Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-04-02

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in climate, pictur
esque beyond description, rich in ira
dltion, grand in its prehistoric ruins
country attractive and interestin.
and which with possibly the single ex
ception of Japan has no peer in univer
sal progress in recent years.
or the Republic OF Mexico the aver
age citizen of the United States knows
less than he does of Ireland or Italy
and Is less well informed of its ruined
temples, its adobe pyramids, its unread
hleroglifics, its uncounted wealth be
lore the conquistodores pillaged with
blood red hands the precincts of hap
Ply people, than he is of Egypt a coun
try with which it compares in many
respects.
might remark here that the Repub.
Tic has population of nearly twelve
million, it comprises twenty eight
states and one territory and the FEEDER
al District in which the national cap
ital is located. The State Govern
lnents are very similar TO those Of the
United States, having a Governor,
Legislature, Courts etc. For the sup
port OF the'governments OF the various
states there is system of taxation on
all foreign and domestic merchandise
as well as a direct tax on all classes of
property real and personal. A portion
OF these receipts are paid TO th9uation-
al government
mentioned the fact last week that
we crossed from American to Mexican
soil at Eagle Pass in the night
Brother Will Cook of the Hastings
Banner who was one occupying Sec
ton in the Pullman sleeper with sme,
writes thus of the ride from this point
to Mexico City.
1--WE awoke on Mexican soil and a
strange feeling crept over us as we for
the first time gaze1 upon the new sur
roundings. Monclova, which was for
merly the capital of Texas, was the
first place where we left the cars on
Mexican soil. The natives were all
barefooted, or wear sandals, have wide
sombrero hats with tall crowns that
came to peak, and all wear serapes, a
sort OF shawl which is thrown over
the shoulders. An American would be
continually harrassed by the end OF
that shawl continually dropping down,
but the natives give it little toss over
the shoulder and il seems to stick fast
y ride on the Mexican International
Il. X. is positively delightful, the road
having a splendid foundation, and be-
ing well equipped in every way. In
order to make the climb up through
the mountains the road follows up
through the gradually ascending high
lands. On each side of the track.
wherever water can be secured in the
valleys Of the mountains splendid crops
are raised. Wheat commands very
high price throughout Mexico, ranging
from 81 90 to $500 per bushel, being
about 81 10 to 81. 60 in American money.
One man near where we passed sold
his wheat crop last year for $3.50, 900.
Corn is about $500 per 100 pounds, po-
tatoes vary from TO Scents per pound,
and in fact all produce is high. Labor
is very cheap, good laborers command
ing from rs to 80 cents per day in Mex
Ia IN ~, -,
In American money
AT Torreon we leave the Mexican In
ternational II. Il. and from there go
over the Mexican Central II. II. to the
city of Mexico. Torreon is city Of
from 1000, to 5000 and here we get
about our first glimpse OF what we may
expect in Mexico in the way of beggars.
Beggars are on all sides from the little
kid up to the mature man, all OF them
asking for ''un centavo" Ia Mexican
cent When one sees mother with
bright eyed little babe in her arms with
scarce enough rags on TO cover its
nakedness. asking for 'centavo" the
SlR bOuCHeS bUC vi
and the first mothers, who with infants
in their arms, gathered around us to
beg centavos, we're well remembered
and the donations by no means limited
to one cent. The sight was indeed
touching one. but oh We shades of Mon
tezuma! The news OF such chari-
table crowd must have spread like Wild
fire, because ere we had had time to
reflect what course we were pursuing,
we were surrounded on every size by
crowd of little girls and old women,
and all OF them had from one to two
children in their arms. And as our
train was pulling out of the station
women could be seen hurrying towards
the train from every direction and all
Of them had babes in their arms.
There is only one thing in Mexico more
plenty than babies and that is feas.
II these women hadn't any darlings of
their own, there we're always plenty
around that they could borrow for the
occasion, which at this time was most
nrofitahlo fst.fo,, aims In Moxioo IA