COLLECTION GUIDE
Prepared by Ruth Olivera, August 1989.
This is a collection of documents, letters, contracts, concessions, and agreements, which have to do with the organization of companies, both Mexican and American, to acquire huge tracts of land in Chiapas and also Tabasco, Oaxaca, and Veracruz through concessions from the government of Porfirio Diaz. The lands are to be colonized with Mexican nationals for the purpose of cutting timber and the development of agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and commerce. Passing mention is given to payment of Indian villages for lands. Cost estimates for colonization, subsidies expected from the government, and investment opportunities are outlined. These are all schemes and projects; there is no documentation on any company in operation.
Inventory of Documents
Folder 1
1887 Jul 23. English translation of a concession granted by the
president of Mexico [to Carlos Eisenmann] under an 1883 colonization
act, for the surveying of certain unseated land in Oaxaca, Veracruz,
Chiapas and Tabasco in return for the title to one third of the land.
Typescript. 3 leaves, legal size.
Folder 2
1887 Dec 24. "Articles of Agreement". A contract signed in New York in
which José Mora of Mexico City and John S. Morris of New York City agree
to form a partnership, buy the land concession of Carlos Eisenmann for
$3000 and finish the survey. Morris is to supply the money for a
two-thirds share. Typescript. 7 leaves, legal size.
Folder 3
1887 Dec 24. "Escritura de Sociedad". Spanish version of the contract
between José Mora and John S. Morris, signed in New York. DS. 7 leaves,
legal size.
Folder 4
1887 Dec 24. Power of attorney executed in New York City in which José
Mora authorizes John S. Morris to sell one-third of the share of lands
to be surveyed in Mexico for $30,000. Typescript. 3 leaves, legal size.
Folder 5
1888 Jan 19. Certification of the purchase by José Mora of the
concession granted Carlos Eisenmann as translated by William T.
Pritchard in New York. ADS. 1 leaf 8º.
Folder 6
1888 Feb 9, 10. Telegrams, to and from Pritchard and Mora, with English
translations, on viability of the survey contract. ADS. 1 leaf, legal
size; 1 leaf 8º.
Folder 7
1888 Apr 11. Copy of letter sent from New York City to José Mora which
indicates problems with the concession in Chiapas, with the implication
that the Eisenmann concession was for Oaxaca, an unacceptable
condition. Assurance of land in Chiapas is demanded. Typescript. 3 leaves,
legal size.
Folder 8
1888 May 15. Receipt for $2000 received by F. Pope Hennessy from John
S. Morris for expenses of a trip to England to negotiate sale of land
of the Mexico City Improvement Company. ADS. 1 leaf 8º.
Folder 9
1888 July 23-25. Legal document in Spanish, with two English
translations, executed in Mexico City by José Mora and Manuel Ramirez
Varela naming John S. Morris agent and attorney to organize a company
for the purpose of establishing a colony in land surveyed in Oaxaca
and Veracruz and of selling some of the land. Has legal seals and
stamps. Revoked 17 September 1889. DS 5 leaves. legal size. Typescript.
4 leaves, legal size.
Folder 10
1888 Jul 25. Letter in Spanish, with two English translations, from José
Mora in Mexico to John S. Morris in New York advising him that the
effort to buy Eisenmann's contract failed but that he, Mora, has
established a new colonization company in Chiapas he hopes Morris
will buy or participate in. See also nos. 12, 20, 21, and 22. ALS. 2
leaves 4; 2 typescripts. 8 leaves legal size.
Folder 11
1888 Jul 25. Letter in Spanish, with two English translations, from
José Mora and M. Ramirez Varela in Mexicio to John S. Morris in New
York describing the advantages of the new company. ALS. 2 leaves 4; 2
typescripts. 4 leaves, legal size.
Folder 12
1888 Jul 25. Prospectus in Spanish, with an English translation, in
which José Mora outlines the cost of buying 300 sitios of land in
Chiapas and colonizing 1000 Mexican families, with the expected
profits. See also nos. 10, 20, 21, and 22. ADS. 2 leaves 4;
typescript. 2 leaves, legal size.
