The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-16

have an average altitude OF 5000 feet. The
| valley OF Mexico is one of the largest la
| sins. at the bottom OF which are immc nse
lakes. receiving the drainage of hundreds
OF miles of surrounding mountains and dis
charging It's surplus by irrigation and cvap-
| GRAFTON.
To the average tourist, who never zoe.
ttyond the City OF Mexico, the impression
| Is made that Mexico is principally an arid
! ana desolate country. because he usually
makes his visit in the winter. or dry sea-
son and the railroads follow generally the
Wide open plains. away from water and
timber, and. consequently, habitation But
when YOU leave the city toward the cast
this unfavorable impression is easily dis.
sinated
IN times past have prayed for the In.
splred fift In order to give expression to
the sentiments which filled my soul, but
never have felt its need more than now
10 be able to convey the many beauties
and grandeur Of landscape that passed
through on Monday last. 1t would require
pages to fully describe what one sees OIL
only one days ride from the City of Mex
Vera Cruz
The train leaves the City OF Mexico about
a. M and the first thing, outside Of the
grandeur OF the surrounding mountains,
, sH,ne OF winch are snowcapped, is the oul
ovation Of every inch of ground
In Northern Mexico millions of acres a,
arabic lands are lying idle, while here a
verv little is now left. The PRINCIPAL rro-
uuct is the maguey. or what is known To
us as the century plant. This is almost
me meat. bread. drink and clothing nf The
inoorlng classes of this portion II neyico
many oil these plantations are new. on new
~ cleared ground, from which were cleared
the repelling prickly pear and Spanish dag
te', that appear so worthless to the unii-
ltlated America, for they, too. have their
b,
suey are grown, corn, wheat and vegetables
mus making the land produce to It's fullest
CAPACITY. About 100 miles from .dexjco we
n u'o, an immense hacienda. owned by a
"o'lan' from which there Is a daily tire In |
loaIed with pulque, the natural san of the |
iuaeueS and which is the common drink |
Vi MeNico. From the hacienda there are |
~ ANYWAYS leadlng out over the plantation |
10 r 1rlhg IN the pulque as gathered.
ne mountain scenery is grand. To the
pe,o,n - tne snowcapped Toluca mountain,
btFond the CITY of Mexico From this The
snow meits in the summer; but TO the
sotth are the twin extinct volcanoes -Popo.
calspeti and lxtaccihautl-covered with
stefhal SHOWS. the crater of the former be-
~ piaihiy visible, and to the east rs the
nIshest peak In Mexico. the extinct and
sno"cappei volcano, Orizabo. These are
WIN you in sight all day Dinner is taken
: ~ fucbla, one of the largest and most
~ w iul cities in the republic 1t is known
80, NV OF churches. one OF which
'roWhs the pyramid of Cholula. of prehis.
,orlc origin. One of the most striking IIf-
Iertnces Of this route is the timber. prin.
-lpally me. and through which the railroad
uus at places where it stands as densely
a. " can possibly grow.
-, a,nn so on through continuous fields
1nhS Of which are green in growing wheat |
~ you reach Las Vegas, the eastern edge
'., ~ bTeat plateau, which here is 5000
e. nltA' From here we descend Around !
~ .aiu spurs, over canyons a1d through
IL ioIests' down, down for over forty ,
~, iimItless expanse. How
uya,. Inc pillows. capped with flying ,
pray ana here and there. away off in the !
IS an island. But it is glistening !
, ha nc sea? No. 1t can not be, for !
i,,,S sea Is never that color. Those are :
he e',,, t LES; we are above the clouds, 18th /,
~ mS,e silver lining here. but the lining |
y , gu TOP They hide from View the earth l
pioW, ana only here and there is a noun. d
Ss " i'll heak' piercing their folds, which are
lo,,IN t ana there is a WATERFALL The
tyuua nave struck n mountain range. and
al over il into the valley 5eyond. What
~ tu'e IL would be TO the painter " no \
o aug. transfer this faithfully TO canvas. /
ho - LOCO rpon the brink oC Niagara. al y
~, "e,, "o1ueh Gale in San Francisco, and have h
npeneine works OF nature, l,,i thcv Nave a
:, ~ ~, Impressed me as more beautiful and a
hehantng Than this sea of clouds a. seem " y.
ON above VI e'ouas aS see' n
put inc scene is shifting Suddenly the !,
lo,,ds ouseuVed and we have entered the :,
i ivin We, great railroad train, nre =, =,
nd 5;, ,n.o this floecy sea, and 1t is cold h
IA Hsteedpie, OYercoats are drawn ~,
na wraps are closely wound about Won.
niy mas fallen without sunset. We
70 b "noN mat we are going down, until we
e : matted at Jalapa pronounced UalapaS CT
Vim NJ h', ,, ana take the car to the hotel, "
"a orange plantations. and fj,aI ILL.,, Gu o.
- e'S CI,, me immense sugar cane fields fo "
no.E OIL vera Cruz. ] may be months :.
100, as intend to see about ali hat ..
,is "1 ,i, seeing before leave the country ~
VI "u''' therefore au revor for the pres III
Hans Min.Sle :,
"nrt In IA Runaway.
NdiNert, Texas Fehru,ry ~ p..to,.or.