The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-03-11
NEws-HERALD, HIlllsBORO. O-rHURsIAY, MARCH

is due to the complete success OF the
jetties constructed BY the Mexican Cen.
tral Ry., at the mouth OF the Panuco,
enabling ocean steamers to discharge at
the wharf, thus being relieved of lighter.
age charges and facilitating careful
handling of the goods. Over forty ocean
steamers touch monthly at this port.
Regular lines are now plying between
New York, Mobile, Havana, European
ports, Pfogresso and the southern sea-
board cities of the Mexican Gulf.
The fisheries at Tampico are the finest
on the Gulf and present an exceptional
opportunity for the establishment of
canning factories to supply the home
market. which now depends upon Europe
and the United States. AS the fish are
very abundant and the harbor improve.
ments make the banks easy of access in
all weathers, the industry could be car.
ried on the entire year, and, at the
present time, without competitor in the
Republic.
BY reason of the constantly increasing
volume of traffic, passing through this
port, the government is constructing
piers, docks and buildings, the estimated
cost Of which is about So, 100000.
Returning to the main line: From
Aguascalientes, the line runs through
rolling hills until it descends into the
Lagos Valley. Lagos is a manufacturing
city of about 10000 inhabitants, and is
situated in one of the most fertile regions
of the great table land of Mexico. A
branch of the Lerma river runs through
this valley and it's waters are largely
used for irrigation and the running of
mills. One of the principal agricultural
products of the district ia chile, or red
pepper, which is shipped all over the
Republic and highly esteemed for its ex.
cellent flavor. Wheat, corn, beans and
chickpeas of superior quality are also
produced in abundance.
Leaving Lagos, the line passes through
a range of hills, reaches San Francisco,
and descends into the Bajio, the most
extensive valley of the Republic. This
; is the great wheat raising country of
Mexico. The cities of silao, Leon and
Celaya, and the towns of Irapuato, Sala.
manca, Vale de Santiago, and Pueblos
del Rincon, besides hundreds of hacien.
, das, each having as many inhabitants as
town, are situated in this region. Leon,
the Queen Of the Bajio, is the largest
city. 1t has population of about so, ,OOO
people, and on account of the cheapness
of its food products, it has become en-
important manufacturing center. While
there are but few large factories, the
manufacture of cotton and woolen goods
small iron ware. rebosas, serapes, leathe,
riding suits, clothing, hats, etc., is car
ried on in thousands of private houses
The goods are largely sold to the dealers
for distribution throughout the entire
Q Republic. In this and other cities O
the Bajio, admirable opportunities ar,
0 afforded foreign artists with small capita
+ to establish paying business. By takinl
advantage of cheap labor and improving
Il upon the articles of native manufacture
}. a lucrative trade could be secured. Ag
t ricultural laborers in this region earl
from 25 to 81 cents per day, carpenter
j. from so cents to ST., masons, painters AM
Q other artisans about the same. Th
Q larger portion of the Bajio is compre
y hended in the State of Guanajuato, al
Il though sections of II extend into tn
}. neighboring State of Jalisco.
j. At Silao, twenty miles south of Leon
is the junction of the Guanajuato branc
Q OF the Mexican Central, which connect
IS the main line with the capital of tn
l. State. Guanaiuato is mining town c
n $4,000 inhabitants. The annual produt
y tion of silver at the present time is abou
& $50. 900, 600. The city affords first clas
3, market for the products of the Bajio, o
q whose eastern edge it is situated.
l. From Irapuato, few miles south fror
u Leon, the Guadalajara branch of th
q Central runs west to Ameca. Irapuat
Is is town of about $4,000 inhabitants.
is situated in fertile region especial
l. adapted to the cultivation of small fruit
70 and vegetables. The strawberry her
1t ripens the year round.
1t The Gualalajara branch follows tn
l. Lerma river through an extensive vale
in which all the products of the Temper
t. ate Zone are raised.
?. Crops here never fail from drouth
l. The principal towns of this region al
y Penjano, 5000 inhabitants, La Peda
is about the same, La Barca 10, 600, Ocotla
is 5000 this latter point is the port throug
'e which the Lake Chapala trade passes
% Guadaajara 80 1000, and Ameca, the tel
8. minus, 10 900 inhabitants.
Y West of Guadalaiara the line dascanG