Folder 13
1888 Aug 1. Agreement between Andrew Mills, John S. Morris, and Stephen
D. Hatch of New York City to buy 28 mortgage bonds of the Mexico City
Improvement Company for $7,500.00, profits and liabilities to be
shared. TMsS. 2 leaves, legal size.
Folder 14
1889 Apr 20. Copy of a contract in English in which Manuel Ramirez
Varela of Mexico through his attorney John S. Morris is to be financed
by Edward Martin of London in the competion of land surveys in Oaxaca.
Martin is then to form a company. Typescript. 2 leaves, legal size.
Folder 15
1889 May 8. Detailed English translation of a leter from Manuel Ramirez
Varela in Mexico to John S. Morris in New York about numerous schemes
for making money fast from investment in Mexican land, especially in
Guerrero and Oaxaca, mining, railroads, and other enterprises. He
mentions he needd to pay villages "some money" for their land. It is
essential that he go to New York to speak personally and
confidentially with Morris. Typescript. 26 leaves, legal size.
Folder 16
1889 May 9. Letter in English to Edward Martin in London from
unidentified person requesting confirmation of deal to survey land in
Oaxaca and Guerrero. Typescript. 1 leaf, LS.
Folder 17
1889 May 18. Letter and English translaton, similar to that of May 8,
from Manuel Ramirez Varela in Mexico to John S. Morris in New York
promoting opportunities for investments in oil, mines, and a railway.
It includes a concession granted Ramirez Varela to survey land in
Oaxaca. LS. 3 leaves, letter size. Typescript. 9 leaves, legal size.
Folder 18
1889 Sep 17. Copy of an agreement which Manuel Ramirez Varela and José
Mora made with the American Export and Trading Company of Colorado for
developing a concession for the colonization of 1 1/2 million acres of
land in Oaxaca, Veracruz, Chiapas and Tabasco granted by Pres. Diaz.
Mr. Huller owner of the Eisenmann Concession is to be consulted for
maps. Typescript. 6 leaves, legal size.
Folder 19
1889 Sep 17. An addition to the above agreement in which it is
acknowledged that John S. Morris has a 20% interest in the 60% share
of the American Export and Trading Co. in the concession, for which
he is to receive $2,000, under certain conditions. TMsS., 2 leaves.
legal size.
Folder 20
188_. Printed prospectus in English for developing land in Chiapas
granted to José Mora, with forms for indicating blocks of land
purchased by investors along with a typewritten version. It contains a
description of the lands and their potential. Se also nos. 10, 12, 21,
amd 22. D. 2 leaves, letter size. Typescript. 5 leaves, legal size.
Folder 21
n.d. [1880s] Document called the Chiapas Company, which is being formed
to develop agricultural, commercial, manufacturing, and mining
interests in 1 1/2 million acres of timber land on the Grijalva River in
Chiapas, and in Tabasco, Oaxaca, and Veracruz. The Mexican government
is to build a railroad and subsidize colonization. José Mora is the
local director. A financial scheme for investors is outlined. Se also nos.
10, 12, 20 and 22. Typescript. 3 leaves, legal size.
Folder 22
n.d. [1880s] Outline in English of a concession from the Mexican
government providing financial support in colonizing timber land,
especially in Chiapas, for the development of agriculture, commerce,
mining, and manufacturing. Also obligations which the colonizing
company will assume, projected cost of colonizing, plans for
development of roads, mill, etc., and scheme for investors are
outlined. See also nos. 10, 12, 20 and 21. Typescript. 6 leaves, legal
size.
Folder 23
n.d. [1880s] Document in Spanish describing 71 sitios of
fertile land for sale in northern Durango, called Pelayo and
Hornillas, suitable for raising livestock or developing industry. LAL
Oversize Box 2. D. 2 leaves, legal size.
Folder 24
n.d. Description in English of a tract of land for sale in Mexico City
along the Paseo. A company is to be organized to sell stock to purchase
the land for resale of individual lots. Typescript. 4 leaves, legal
size.
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Last updated: October 23, 1996