Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-08-12
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico,
August /, 1902.

Editor Of the Democrat:
Taking our Pullman car at El Paso
on the Mexican Central railroad, the
train slowly drew across the interna-
tional bridge and brought up at Ciu-
dad Juarez on the borderland of Mex
leo. Our baggage was removed to the
examining room in the depot and after
being inspected and duly marked with
blue chalk, we were informed In Ian
guage new to us that we were free to
proceed on our journey. Breathing
somewhat easier that this formality
was finished, our first impressions Of
this strange land began in strolling
about the depot and watching the
people. ,e.N -.
We were disappointed in the Rio
Grande river. That impressions form
ed in early school days should be so
summalily shattered at the very
threshold of our journey, created dub
ious feelings that other idols were to
be profaned before our return from
the land of the Fair God. | expected
to find the Rio Grande a raging tor
rent, deep and mighty, natural bar
rier between the two republics. "
Its present condition may be en-
blematic of the amity existing on this
frontier. Where there was once a
great river and the blood of both grea-
ser and gringo stained it's banks a
crimson hue, there Is now no water,
and the bed of the river Is furrowed
with wheel-tracks and there is every
evidence of open hospitality and fra
ternal feeling between the people on
both sides.
When we scanned the horizon to the
south and followed the long line of
telegraph poles until they disappeared
in the sand of the Chihuahua desert
we were sensible of feeling af ad
miration and reverence for our Pull
man car. We knew that where that
slender line of glistening steel disap
peared and reappeared around banks
of shimmering sand into n country OF
totally unforbidding aspect, we were
soon to depart. 1t was truly a Terra
Blanco region.
| But our impressions are tempered
| by our moods and our moods are gov
erned by our digestive organs. Wher
the train drew up at the dinner sta
| ton at Moctezuma after a run of IL.
miles, we had entirely forgotten about
the Chihuahua desert and that 20 min
utes We're industriously applied in max
ing our first acquaintance of a Chimes,
dinner. 1t was good one, and no oil,
who has travelled could take exceptions
to it, We came to respect the China
men on this trip, for he is friend t.
Americans in this country, as he fol
lows the line of railroads and estab
fishes his eating houses where whit,
man would think he could not live
much less make money, and then he II
neater than the native Mexican, an(
serves bountiful meal of good vari
ETY. for $1.00. Mexican money. From
Moctezuma to the city of Chihuahua
distance of 113 miles, the line of rail
road runs continuously through th'
vast estate of General Terrazas, tn,
former governor of the state of Chihua
hua. No rain has fallen in this regioI
for nearly two years, and the plain
where there was any grass We're parch
ed dry and the large droves of cattl,
and horses had to range far and Wild
for forage and water. At Chihuahui
we entered the sphere of mining ac
tivity in Mexico. Everybody assocl
ates the thought of Mexico with silve
mines. Fabulous tales and true one
are told of the marvellous silver mine
of this land of Montezuma.
But what Mexico has done and i
doing today is but a drop in the buck
ct to what is before her. Condition
that lead to this conclusion may b
made clearer by quoting from pape
read before the Institute of Minin,
Engineers by V. NJ. Braschi: ."Th
railroad history of Mexico began witt
the first presidential term of Genera
Diaz, in 1877. The program lait
down at that time by the new govern
ment and responded to by the peopl,
was to develop it's natural elements o
wealth; to re-people the national terri
tory which foreign wars and interna
strife had almost depopulated; to eros
the land with ample and rapid ways o
communication; to open new markets
to Mexican products and to ipcreas,
internal trade; to end at once and for