San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-05
GLIMPsEs OF MEXICAN LIFE,
AS Seen by Two Lady Tourists in
Our Sister Republic.

The City of Durango, which is
the capital of the state Of the same
name, is place OF some $4,000
population. It's massive business
houses, splendid public and pri-
vate structures and beautiful
parks are all witnesses of the pas t
splendor and prosperity of this
city. ] say past prosperity, for
Durango today with its railroads
and, factories and wines is but a
shadow of its former prosperous
self. 1t Is situated In the noun
tain hemmed valley Of plateau
some 5000 feet above the sea level.
The region is we'll adapted to agri-
culture, to stock raising and above
all things to mining. Still 1t is a
quiet, sleepy town with no more
activity than many much smaller
town in the states.
KILLED BY A RAILROAD.
Durango Is one of those cities
whose Importance and prosperity
fell a sacrifice to the development
Of the rest OF the republic, or in
other words, the Mexican Central
railway, which did so much to de-
velop Mexico, severely crippled the
city OF Durango. Before that rail.
road was built Durango was the
great shipping or traffic point in
western Mexico. 1t is situated
among the foothills OF the Sierra
Madra mountains and commands
the highways of the once important
seaport OF Mazatlan. Everything
or at least very large portion of
all the imports and exports of the
Pacific coast ports of Mexico come
over the the Sierra Madre noun
tain mule trails to Durango. Euro
pean ships in great numbers
rounded Cape Horn of South
America laden with goods for
Central and Western Mexico.
Mazatlan was the chief seaport and
Durango, the great distributing
point in the interior. A large and
profitable trade was also car
ried on with San FRANCISCO,
and other Pacific coast points
vast of the United States. A
position OF the products Of the
went as export via Durango and
Mazatlan. When the Mexican
Central railroad, however estab-
lished communication between the
United States and Mexico, things
quickly changed. Products were
taken to tho City of Mexico and
from thence over better highways
to Vera Cruz on the east coast, and
when other lines of railroads were
built through the republic, the Du-
rango-Mazatlan traffic gradually
dwindled to nothing. Now and
then a pack mule train of a dozen
or so animals crosses the noun
tains with freight; charcoal burn
ers with their burros, and
a fleet footed mail carrier
called "correo" is all that now
traverses the once we'll travelled
mule paths across the mountains
between Durango and Mazatlan.
THE MINING INTERESTS.
There are no mines, save the
famous iron mountain, Immediate
ly in the city of Durango, but any
number Of silver mines exist in the
mountains all around it. Some Of
the most valuable mining property
OF this great silver republic are to
be found within a radius Of so
miles from Durango. Here are
some figures given me by the
American consul regarding the
value of the silver mines: The
Promontoria mine yields silver to
the value Of from $500 to $4,000 per
ton; 100000 has been refused
for this property. The San Andres
mine yields, 100000 per month.
Mines yielding silver at the rate
of 40 ounces per ton and with an
almost inexhaustable supply are
numerous. The San Dimas and |
Candaleria mines have yielded a
net profit of 100000 per month. A
few gold mines Of less Importance,
however, are to be found farther in |
the interior of the mountains.
A most interesting sight is the
famous Iron mountain situated on
the edge of the City Of Durango.
This mountain is solid mass Of
iron 600 feet high and nearly half
a mile long. The ore yields 60 per
cent sof iron. 1t is quarried just
like five. quarry limestone out
in Arkansas. Is At the foot OF the
mountain is large iron and steel
foundry where the ore is smelted
and worked into steel and iron inn
plements and machinery. The ore
is so cheaply obtained that it is
sent in shiploads to European
manufacturing centres.
THE CARGADOR.
The Mexican "Cargador" is pc
culiar institution. He is person
of the lower class who makes
living by carrying great loads or
"cargas" on his back. In city
like Durango where the streets are
billy and rough, and where in con-
sequence of frequent droughts
horse feed is dear, he seems to
flourish best, A cargador will meet