The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-23
Another Letter from Mexico.
zAcArscas. MEXICO, Jan. "A, 1894.


3fessys. Editors: When last I wrote
YOU 1 was in the city Of Saltillo, about
two hundred and fifty miles north OF "a
catecas. I am now in the torrid zone.
where, the biographies say. 1t IS not the
wear round. But it is not hot in the city
of Zacatecas. The fact is, have worn my
overcoat every day since l have been here
in order to keep warm. The thermometer
rarely ever rises higher than SO or lower
than go. The real cause of this delightful
cl mate here In Zacstecas Is its altitude
above the sea, which is 8,045 feet. Zacate-
cas- is a beautiful Mexican city, with about
forty thousand Inhabitants. 1t is net so
old as some other cities in the Republic,
and hence its buildings and improvements
are more modern, yet, nevertheless, thor
oughly Mexican in style. Those who are
at all familiar with the history of this
CITY know that its prosperity-nay, I may
say its very e1istence-depends upon the
silver mines which abound 30 plentifully
near here in the surrounding mountains.
am told that when the u'ines are running
al full blast the population of the city
runs up to sixty thousand inhabitants ;
but owing to the low price of silver Ia
Mexican dollar Is worth only fifty-four
cents) at present, most of the mines are
shut down, thus throwing thousands Of
DOOR laborers out of employment. or
course this makes it very hard for them,
and consequently thousands have left here
to hunt for employment in other parts OF
the Republic. AS an evidence OF the
truthfufness of the fact just stated, there
are hundreds of houses In the city now
unoccupied and advertised to be rented.
Another reason, perhaps, why the times
are so tight here just now is the fact of its
being 80 dry. There is no vegetation here
at all, as there has been no rain In three
years. Of course, this makes roughness
raise stock of any kind. In many parts
of the country stock have died for the lack
of green food. How they live at all Is 9
mystery to any one not familiar with the
facts And yet, Notwithstanding all this,
the market here furnishes as good beef
and mutton as may be found in the States.
The mountain scenery here around Ia
catecas is not to be e1celled anywhere In
the Republic. There are one or two points
near the city wnere one can take In the
whole city at one full view. The noun
tains in South Carolina are but mole.hllls
compared to these majsatic heights. For
tunately for Zacatecas these surrounding
mountains furnish an abundant water
supply for the city. While 1t has not
rained here scarcely any within five years,
yet the supply Of water is just as good as
if there had been abundance of rain. OF
course, this is great blessing to the city
itself, but especially to the poor, of whom
there is q multitude. These people might
survive long time without bread, but
do not think they could exist long without
water. Not all have an abundant supply
of bread, but all may have a supply Of
water.
The city gives quite good deal Of evi-
dence of prosperity. The streets are all
paved with rock, while the principal side.
walks are paved with hewn stone. Such
work is done by convicts, Of whom there
are over six hundred.
The market here abounds in tropical
fruits of all kinds, oranges selling at cent
q piece, while lemons may be bought four
for six cents.
They do not usually reckon money as
we do-i. e., by five, ten cents. etc.-but
take twelve cents "a reaO as the standard,
and so an article is sold for 30 many reals.
And it is quite remarkable how the shreDd
trader takes advantage of this fact. II, for
instance one wishes to get change for
twenty five cents, in most cases he receives
only two reals, (twenty-four cents). or
course, if it is demanded the full amount
is given, but not otherwise. On this same
principle eight reals make dollar, while
it is really only ninety six cents.
But would not have the reader to con-
clude that all Mexicans are dishonest or
unworthy of ones confidence. Such is
not the case; but just as in the states, not
all are honest, and yet I am personally
acquainted with some who are just as
true as steel. But such are protesting
CHRISTIANS. Very respectfully,
M. GASSAWAY,