Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-27
MEXICO.
Features of a Recent Trip
to that Republic.
What a Los Angeles HOrticul-
turist Saw and Noted.
A Country Which Needs the Boomer
and the SubdivideF.
Large Land Holdings the Obstacle to
Progress-Mexican Oranges Cannot
Compete with Those of Califor-
nia-Former Los Angelenos
and Their Occupations.
[BY GEORGE RICE.l

The Republic of Mexico is at present
attracting much attention from the
tourist, pleasure-seeker, student OF an
tiquity and business men, not only OF
our own country, but also of England,
France and Spain.
We had special motive in our trip,
of business nature, that would call our
closest attention to the agricultural and
horticultural interests and possibilities
of Mexico. Suffice it to say, that before
we can give any information through
the public press, we will have made
another trip Of investigation through
that country.
We left Los Angeles the middle of
August, over the old reliable Southern
Pacific for Ell Paso. We passed through
the San Gabriel valley as the sun was
sinking behind the foothills in the west,
and our admiration of this beautiful
valley was intensified as we looked upon
its fruitful orchards and fertile fields.
reaching from the foothills on the south
to the mountains northward, with their
eyer-changing hues and tints from the
last rays OF the setting sun. "Shall we
behold anything so beautiful in Mex
ico?' were our words as we took last
longing look towards hill, valley, noun
tain, and the spot where our home is.
El Paso, Texas, is the starting point
where we took the splendidly equipped
train of the Mexican Central railroad
for the City'of Mexico. The terminal OF
this road is really at El Paso Del Norte,
or, as it is now called by the Mexican
authorities, Ciudad de Juarez, in honor
of Juarez, who led the MeXicans against
the intruder Macmillan, who was made
emperor by Louis Napoleon during the
time of the civil war in this country,
otherwise the United States would never
have allowed the intrusion against our
sister republic.
How easy it is to digress when talking
or writing of this interesting and Won
derful country.
Ell Paso is $3.50 feet above the sea
level. and the papers and citizens OF
that enterprising young city claim 1T as
the health resort of the world, with
climate as good as California. We did
not see it (the climate) in our short
stay. From the very start OF our jour
ney south the constant putting OF the
engine convinced us that we were going
up grade; and arriving at Chihuahua
the next morning after a nights ride
and refreshing sleep, we are 1850 feet
above the sea. The air is delightful,
but the country is the very opposite.
For the next 500 miles the country is
vast plain, with occasionally mountains,
not very lofty. The temperature at mid
day was only so degrees Fahrenheit in
our car; and still we keep climbing, al
though to look at the country it seemed
as level as floor. 1t is said that per-
son could travel from Ell Paso to the City
of Mexico with a carriage and team: al
though there are no wagon roads, so
level is the country, without mountains
and baranca to seriously interfere.
TWenty-four hours ride more brings
us to Zacatecas, over 5000 feet high.
Here are the great silver mines of Mex
leo, although silver is found in paying
quantities in all the mountains of Mex
leo, but here the mines have been
worked for centuries, and they seem to
be more productive today than ever.
The old ways of mining are still carried
on, except when American or English
companies are taking hold, and we shall
never know what vast quantities OF min
eral they are taking out, SO carefully
are they concealed.
We have passed several fertile valleys
during the day where the streams OF
water have been used for irrigation
only cotton and corn are cultivated, a
crop of wheat has been harvested. Often
the wheat stubble is scratched with the
wooden plows that are still in use, and
a corn crop raised the same year. This
wear corn is failureuon account of the
lateness OF the rains. 1t should have
rained during June, July and August
but the rains this season did not com
mence until late in July and in the
country north of Zacatecas little rain
has fallen. The failure of the corn crop
will cause much suffering among the
masses, the poor persons, who work on
the great haciendas for the magnificent
sum of about Is cents per day. From
here south the rains have been
a little more frequent and the hills and
valleys are clothed in green grass, and
corn will make about half crop.
We have passed through busy (?)
cities of from 10 to 10000 population
but to us it seems that busy Mexico OF
rather Mexico with its population and
splendid valleys of fertile lands com
mences at this divide at Zacatacas-it is
the Tehachapi of Mexico. The eleva
ton from here on to the City of Mexico
is from $500 to $500 feet at the city
and the temperature was so degree in
the morning sun half hour high, 6S tc
20 degrees at l O'Clock p. m, and 81
degrees at sundown every day we were
in Mexico. A pleasant breeze during
the day made the climatic conditions al
near perfect as could be desired; in fac
many localities on this upper table lane
claim to be the sanitariums of the world
and was surprised to find a few per
sons here for their health. The country
from end to end and side to side, top t.
bottom is sadly in need of hotels.
We reached the capital city of The
republic Sunday morning, glorious
morning Of bright sunshine after |
refreshing shower during the night, ant
as our train entered the city, which i
in valley, we had splendid view Q
the domes and spires Of the 127 cathe