San Luis Potosi, Mex.
October 27, 1902

Sun-Monitor, Mangum, O.T.

Several parties have written me asking about my purchase of land in Mexico.  Those letters, for two reason, have not been answered.  First, because several parties from Greer have visited the purchase and I, supposed, some of them at least, would make a statement in the papers of what they saw, heard and found out.  Second, because it costs 5c. to mail a letter in Mexico, and to mail twenty letters costs a big dollar, and you know or possibly don’t know how large one of president Diaz’ dollars looks to a fellow who is working for his board.  Notwithstanding I am working for my board, some people seem to think I belong to them soul and body, and ask why in thunder I do not answer their letters.  So, now, if Crit will allow the space and John and Jim will set it up, I will answer these several letters with the outlay of one-half hour, very valuable time, and a 5c stamp.

Chamal is a hacienda of 167,000 acres, is in shape of a horse shoe with heel of shoe pointing south and the toe north.  There are three running streams which run out at the heel and soon run into the Tamisi river, a navigable stream, which flows into the Panuco river at Tampico, thus giving us transportation from within fifteen miles of Chamal to Tampico, one of the best ports on the gulf.

Explaining further as to the shape of the property; the shoe or outside line is a mountain, and the boundary line, like most all lines in the mountains of this country, is the crest of the mountain and runs in no particular direction.  The inside of the shoe is more or less tillable and is very fine black land covered mostly with the palm, so often found on the rich agricultural lands in Mexico.  Living on the land, as tenants, are 2000 peones, many of whom have large fields of corn growing and pay, as a rental, 24 measures for every measure planted.  Others have nice bunches of cattle, mules, horses, and pay 50c per year for each animal.  The writer has traveled in Mexico since last April and finds these people in better condition, financially a hundred fold, than any of their class seen in the republic.  A very encouraging item if properly looked at.  On the land grows corn and sugar cane.  Growing wild are oranges, lemons, plums, mangoes and limas.  Pineapples and cocoanuts do well on an adjoining hacienda.  On the rough land and mountain sides is some of the finest grass seen in Mexico.  Proof of its strength as a food is the fat cattle seen browsing (sic) on the hillside.

To reach Chamal you leave the gulf division of the Mexico Central R.R., at Escandon, travel west thirty miles over a level valley, crossing the Forlon river at Hinkletinkle, and the Frio river near Valmont Colony.  The government has made a splendid roadway up the mountain, which is reached soon after crossing the Frio river.  This road is blasted out of the mountain side and looks more like a railroad than a wagon road.  After reaching the top of the mountain you discover the inside of the horse shoe to be at least 1000 feet higher than the outside.  A very nice arrangement when we come to consider health, comfort, from heat, & etc.  The government is now building a road up the mountain on the west side even better than the one on the east, thus offering a good road to Ocampo, a town of 4000 inhabitants, and only 6 miles from our west line.

Geo. E. Blalock