groves of these beautiful
trees are to be seen on every hand.
Large crops of sugar cane and corn are
aiom. a ouaiDer or Americans have
settled about the town, giving their attention
mainly to orange growing.
Montemorelos is notable for its fine
city hall, and for its imposing public
school building nearing completion
Either one of these structures would be
a credit to any place, and many much
larger Mexican cities can not even approach
them.
The mayor, Senor Arnulfo Berlanger,
is a thoroughly progressive mau. He
speaks the English language perfectly
and granted our committee a most cordial
interview. Recognizing the benefit to a
community of such a school as the ono
proposed, he offered to give an entire city
square, situated in one of the most attractive
parts of town, together with all
the water necessary to keep it beautiful
and for use in the buildings that might
be erected on it, entirely free of charge
and exempt from city taxes. This property
is intended for a city park and could
not.be bought for private use. Its value
is estimated at $3,500 Mexican. We
also found a pretty little orange grove
and farm of about 30 acres, which the
owner would sell at a reasonable price.
should the mission desire it for the
school.
In general, there is less property available
than at Linares. The Montemorelos
people claim this also in their favor,
as the lands being more valuable, the
owners are slow to part with them.
The details of all these propositions
will have to be worked out by the mission
and the Executive Committee. Monte
morelos is where Miss Bedinger has
labored long. The minister is Don Alejo
Espinosa. There is a school for girls and
one for boys in connection with the work
of the Church. The boys' school will
soon move into a neat, new substantial
building of its own, erected, in great
part, through the effort of Miss Bedinger.
Here is also that fine helper, Mr. Henry
Ellis, formerly of the Royal British navy,
who long ago left the ''natho nf tho ax^a"
for the more peaceful pursuit of growing
fine oranges and teaching a class In a*
Presbyterian foreign mission Sunday
school. The picnic dinner at his picturesque
home with our mission friends will
be long remembered. It was only in
keeping with the continuous kind of hospitality
and generous friendship shown
me from the time Mr. Ross met me In
Monterey, until I said gooy-bye to the
little group of natives ami foreign workers
gathered on the platform at Montemorelos
to see me off. It was a source
of sincere reeret that Rev .T n flhaihw
of Victoria, could not be with us, he beinK
detained at the bedside of his sick wife.
In conclusion. I venture to offer a few
suggestions regarding the "Grayblll Me
H. i?
morial Industrial School." As others
have written to the "little children," 1
will write unto the "fathers" and to others
of larger growth. The cnildren of the
church have ever responded well to her
calls, bat they can do better when the
older ones are Interested in their endeavor,
and give them encouragement
and help.
First, then, the school will be well
named. On a lonely grave at Linares,
is cut into granite this scripture in the
Spanish language: "Blessed are the dead
which die' in the Lord from honrofnrth
yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labors; and their works dofollow
them." The granite will some day
crumble, but the words are immortal.
How fitting that they should find expression
in another memorial which, "far
down the future's broadening way," will
continue in ever-increasing usefulness,
the work of service for Mexico which Dr.
Graybill, at the Master's call to rest, laid
down and left to other hands and to
other hearts.
The school will meet a real need. 1
do not know of .another Institution of
its proposed scope in the entire Republic
and I do know that young men who desire
the information it should give, are
obliged to go abroad to obtain it. Suitable
property can now be acquired and
the Interest of influential persons enlisted.
They will be the more ready to
appreciate its work, because they can
comprehend at once the material benefit
it will bring their country, and this,
is what the leaders are ever seeking.
Provision for the school should be madeon
broad lines. Property should be secured
that will meet all needs for an
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................ i^iiuu, ii auuuia oe cap&Dieof
yielding a substantial revenue and
should constantly increase in value.
But however complete the plant, it can
only achieve success and reach its.
destiny under the direction and management
of men who, from every point of
view, are equal to the work required.
With all the conditions met, the school
should be a success from the start.
I am convinced that any general material
or spiritual advance that may be hoped
for in Mexico can best be realized by
using in that hope the endeavor of the
Mexicans themselves. It is not, there
fore, so much a question of more foreignworkers,
as it is a question of more
trained native workers. The youth or
the country is the material and that only.
Through her young men must Mexico boled
to her place "in the future that
awaits Latin America, immense as her
mountains and her seas, brilliant as her
skies and her resplendent stars."
Here, then, is the ^reat opportunity, for
they are willing to be taught?in fact, *
they are being taught in Mexico and elsewhere.
Some of them can be taught in
the Gray-bill Memorial Industrial School.
The work of the Southern Presbyterian
church has had its difficulties and lta
discouragements. Here is a fine chance
to help It and to indefinitely extend and
broaden its influence. The a.ppeal made
to the children for an offering on Mar
23 for the "Graybill Memorial
Sohool" Is well worthy the consideration
and the contribution of every one who if
interested in the foreign work of. thft
Southern Presbyterian church.
Saltillo, Mexico.