The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-03-30
These falls are the Niagara of Mexico and


and Illuminating purposes. A large cot
ton mill employing 1000 operatives is
found here and water power is furnished
for lighting the city of Guadalajara and its
business and private houses by electricity.
There are two large pottery manufactures
at Guadalajara and the variety and beauty
of the products is beyond description. The
ware is sought after by tourists, and no
one thinks of leaving the city without TAX
ing away all he can carry. We are no ex-
ception to the rule. 1t was in this beauti-
full city that Mrs DIR. James spent several
years as missionary, and we were graft
fed in deed to meet some of her old friends,
among whom were the Rev. Mr.. and Mrs
Rowland. Guadalajara is the second city
in point of population in the republic,
having population of about 125 900 and is
certainly charming spot. 1t is blessed
with some good hotels. and as fine baths
as can be found anywhere. 1t has beau
tiful plaza, and it is the rendezvon for the
high and low almost every evening. 1t
was source of much regret that we could
not remain in this lovely city longer than
the limited time at our disposal would per-
NIT. as its climate and people were really
the most charming we met anywhere. and
the surroundings were interesting and en-
ticing. But we were headed homeward
with only one more place of interest that
could claim our attention, and Tuesday
morning we set out for Guanajuato. This
quaint city is situate about II miles from
Silao, division on the Mexican Central.
We remained over night at Silao with Mr.
and Mrs. C. w. Scott, delightfully."- pleas
ant people, by the way, whose generous
hospitality and liberal entertainment
placed us under lasting obligations. Mr..
Scott is an old G. N conductor, and for
the past three years has been occupying a
like position with the Central road. His
home is truly American in every detail,
and here we RECALLED ourselves with a
couple of genuine American meals that
did our hearts proud and afforded our
stomachs complete satisfaction.
Guanajuato is the queerest place
visited. 1t was founded by the Spaniards
in 1854, and is now city of 10000 in
habitants, occupying narrow ravine, or
Cauada, upon each side of which are high,
rocky cliffs. It is recorded that silver
mining was begun here in 1858, and after
being worked constantly for over 300
years is still the richest ore vein in
Mexico. 1t is claimed that the product of
the Valenciana mine. which is situated in
tn mountains northeast of the city, has
been $500, 900, 600. The astonishing
thing about this great mining interest is
that the process of mining and reducing
the ore are of the same primitive sort en-
ployed over three centuries ago. This
fact, however, is quite characteristic of
the Mexicans. They are not inventive,
lack largely in enterprise, and in all too
many instances cling to old methods and
traditions of centuries ago.
On the summit of hill at least three
hundred feet above the city, is the
Pantheon, or burial place of the dead.
Only the very poor are buried beneath the
ground, and these are dumped into hole
without collins or even rough boxes to
protect the bodies from the earth that
covers them. Those who are able to pay
the fee, have the inanimate ferns of their
friends of relatives, placed in square
chambers, which are built in tiers six high
on the three interior sides of the high
stone wall surrounding the cemetery.
The payment down of SIS and an addi-
tional payment of 500 within seven years
guarantees the perpetual resting place of
the body in this chamber. But default of
payment means the removal of the dead
at the expiration of this time to an i'm
mense charnel house built beneath the
Pantheon, in order to make room for
other dead This charnel house is a
CHASTITY looking place, access to which is
gained by means of spiral stone stair
way. The apperature is about twenty
five feet in height. with an arched roof OF
stone, and is about twenty feet wide II
is claimed that herein is stored the bones
of not less than 10000 people, and the
sight of skulls and bones thrown into such
heap makes one shiver at the spectacle
At one end of the chamber, standing in
rows on either side are the mummifed
bodies of fifty-one men and women-some
with hair on their heads, others with
shoes on their feet. and still others. with
portions of their garments in a state OIL
preservation. The scene is one of CHASTITY
reality. and blasting impress.
We leave the catacombs and return tc
the city. 1t is picturesque place. Its
narrow streets are made more peculiar by
the numerous curves and crooks Side
walks not more than eighteen inches wide
require pedestrians to walk single file
But despite the narrow, crooked streets,
the city has the finest opera house and
two of the prettieSt public gardens TO be