Adventure Magazine Cover — page 196: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

188 land, and has to accommodate himself to the cus- toms of the people. The best way to obiain land is by buying it from some large land-owner as it takes seven thousand miles of red tape and many weary months to obtain Government land. Foreigners are prohibited from owning land thirty-two miles from the coast, but that can be avoided by forming a Mexican company with dummy stockholders, costing about fifty dollars for fees, etc. Land can be leased, but the best way is to buy it outright if you can. As far as shown so far the present administration is encouraging the development of the country in every legitimate way, for foreigners are welcomed. A new land and colonization law is in formation respecting land, and if they do not actually invite you to Mexico they do not bother you in any way when you do come, provided you are a bona-fide settler with money to invest. I'arm machinery of «ll kinds can be obtained in Mexico, in the larger places, such as Mazatlan, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and other cities, but it would pay you to ship your machinery from the U.S. as you are only paying another profit, and no small one either, when you buy locally. Even second-hand stuff would pay to ship, also barbed wire, household goods. lumber, galvanized iron, nails, staples and everything of the kind needed. You could make some arrangements to buy whole- sale, thus saving not one but several profits. As I am in the export business here I can arrange for you to buy wholesale in case you come down the west coast, which I would advise, on account of your present location. Generally speaking the stock is mostly scrub, although some of the more progressive land-owners have imported blooded stock. There is a good to fair market for stock and all farm produce, and at times it pays to export some of your crops. It is hard to say what cattle are worth a head. Around here a medium steer is worth $30 to $40, milk cows $30 to $45 a head. Naturally depends how far from market, weight, etc. Horses from $15 to $100 a head, depending, of course, on the animal. Sheep are not raised to speak of, and I am unable to tell what they are worth; would be about $2 to $3 a head. On the range they buy them as low as 75 cents gold. You should have at least $1,500 to $2,000 capital to start on a reasonable scale, although if you buy a small tract of land, build a brush-and-grass shack, eat beans and live more or less native style you can make quite a splash with $600 to $800. A big American dollar goes a long way down here. Labor is cheap; you should figure on letting the natives do the work and you do the heavier thinking. From San Francisco to Mazatlan the fare is about $44 second-class, to Manzanillo $52, Aca- pulco $60, Salina Cruz $60, probably less. First- class about double. The time from San Fran- cisco to Mazatlan, six days, to Manzanilla eight eye Acapulco ten days, Salina Cruz thirteen ays. There is quite a bit of information I am not send- ing you for lack of time as the mail closes shortly and I have a number of letters to wnte yet. How- ever would be glad to hear from you further in re- gard to your contemplated trip as I can give you many tips. Adventure Target-Shooting ND a few words on barrel-lengths and gun-fanning: Question: —“T thought I would write and get some information on revolvers. Which is the besi, a 514 or 6 inch barrel S. A. .45 Colt? Could you tell me what gun-fanning is? Any information you could give on target-shoot- ing with the Colt .45 S.A. will be appreciated. I have a Remington S. A. 71-inch barrel which shoots the .44 Winchester cartridge. Would like to know when they first started making these guns, and when they stopped.’”—Hurt R. Bricocs, Gouverneur, N. Y. Answer, by Mr. Wiggins:—The longest possible barrel is the length I would prefer for target-shoot- ing; the shorter for carrying on the belt. I use the 5!s-inch barrel on my .45 Colt, and consider it a good compromise for both. The 71-inch seems to shoot better, however. In target-shooting, stand with the weight evenly divided on both feet, facing quarteringly toward the mark. Take a deep breath, and exhale part of it. Line the sights on the bottom of the bull’s- eye, and squeeze the trigger easily, not jerk it. Don't be afraid of the recoil, as the bullet has left the barrel before the recoil disturbs the aim. The standard buil’s-eyes are eight inches for fifty yards, and two inches for twenty yards. Remingtons made the old .44-40 revolvers in the 70s and ’S0s, I believe. They were a very good revolver, too. Wish I could get one in good shape again. ' To fan the Colt Single Action, or the Remington, hold the gun in the nght hand, near the belt, and keep the trigger held back. Slap the hammer swift- ly with the edge of the left palm, and you will fire six shots very fast. I don’t think you will be apt to hit anything, however. The Tubuai Islands URTHER news of Rapa, of which we have already learned somv thing: Qucsiion:—Having seen your name listed in Adventure as an authority on the South Sea Islands, I take the liberty of asking a few questions. Concerning the Tubuai Islands in general and Rapa in particular, what are the chances for a man 28 years old with capital, or say about $1,000, to make a decent living? Which island of this group would you recommend? I have heard that Rapa has a population of about 200. Are they all natives? Do they take kindly to foreigners? Do ships touch there regular or often? What would be the best way to get there cheaply and about how much would it cost? What occupation could an American follow there to gain a living and retain the respect of the natives on the capital named? I am tired of strict civilization, and as I am certain of going there within the next two years any information you can give, or any authority you can recommend, will be gratefully received. IT have knowledge of coastwise navigation COMNNMUC DOOKS (© iin