Of the total area of land acquired by the Company, 904 hectares (2,234 acres) have been leased to the Monterrey Railway, Light, and Power Company, for 99 years, the Water-Works Company reserving 5 hectares (12 acres) absolutely for future extensions of the sewage works. By giving 12 months' notice, the Company also reserves the right to utilize any part of 145 hectares (358 acres) near the tanks, should it be required at any time in the future for sewage purification purposes.
Quality of and Rates for Labor.
All the work was practically under the direction of English-speaking superintendents and general foremen. For the ordinary skilled and low-skilled labor, Mexicans were employed exclusively, and, on the work, which was quite new to them, they proved entirely efficient and satisfactory; throughout the work, on which at some periods between 2,000 and 3,000 men were employed, chiefly under the Company's direct administration, they were very tractable and willing to do their best, and no trouble was experienced at any time. The Mexican "peon," and also the ordinary skilled workman in the north of Mexico, is intelligent, and is excellent for purely routine work, but he is not adaptable or resourceful in cases of emergency. Under intelligent and careful supervision, however, it is quite possible to get as good results as could be obtained anywhere.
The daily rates of wages for a 10-hour day were approximately as given in Table 15, these rates being varied in special cases.
TABLE 15.—Rates of Wages
| Pesos per day. | |
| General foreman | 8.00 to 10.00 |
| Foreman | 6.00 to 8.00 |
| Cabos | 2.00 to 4.00 |
| Masons | 3.00 to 4.00 |
| Bricklayers | 3.00 to 4.00 |
| Masons and bricklayers helpers | 1.50 |
| Cast-iron pipe jointers (foreman) | 4.50 |
| Cast-iron pipe caulkers | 3.00 |
| Cast-iron pipe helpers | 1.50 to 2.00 |
| Fire-clay pipe layers | 1.75 |
| Fire-clay pipe helpers | 1.25 to 1.50 |
| Drillers | 1.25 to 1.50 |
| Carpenters | 2.00 to 2.50 |
| Blacksmiths | 2.50 |
| Crane men | 6.00 |
| Peons (laborers) | 1.00 to 1.25 |
| Boys (watering concrete) | 0.371⁄2 to 0.50 |
| Watchman | 1.00 |
| Timekeepers | 22.00 per week. |
Cost of Works.
Table 16 gives the main items of the approximate expenditure. These include all expenses for preliminary location, engineering, superintendence, purchase of lands, water rights, etc., but do not include other heavy expenditures chargeable to the concession, such, for example, as general expenses, interest at the rate of 6% during the construction period,
preliminary expenses for investigations, etc., items which would increase the total by nearly 25 per cent.