The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-07-28
Description Of the State Of San Luis
Potosii Political Division Of the
Same; Its Climate.
Written for the Light by Lorenzo Castro.
nun uTAru Ap uaN tffur pArncI

north latitude, ana degrees ana 80 minutes
east and 3 degrees and IS minutes west longi-
tude from the City of Mexico. 1t is bounded
on the northeast by the States Of Nuevo Leon
and Tamaulipas, on the south by the States Of
Guanaguato, Queretaro and Mexico, and on
the west and northwes: by Zacatecas. II has
an area Of Io,7o7 square miles.
POLITICAL DIVISION.
This State is divided into - partidos, or
districts, whose names are list, San Louis
Potosi; and, Santa Maria Del Rio; sd, Ca
torce; 4th, Moetezuma; sth, Guadalcazari
9th, Cenetos; 9TH, Salinas; Sih, RIO Verde;
9th, Cudad del Maiz; 10th, Hidalgo; nth,
Tancanhuitz; Cuidad dc Wales; I3th, Tama-
zunchale. Population, in 1882, $4,000 in
habitants.
CLIMATE.
This State enjoys all climates, that is, the
warm, temperate and cold, but the greatest
portion Of its territory is found within tenn
perate climate.
But few rivers are found in this State. Those
most worthy of notice are the Santa Maria,
the Moetezuma, or Zimapan, the Redberch
and the Tampaon.
Various chains Of mountains cross the State,
forming many fine valleys, among which that
Of San Luis is noted for its large area; that
OF Valley del Mais and Rio Verde are among
the richest in Mexico. These valleys are
formed by spurs of the Cordellera chain,
called Sierra Madre, which covers the eastern
portion OF the Mexican Republic and form the
natural boundary line between the States Of
San Luis and Tamnulipas. The most remark
able chains are the Sierra de San Luis and
the Sierra Gorda. that on the south form the
boundary line between this State and that Of
Guanajuato, Queretato and Mexico.
NATURAL PRO DUcTIoNs.
Among the timber found in this State is the
mahogany, rosewood, balsam, cypress,
cedar, oak, pine, million and other val.
liable woods. There are mAhy fruit trees,
among which the following can be noted, viz :
lemon, peach, pear, orange, apricots, znpoh,
small white and black zapote, mulberries,
chirimoya (anena nuniboltiana), banana,
grapes and others.
Among the grains that are cultivated with
success in this State wheat, corn, oats and
barley are predominant. Some portions of
this State produces sugar, cotton, rice,
tobacco and coffee, etc.
Horned cattle, horses, jacks and sheep and
goats thrive well in the mountains and table,
lands of this rich State.
Among the fbrous plants that are in
digenous in this State is to be found the
maguey, the lechugnilla, the zolmandogue,
the zotol, the pita ana the nopal. A great
source of revenue could be derived if thai
branch of industry was developed
in this portion Of Mexico. AT present
the fibre OF these plants is worked by scrapinf
the leaves Of the plants with an old knife, {
man being only able 10 work 10 pounds daily
out of the lechequilla leaves. Still it pay
very well.
MINIS.
Most Of the mountain chains their spur
and foot hills, situated in this State, arr
crossed in all directions by metallic veins.
would take volumes to describe the few mine
that have been worked successfully. Tn
want of communication and the Indians an,
civil wars have been the cause of the aban
donment Of many rich mines. Among tn
richest mining districts of this State are III
following: San Luis, San Pedro, Cerro de
Populo, Cerro de Rasposa, Cerro de Pana
toma, Cerro de la Blanca y Peltenate, Miner'
de Bernaleio, Mineral de Catorce. In the la
ter mining district the mine OF Concepcio
actually is bonanza, Mineral de Charc'
Mineral del Sabine, Mineral de Peno
Blanco, Laguna del Tapado and salt mines {
Concordia, Mineral de Ramos and Guadalcf
gar; data are very imperfect in regard 10 tn
above named rich mining districts. In ISS
80 mines were worked and 23I were par'
lyzed. There were in the State IS smeltin
. works. Lately many old abandoned min,
and newly discovered ones have been d.
Z nounced. The above mentioned mining di:
tricts produce gold, silver, lead, cinaba
anthony, copper, salt magistral and ind
cations OF coal have been found in this Stat
: RAILROADS.
l In construction, are the following lines
|, railroads that will unite in the city Of Su
, Luis Potosi, the capital Of the State, an
j place her in communication with the who
! world, viz; /. The broad gauge road fro
! the port of Tampico, the second port OF in
: portance on the Gulf of Mexico, to Sa
= Luis Potosi, to be 400 kilometers
length. This road will pass throul
that portion of Mexico known as ''La Hua
' tica," which produces rich coffee, Tobacco
sugar cane, all kinds of valuable timber, troF
y cal fruits and grain. This port improve
+ could contain the merchant navies of Il
8 world. Second, the railroad line from LareC
: to San Luis Potosi, narrow gauge. This lii
a will be constructed to Saltllo shortly, al
Q passing over the lands of the great Hacien,
Of San Rafael del Salado for nearly 100 mil
: the town of Cedral, Mateherala and reachii
y the Capital Charca through the State of Nue.
y Leu, that has population OF over 100000