Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-03-02
PICTURESQUE GUANAJUATo.
A Mexican City which Has Many At
trnctive Peculinrities-An AItnr
Deep Down in q Mine.

Guanajuato, derived from the Indian
word Quanashuato, signifying "the
hill of frogs" has been called the most
picturesqu city in the world. Situated
in Mexico, IA miles off the trunk line
of the Mexican Central railroad and
$50 miles north of the City of Mexico,
with its narrow, crooked streets and
tier upon tier of fat rooted houses, 1t
is particularly fascinating place. To
reach it one should stop off at the
quaint old town of Silao. From there
little mountain railroad climbs II
miles up steep incline and then q
tram car drawn by six mules takes one
three miles over one of the most inter
esting street car lines in the whole
world.
This route starts at Marfl, Moor
ish looking town, and crowding the
narrow ravine with its one street fol-
| lowing the meanderings OF q small,
river, the causeway passes over and
under immense silver reduction mines.
A coping extends along the river the
entire distance. It Is remarkable
piece Of engineering, begun in 1857:
and finished in 1852, after the leisure.
manner of Mexicans. The reduction,
works are castle-like structures with
large courts inclosed by high walls,
There is no outlet to the ravine ex-,
cept toward Silao.
Guanajuato has 10000 inhabitants,
1000 feet above the level of the sea,
and is without n spot of level ground.
The first vein of silver was discovered
there in 154s by two muleteers. Be
tween that date and 1890 over $780,
100000 worth of silver has been taken
from the mines. This town played an
important part in the revolution of
1910, the first call for the people to
fight for freedom from European rule
being made by patriot priest, Hidal-
go, who presided over a church in a
| little town not far from Guanajuato.
At II o'clock on the night Of Septem-
ber IS, 1910, he rang the bell for the
ostensible purpose of calling the peo-
pie to mass, but when they had gath
cred in the church he told them that
the time had come to break loose from
the rule of the mother country. That
bell now hangs over the main portal
of the National palace In Mexico and
is rung by President Diaz on the night
OF September Is each year, commence
rating what is called the "grito" or
cry for independence. Guanajuato
changed hands many times during this
war. A very impressive building, the
Alhondige, or the Castillo de Grana-
ditas, still has the marks Of cannon
balls on the walls, and 1t is claimed
that the blood of conflict can still be
seen on the balustrades.
The center of the city 10 bit OF
three-cornered plaza called the Jardin
de la Union. Around 1t are soms
hnndeome buildings-the governors
palace. the mint, the leading hotel and
the finest theater In Mexico. Every
Sunday forenoon and evening mill
tary band gives n concert in this min
!ature park and there Is no moro de-
lightfully novel scene than that wit
messed by the onlooker from the bal
cony of one of the hotel windows.
Round and round the plaza on the
tagged pavements stroll ell classes
and conditions of Medcans listening
TO the music, talking, laughing, mild
ly flirting, gay with vivid colors and
quaint in costume.
A soldier in blue uniform stands at
every corner, at the markets, before
the public buildings, everywhere,
ready to protect the stranger or do
him any other service. Every person
you meet is good natured and civil,
glad to answer any questions pro-
pounded by the Americana. You hear
10 English, except little at the hotel
or Mt the great Serena mines, which
are owned by New York capitalists,
and which join the famous Valenciana,
The Serena yields an average of $6C
silver. Mexican. and $12 gold to the ton
The miners come to the surface four
times day, each carrying 25o pounds
of ore on his back. toiling up ladders
and stairways to earn his rs or SO
cents day. In the heart of the mine
with candles always burning before It.
is shrine or altar, at which every
working man offers his daily devotion
On especially sacred days this altar
is decorated with flowers. II it should
be removed the men would refuse tG
work.-Brooklyn Eagle.