Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-21
"Hotel Iturbide. Mexico CITY.

"Hotel Iturbide, Mexico City,
'June Z, 1900.
Ed. Courier Complying with your
request, 1, this morning, drop you
few lines concerning things in this an
Gent city.
sThe business people of Mexico, that
| is the native business men, are not hard
workers. They take things easy and 9
o'clock is early to get an appointment.
Hence l have an hour after reading the
morning papers in which to take a
stroll. Mexico City is improving fast
and many young Americans are estab-
fishing themselves in business here and
are rapidly gaining Roadway. A first
class American hotel is one of the ma
ny things now needed. In few years
the city, I believe, will become great
resort for pleasure seekers both SUM
mer and winter. 1T is now the 18th of
June and in a letter received from my
wife learn you are having quite warm
weather and warm nights. The sun is
very warm here during the day but one
has only to step over onto the shady
side of the street to find it cool and
nice.
"This city, as is well known, is situ-
ated in the beautiful valley ofMexico.
Between the city and the mountains is
a system of small lakes and back of
them and on all sides of the: city are
the high mountains of the Sierra Madre
range, some of the highest peaks of
which are perpetually capped with snow.
$50, it will be seen, the sun does not
shine directly on the city until it is
high enough to shine over the noun
tains and it goes down behind them
| perhaps an hour before sunset really
occurs. This makes it very pleasant
indeed after, say, o'clock in the even
ing. and one sleeps ssweetly all night in
the dry, cool atmosphere, awakening
in the morning greatly refreshed. We
have no flies nor mosquitoes, sconse-
Iquently we need no screens and even
in the hot period of the day, all we
have to1dois to keep in the shade.
Ottumwa, if remember correctly,
is less than 600 feet above sea level,
while this city is 1878 feet above and
surrounded with mountains, as stated,
several thousand feet higher.
| II enclose a clipping from the morn
ing Herald which shows what is in con-
temptation in the way of providing the
city with an abundant supply Of pure
water, thing that is now greatly need
ed. In addition to this a splendid
sewerage system is also being put in"
Mexico's Water supply.
The clipping which Mr.. Fetzer sends
say that concession has been granted
for one-third of the overflow of GER
tain springs sixteen miles distant from
the city of Mexico. The water comes
from the snow-capped peaks of the ST.
Terra Madre range and is almost chemi-
Ically pure. So, it will be seen, Next
co City will have water supply when
| the system is finished, second to none.
j Following is the clipping.
i On May Gath last, the government of
the state of Mexico sold to William
Mackenzie, one-third of the outflow of
the Almoloyita springs, which form
these springs amounts to 2o3,0o0,00O of
i gallons every twenty-four hours, the
water coming from the snowclad Sier-
ira Nevada which is 16,610 feet above sea
level.
The object of this concession is to
supply the City of Mexico, sixteen miles
1 distant, with an almost chemically
pure water, upon completion of the
water system now being installed by
the authorities of the capital at cost
of several millions of dollars.
The concession granted by the gov
eminent to Ricardo Marin and Co., the
i Spanish contractors, for the use of the
! water running thru the great barranca
i of Malinaltennago and the rivers of
Z fxtlahuaca, Skates and Mayuca was al
SO transferred to Mr.. Mackenzie on
May goth.
4 The utilization of these waters will
|; insure to the capital of the republic
mot only an ample supply of some of
the best water on the American CONT
! |nent but also about 10000 electric horse
power for its growing manufacturing
needs.
| This is third operation Of Importance
undertaken by Mr.. Mackenzie, two of
which have already been completed,
His negotiation of the bonds issued by
the state of Coahuila for the water and
sewerage of Saltillo, brought the high