Arizona republican., 1903-09-24
THE CITY OF MEXICO
R. L. Long Speaks of the Capital of
 the Southern Republic.

R. l.. Long returned to the city yes terday morning after an absence of six months. all of which was spent in the City of Mexico. He is likely to spend all of his remaining summers there for in his extensive wanderings about the globe he las never found such another admirable summer climate. The altitude is 7.349 feet. The temper ature during the past summer has never gone above .5 degrees in the shade and it has not fallen below GO degrees. The highest temperature in the sun was 90
 MT. Long has frequently visited the City of Mexico but since his last visit there of three years ago he noticed decided improvement. The city has become modernized and Americanized. Three years ago the number of English speaking people in the city was esti- mated at 5000. The number is now be- lieved to be 25,00O.
 One climatic feature of the city is the regular afternoon rain which keeps the valley green as far as the eye can reach. The showers are not of long duration and though they come often they are warmly welcomed.
 MT. Long visited Vera Cruz and also II same name. The celebration of the in- dependence of Mexico in the city he said was the most dramatic incident he ever witnessed. The most extensive preparation had been made for it. The city had been filling up for days. At o'clock on the afternoon of September 15 all the saloons in the city were closed and at early nightfan the multitudes hao tn 1 on the end of which the palace fronts for 700 feet. The plaza is partly en- closed on another side by the cathedral. the largest and handsomest on the American continent Another side is occupied by the building of the old corteS.
 Fully 5G,OOO people were gathered in the plaza. There was a great deal Of drunkenness. especially among the lE- dians. stabbing affrays were frequent and three or four men were disem- boweled. The plaza was dimly lighted until fifteen minutes after Il o'clock when suddenly the palace the cathedral and the grounds were turned into q blaze of light. The old bell of the DO- lores mission was rung by the hand of President Diaz. That was the same bell which at Dolores was rung at the same minute of the same day of the month almost q hundred years ago. by the priest Hidalgo announcing the be ginning of the revolution which was to end in the liberty of Mexico.
 Mir Long said that little is heard of politics in the city or anywhere else in the republic. The succession of Limantour to President Diaz is inciden- tally discussed in the question of his eligibility but it is not believed that it has been decided that he can be elected. He is popular with no class though his ability is admitted by all.
 It was at first denied that he was a citizen of the republic; it was asserted that he was born in France but it has been shown beyond g doubt that though his parents were French he was born in the City of Mexico and was educated there from the primary schools. The question was then raised that as his parents were not citizens he could not he one.
 It was decided though that the con stitution of Mexico having been model ed after that of the United States. the practice of the United States in such matters should be followed. It was shown that in the cases of three presi dents of this country, Jackson, Buchan- an and Arthur. their parents were of foreign birth and that they were not citizens of the country at the time of the birth of the future presidents.
 Mir. Long is clerk of the court of private land claims. session of which has been ordered to be held here on November i7. It is his opinion though that there will he no meeting of the court at that time.