Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-25

through the custom house and other
places, with attentions constant and
earnest. He was polite to the limit
and his courtesy bows to the ladies
polished like Frenchman's. We were
allowed to gather peach blossoms, pink
and pretty, from the trees, and no rea
sonable privileges were denied. In
fact, i'll will toward the "Gringo" was
ing this city we got our money ex
changed for the coin of the Republic,
and the rate Of exchange was S1.95 of
Mexican money for $1.00 of United
States currency. The American silver
dollar was worth twice as much as the
Mexican silver dollar though the latter
contains the larger quantity of pure
silver. The five cents was charged 10y
the money changer for his trouble and
the accommodation. The American
dollar has an absolute gold value, while
the Mexican dollar has a silver bullion
value. We have not started a lecture
on finance, nor is it intended to open
debate on the silver question so gener-
ally discussed before the last election
But we believe as our friend II. P.
Snyder, Of Pennsylvania, put it, ''that
coming Sound Money campaign mana
gers might employ their funds 10 no
better purpose than buying Mexican
tourist tickets for distribution among
intelligent Free Silver advocates"
From Eagle Pass to Torreon, a
distance of 2S3 miles, travel continued
over the International railway, then
over the Mexican Central 70G miles to
the City of Mexico At the Rio Grande
| we were 700 feet above the level Of the
sea and at Mexico 1850 feet. At Zaca-
tecas, 642 miles down the line, still
higher, the elevation being over 5000.
For six hundred miles the course was
through barren, desolate and for the
most part Waterless district, where the
chief product is cactus and ever-live
brush. In spots even these are scorched.
Dry, white sands carry the eye DER far
stretched level plains to the distant
Sierra Madre mountain ranges on either
side of the track, following us all the
| way, like giant detectives. At times we
pass as close as twelve miles to the foot
hills and note that there is no sign of
vegetation whatever on the mountains.
The only oasis in this desert of cactus
are the little adobe towns, with their
small scattering of rough huts, the
accompanying cut showing a picture of
the most elaborate ones. The inhabi-
tants are of the peon, or poor class, lazy
and worthless. They live on three
cents day and frequently less. AT
Monclova, town Of 5000 Mexicans, the
train stopped Sunday afternoon for fuel
and water. Beggars and half clad
natives swarmed to the station to ply
their trade or get look at the "mucha
grande Americana" A number Of the
Mexican men, it was noticed, carried
roosters under their arms. Catching
the suggestion, an industrious editor
| from Massachusetts had soon collected
large purse, and we were quickly intro
duced at the ringside Of high peon
sportive games as Sunday diversion.
A circle was formed for the cock fight,
everybody in attendance, ladies at the
| front. In two minutes one lite
| feathered Fitzsimmons had driven his
long steel spur to the heart of his
antagonist and Corbett lay dead. The
owner of the winner took the spoils
and went his way rejoicing.
Through the greater portion Of this
country, car windows had to be kept
tightly closed on account of the clouds
Of alkali dust. The temperature ran
up to 80 and 100 degrees i'll our car, but
as we had to roast or choke we chose
roasting. From Zacatecas down into
and through the Valley of Mexico, the
country was fertile and atmosphere
delightful. However, during our first
two days into Mexico our note book
registers, ooh misery, what an oppres
sive heat. ."-LaNigne.