The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-03-11
MEXICAN LETTER.
Geographical Conditions as Given BY
Mr.. Myers.

As travelled on this line on my re.
turn home, / can testify as to the accur.
acy of this statement in every particular.
@, H. O.
In the regions tributary to the lines of
the Mexican Central Ry. every variety
Of soil and every condition of climate
are found.
The northern terminus of the line is
Cuidad Juarez, opposite Ell Paso, Texas.
Passing southwark for distance of
225 miles through section admirably
adapted to the cattle industry, Chihua.
hua, capital of the State, is reached.
This city has population of about SO,.
600 inhabitants, including quite mum.
Der of Americans successfully engaged
in the various branches of business.
Traversing country very similar to that
between Jaurez and Chihuahua, the val.
ley of the Conchos river is reached 100
miles further south. At Santa Rosalia
Ia town famous for it's hot springs, whose
curative properties are equal if not su.
perior to any of those on the American
continent), Ell Rio Florido forms juno.
tion with the Conchos. The bottom
lands of these rivers are largely utilized
in the growing of cotton, which is here
raised by irrigation, the plants living
from five to six years. The Santa Rosa.
liza District has an even and delightful
climate. A few miles from the town at
the foot of precipitous volcanic hill are
the springs, five in number and each
differing from the other in temperature
and chemical constituents of the water.
Jimenez, 45 miles from Santa Rosalia,
is the distributing point for the mining
region of Southern Chihuahua and Nor.
thern Durango. This town has sprung
into considerable importance within the
last few years on account of the re. open.
ing of the great silver mines in the camps
of Guanacevi, indie and Ell Oro, owned
principally by American capitalists.
Located on dry plain, few miles
further south, is Escalon, the point of
junction between the Central and Mexi.
can Northern Rys. This road extends
seventy.five miles northeast to Sierra
Mojada, one of the largest carbonate
camps in the world. Near Escalon is q
mineral spring, whose waters are used
with wonderfully beneficial results by
persons afflicted with rheumatism and
kindred diseases. In more favorable
location, it is probable that this spring
would be the site of populer health
resort.
Lerdo on the Nazas river, in the State
of Durango, is the center of the cotton
raising industry of the Laguna District.
More cotton is produced here than in
any other section of Mexico. At this
point are located oil mills and soap fac.
tories which ship their products all over
the Republic. From Lerdo east through
the heart of the cotton region, branch
of the Mexican Central Railway has been
constructed to San Pedro, distance Of
65 kilometers. The large haciendas oi
Sacramento, Santa Teresa and San Pedro
are adjacent to the branch.
Torreon, three miles south from Lerdo
is the junction between the Mexican
Central and Mexican International Rys
Here connections are made for the Uni
ted States via the Eagle Pass Route, and
for the City of Durango to the westward
Several cotton mills are located at Tor
reon which draw their supplies from the
rich Laguna country in the immediate
vicinity.
From Torreon south to the City of Ia
catecas the road passes through grazing
country, including several we'll watered
districts where corn and wheat are bein,
successfully cultivated. In this region
land is held in immense tracts. There
are many small streams which have ar
abundance of water during the rainy
season. and by the perfection and exten
sion of the irrigation facilities, much
larger acreage could be profitably cult
vated. The soil is of excellent qualit,
and, where water can be had, fine crop
are raised. AS this section is near tn,
mining city of zacatecss, it's products al
ways command good prices. Tie ma
chinery at Zacatecas is generally driver
by horse power and the consumption o
fodder is enormous. There are severa
other mining camps, including Mszapil
San Juan de Guadalupe, Fresnillo, Som
trerete and Chalchahuites are in thi
neighborhood, but none of them arr
Immediately on the road.
Zacates, city of $4,000 people, capita
of the State of Zacatecas, is one of th'
leading mining, camps of the world
Mining has been carried On since 1916
and the aggregate production has reach
ed the amount of S7OO 00O nm Tn.