The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-11
MEXICO FAST WORKING
OUT HER OWN SALVATION
Public Works and Harbor I'm
provements Are Leading Fea-
lures of Country's Policy.
FORGING TO THE FRONT

Charles NJ. Ritten, in Washington Star.
Mexico is working out a symmetrical ma
tional policy. Public works are leading
feature Of this policy. Harbor improve
ments on an extensive scale have been I'M
der way for several years past. Now they
are near enough completion to be under
stood in their full scope. Their main pur-
pose is interoceanic traffic.
1t is possible to go from the Atlantic
side TO the Pacific by railroad. Within a
very few years there will be at least four
transmexican railway lines. This means
the trade of the Orient in transit as well
as internal development. MeXico's far
sighted statesmen calculate that before the
Panama canal can be open for traffic they
will have the facilities for much of the
commerce which will be pushing its way
from ocean to ocean. And after its compile
ton they have the idea that with the
growth of the worlds trade and with the
means of handling light freight there will
still be plenty for the transmexican roads
TO do.
/ saw something of the national policy in
its application to public improvements COM
ing UP on the Pacific coast from Guate-
mala After hugging the coast line all day
in order not to risk being battered to
pieces or blown far out to sea by taking
the short cut across the Gulf of Tehuante-
pee, and even then experiencing the ire
mcndous force of the northers which sweep
from the Gulf of Mexico over the isthmus,
the fiashlight of Salina Cruz was visible.
Somewhere inside between Windy Point
and Salina Cruz itself was shelter, because
e u,-off xrD q NJ
the bay.
We did not put in, for few of the steam
ers OF ships now stop there. The harocr
works are not finished, but L learned from
| one of the contractors something of them;
| They have been enormously expensive, and
| heavy losses resulted from the first EFFORTS.
| But this stage is now passed, and II VIII not
| be long until the harbor is made secure ana
vessels will be able to discharge their car
| go for tranSsh;pment across the isthmus.
| The Tehuantepec Railroad connection is
| now complete between Salina Cruz and We
"a Cruz. on the Gulf of Mexico, and is IN
fair running order. The dream or proJect
of Captain Eads for the Tehuantepec ship
railway was given up years ago. But the
| Mexican government chung TO the plan OF
| having a railroad. The railway, of a kind,
| has been in existence for good many
years, yet it was only few months ago
| that the connection with Vera Cruz was
completed and the line put In CONDITION LOT
| practical operation. 1t is the nrst inter
! oceanic link. and there seems TO be promise
| of plenty OF business for IL when the mar
| Dor works of Selina Cruz are DONE
CITY OF ACAPULCO.
| Acapulco. further north, does not need
much in the way of harbor improvements.
| Completely land locked with craggy. ter
raced heights, it is the safe shelter to-day
that it was for the Spanish galeons three
and four centuries ago when they made IL
! the point of departure for the Philpplnes
| Not having practical subjects, such as dres-
| ing and breakwaters and piers to think CT
| enjoyed the two sunrises which every
| traveller is expected TO note-one or them
| a fiery bulb popping up out OF the sea, and
\ the second one a golden flood OF ighl
streaming over the green heights. fro.
| saically this is to say tnat the steamer
| threads its way into the harbor about a:
rapidly as the sun climbs into the sky.
| Once within there is clump or roya
| Mains i'm the saddle Of the two hills and the
| circle OF ridges and cones. Acapulco is Z
town of fat buildings almost shelving ou
| from the side of the bluffs and of grass
! thatched huts on the hillsides. The mos
nrominent structure is the barracks anC
! fort with the old rawbridge and moat
| Ashore there are the plaza and market anC
the new church which is building over th'
| shell Of the old one.
| The hotel Is kept by an American woman
Mrs. Suffer, the granddaughter Of Genera
/ Sutter the California gold discoverer. !
|
engaged in business. but Acapulco itself Il
| thoroughly Mexican, both in its architec
ture and its people, the men with their bril-
liantly colored zarapes or blankets an'
peaked hats and the women with thei
| bright-hued rebosas or shawls.
| Manzanillo is a smaller town than Acapul
| CO. but is more Of port in the Commercial
| sense IL Is hidden behind the bluffs will
| a white wall OF limestone as the landmark
| There is a long beach and a crooked en-
! trance Millions of dollars already hav
| been spent in the harbor improvements ant
the great breakwater is nearing compile
! ton ManZanllo has been considered al
| unhealthy port. due largely TO "A shallow
| lake which spreads over a great many mile
| of territory This lake has a habit Of dry
ing up at certain seasons and leaving vas
numbers OF fish TO putrefy and pollute tn
atmosphere. AS a part OF the general har
Dor Improvement and TO make sanitar.
port canal is being cut from the open Sc
The quarantine station OF the Chinese !
located here. and IL is the only port on tn
Pacific at which they are allowed TO land.
MAZATLAN on THE COAST.
did not go further north to Mazatlar
which is the largest town on the Pacih
coast. or to Topolovambo. which is 10 b
the terminus of what is known as IN
Orient line. Mazatlan has it's harbor facil
tiles in excellent Shape. and in time il Wi
be joined with existing railroad systems
II suffered enormously last year throug
the bubonic plague and lost by death an
hight chiefly the latter, more than one-hal
its population. The people are now return
ing and In a year or two IL will again en-
Joy its supremacy as the chief western coas
town OF Mexico.
AT all the ports on the Pacific / heard tn
testimony of the ships officers TO the OK
cellence OF Mexican administration in Dor
matters, customs and quarantine. There
also a very good weather service. All thi
Is further evidence OF Mexican nationa
policy.
From Manzanillo to Colima a narrow