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AVING learned in the preceding chapter that the Carrancistas denounce foreign investments as a great wrong against their country, and having examined in detail the nature and extent of these alleged injuries, it may be of interest to ascertain just how these self-constituted guardians of the National honour have avenged the offenses, and what steps they have taken to put the Mexican people in possession of their own. It would be logical, if anything relating to such an extraordinary point of view may be so characterized, for the Carrancistas to begin their task of redressing grievances by first calling to account the alien investments most vitally important to the economic welfare of Mexico; and that is precisely what they did.

Cheap fuel is a prime requisite of industry. Until a score of years ago Mexico was almost entirely dependent upon coal imported from the United States at heavy expense for fuel for railroad and industrial needs. Then coal of good quality