The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-07
PEIMITITE UaIER UORKS.
The Mexican CITY OF Guayma. Supplied ~
Mule Po wer.
Prom the san Ir5rci.co Chronicle.

Prom the san tr5n Chronicle.
Half way up the Gulf OF California. on the
south western coast OF Mexico. IS the little sea-
port OF Guaymas. OF late years Guaymas has
grown npsre commercially, and her Mexican
and Indian citizens. spurrei onward ard as
sisted by the influx OF Yankee ana English ner-
chants. have a great many modern improve
ments. ard as soon as y0u land the people be-
gin TO talk to YOU about the wonderful ad-
~vantages OF Guaymas. either AZ a residence or
business location. With pride they show you
their street lights. their horse cars. and Sow
eral other more or less modern lmprovcmcnts-
But no one ever has n word u say about tho
water works or the water system. Yet you
notice with satisfaction that tie water thev
give you to drink is clear as crystal. soft and
very pleasing to the eye and taste alike. OF
course, you do not expect TO find running water
In each room In u Mexican city OF only 5000
inhabitants, and you arc not greatly surprised
To have the water poured out for you from big
leathern bags or cartten jars. for that y the
way OF things in Mexico. and q very good way
With respect TO drinking water.
But after you have visited the new plaza ana
seen all the sights that the town affords, you
may Lave a curiosity TO know something about
the water system. II such a curiosity should
possess you It may seem strange how the ma
tives avoid conversation on the topic. They
do not even care to talK about the good quail
ity Of the water. and this seems passing strange
to the newcomer, because even towns that lack
good drinking water never fall To blow about
the quality and quantity OF whatever drinking
fluid they do happen to have. But here in
iuaymRs the subject OF drinking water. at
least in business and commercial circles. 10
Now. II YOU are n tLouchttni person. all this
will strike you ms remarknbly singular. and
tnpst p.rellpnt Naf ~. Won NIL start on oil a
Tour Of investigation for Yourself, bent upol
di SEQ, rring thr source OF Guaymas's watev
supply. About "A mile east VI the city. IL you
have good luck. you viii strike n very ancien:
Nr,esiNn well surrounded by, a cnrious arcade
wiudlRsscs, ono mule. and two Indians. These
comprise IL" water works OF Quay mas II Is
other antique water pumSinr station In North
America. And II is not difficult To believe
y ""IviiIseS We .o a%a ' .i,y ot s.oao inS S%5n
Surrounding this artesian well. which Is said
80 tap a SuS,eT n nss i I,Ts", m 'S SiHn iiSws as fTss.
quad triangular stone wall OF about -FOUR feet In
thicEness,. In the centre Of tho south and
north walls are two piers or columns OF stone
which ris" 10 n height Of about ten feet alovo
the walls, Resting IN The walls Is q snbs,an-
tial root or flooring Of thatch. and In this there
/, n small opening Immediately between tho
columns. Resting, on the columns over this
struc,ca windlass. This Is o~ncratcd on The
ground below hy n big, cruce-fRshioncd wood
turn is oncrat.d by the Slow and .tolisoms
m"Hnderims, OF a ,yery HnGient and M
~ an lntlan driver in order 10 keep him wide
awake. lust what Il is that keeps the Indian
driver awaSe II another question.
4 long untanncd leather strap winds sew
srnl times around the bird cage wheel and then
lass. Attached 10 the windlass are two. rude
buckets made something in the shape or bar
TTl.; W.; Naf %npe Hs c t%er" o MtS% Sc iW ,SH ,R PHse
tina, springs eternal under the hot skies Of tho
Mexican ,>eacnast. In the cas-; wall OF tho
wooden Hume leads from tho water casks
n the, emerge rom The well down % a series
of wooden reservoirs thar stand up on stills
about ton fec, fro II the ground.
In ,h"se 'es"ryoiTs or sluice boxes the
sln,cc boxes mr., dird. The Inhabitants OF
GuaNmas CONF out aud take their DAYS water
.unplv thcrefrom., aud. hv night The sluics
Gu"fma' makrN - dtirnal pilgrimage TO this
Icuulr. who cannot afford to pay the slight
charges incident uuon having their ~lonthern
water casks hll"l hy the regular carriers for the
the morniuE going forth and returning with
their crude and curious water vessels.
Ones first question upon discovering this an
tigur water supply OF Guaymas Is inquiry
concerning the age Of the artosian well and
seen : TO know. hut the American Consul says
thst IL must Ice fully 800 years old. IL is evil
dently not Of ro,tec or Aztec origin, for It's dis
ness, some day an enterprising Yankee will
import II few thousand feet Of Iron pipe into
GuAymas. and then these water carriers VIII
be out Of a job, 1t is doubtful. however.
whether IL will ever pay TO replace the tired
mule that works the windlass by "A stationary
engine. Tho artesian well Hes back, OF the
feet above tho town.
GuAymas II situated on HRqul BAY. and 10
the seaport OF the provincrs OF Sonora and Chit
huahua. Its chief exports are wheat, -four,
and hides. while this Indian part OF the popu-
lation makes its living by fishing In the BAY.
Iaaui Bay Is u commodious port, and has ak
cellent anchorage, but is not provided with an
abundance Of modern Wharfage facilities.
Nevertheless Guaymas's foreign trade Is con-
siderable, and though the climate IL hot AID
unhealthy, the streets narrow aud dirty, tho
esque, yet the surrounding scenery Is very
beautiful during the winter month, anc tno
European tourists. All these are loud In their
praise OF the delicious water they give YOU To
| drink at GuAymas. but very few Of them snow
Ia what . Sriniavs fashion.t 10 furnishs&- ),