The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-28

there were more women in Mexico than
men by over 3OO,O 900 OF the total popu-
lation 19 per cent are purely white or
nearly so, 43 per cent. mixed and 80
per cent. Indian. In 1882 there were
over 100000 Indians in the republic.
FEW LARGE CITIES.
Despite it's area, Mexico is not
blessed with many large cities. The
principal ones and their population
are:
Mexico tcapitaD, 100000; Guadala-
iara. $4,000; Puebla. $1,000; San Luis,
Potosi, 10000; Leon, 10000; Vera Cruz,
90,OOO Pachuca, $4,000, and Durango,
$4,000.
Most Of the cities have been laid out
in old Spanish style, but modern inn
provements are coming in rapidly and
their architectural character changing.
Religion in Mexico has played a con
siderable part in disturbing internal af-
fairs. but at the present time the
church and state are separated, and
there is no prospect of their union so
long as Diaz lives. The prevailing re-
ligion is the Roman Catholic, which
has 1l00 churches in the republic,
while the Protestant has 49, No
church or religious body can acquire
land in Mexico, consequently there are
no church estates. The number Of
Catholics in the territory is estimated
at about 100000. The number of Pro-
testants is considerably less than TO-
900.
EDUCATION.
One of the first steps taken by Diaz
to insure stability for the republic was
to urge upon the separate states the
necessity of free and compulsory
school law. Nearly every state has
now such a law, and it is enforced to
a greater degree at the present time
than ever before. English is taught,
and the growth Of that tongue is now
rapid in the republic Primary in
struction is mostly at the expense of
the municipalities. but the federal gov
eminent makes frequent grants, and
many schools are under the care of
beneficent societies Higher education
is carried on in secondary schools and
seminaries and in colleges for profess
sional instruction, including schools of
law, medicine, engineering, mining, fine
arts, agriculture, commerce, arts and
trades and music. There are now in
i,OU
schools, so secondary, 30 professional
over 1O,yyy teachers and directors, and
an average attendance of pupils Of
33S.O66. In the private and clerical
schools there are about 10000 pupils
| The amount now annually spent on
| schools is about $4,OO0,O00 per annuR
| or about S3,000,00O less than is annu-
| ally expended on the schools of Chi
| cago.
The national public library contains
| 100000 volumes, and there are 102 Ii
| braries in existence for public use be-
| sides it, There are also twenty -four
museums for scientific and educational
| purposes and three meteorological OBJ
servatOries. The number of newspa-
| pers published is 4j6, Of which ten are
in English and one in French.
AN AMERICAN VIEW
Considering that twenty years ago
| Mexico did not possess one-half of the
| educational facilities that she does
now; that she was wrecked by internal
| dissensions, the prey of banditti and
| the sCorn Of the outside world, all that
has been accomplished in two decades
| is something marvellous. That it is
! due to the energy and the will Of
| President Diaz there is no question.
| OF value this moment is the following
| interview with George d. Cook. of this
| city. who has enjoyed the confidence
| of the president for a number of years.
| Mr.. Cook believes in Mexico and Diaz,
| and having an intimate knowledge Of
| the republic his views are of value.
| Mr.. Cook says:
"In December, 1895 I was invited to
| visit Mexico to meet his excellency.
| President Diaz, to discuss the finances
| of the Republic of Mexico. As it was
| my first visit, l was very much inter-
| ested, not only in meeting him but
In all the surroundings that go to
| make up the impressions of ones first
| visit to a new country My interview
with him was most pleasant. He dis
! cussed freely with me the condition Of
| the finances of the republic, and eX-
| pressed a very strong desire to become
| more closely allied with American
| capital. In that and subsequent meet-
| ings I was very much impressed with
| the frank, open candOr of the man, as
| we'll as his thorough knowledge of his
| countrys affairs, both politically and
| financially. That, and the numerous
| visits I have made since. has resulted
in my becoming very much Interested
| in the republic. found the same laws
| governing Mexico that we have in this
! country: the same form Of government
! as ours, for not only the republic but
| for the states and municipalitieS-a
! president ELECTED every four years. a
congress and senate. with state and
| municipal governments the same as
ours.
After inQuiring into the govern
| ment's resources and the wonderful
progress the country was making l
could see no reason that the govern
ment of Mexico should be paying per
| cent. on a foreign loan amounting tn