West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-03-25

bars and heavy shutters, which are
closed and barred at night. The
/ hemes of the wealthier class are
very comfortable and have a flower
/ garden on the inside. But | must
tell You something abou. Leon, as
/ It is city Of so. 900 inhabitants.
Leaving the Lagos Valley, the rml.
road passes through low range of
hills and comes down into the
Bnjio Valley, the most extensive
valley in the Republic OF Mexico
and the finest wheat raising part OF
the country. The towns Of Silno.
Leon, lraputa, Salamauica, Cclsya.
Vale dc Santiago, Pucblos del
Rrucou, besides hundreds of hacicu
das, each with almost as many in
hsbitants as town, are situated in
this valley. Leon, known as the
Queen Of the Bajio." is the largest
city, and has become great man
ufacturing centre. While there is
but one large factory, The mauutac.
ture OF cotton aud wooden goods is
carried on in thousands Of private
homes. Also all classes of leather
goods and saddlery are produced,
the operatives peddling their pro.
ducts from door to door, or selling
them to large dealers for dlstribu-
ton to all parties or the Republic.
This city affords splendid epportu-
mites for Americans with small
capital to establish paying busi-
ness. There are not many storied
buildings with tall chimneys indi.
eating such industries, but they are
here at Leon. Every citizen lives
IN his own house, and his homo is
his workshop. There is scarcely
an article of use or ornament that
is not made here. The beautiful
saddles, brides aud horse accoutre.
ments so much affected by the Mex.
leans, zerapes and rebosos, answer
! ing the purpose OF coats and shawls
for men and WON en-, iron ware and
cutlery and many other things are
manufactured here and every one
Of the little, low, square built
houses is a busy shop Of some kind
or other There is no indication
from the station that this place is
a city Of such size and importance.
In fact most Of the towns and cities
are of from the railroad, AZ they
will not allow the iron horse to
come into the city at all and all
roads are compelled TO pass Oh one
side and the town is often over a
bluff or in "a valley II mile or two
from the railway station. In many
places quite a town builds up
around the station composed mostly
Of railroad people and Americans,
but the old Mexican towns ig gen
orally of from the noise and hustle
Of the station.
la the case of the larger towns
they have a street car line running
from the depot into and around
the main part of the city. Here
the street cars wind through the
cactus hodged lands for mile or
more, and come to the long mar
row streets crossing others at right
angles that seem Of the same inter
minable length with their never
ending rows Of houses as far as the
eye can reach. This car line
reaches to the main plaza, a very
pretty one, with the mgrket at one
corner and the Casa Municipal on
one side and all around clean, well
| kept shops and stores Offering the
products Of the town. The plaza
IS shaded with trees and tboro are
| flowers and fountains and band
stands. The mule cars run ont TO
and old causeway now resorted to
as paseo or promonade5 and drives
TO the pretty gardens IN the sub
urbs. The Catholic religion IS the
established religion Of this country
and has always exercised great IN.
fueBco over the people, so Thar
they are very dsvout members aud
spend most ot their money on their
churches. The catbedrals are
magnificent beyond description and
many Of them very old. The cstab
lishmcnt Of the chu~ca iu this pllc,
received a set. back at tho start iu
the murder OF The curatc Espinosc
by the Chicburic Indians in 1886.
I Lpt f1- .I,,a.f. ..-......I .l a.