The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1905-12-21
A MARIETTA BOY IN MEXICO.

ers something of the country be-
tween our city and the CITY Of
Mexico, and of Mexico in general.
There is, of couIse, great interest
shown IN travelling in country
where one never sees anything like
ne has ever seen it before, except
telegraph poles and here and there
mail crane. Such was our ex-
perience in Mexico.
The first thing that members of
our party began to notice with
interest was the low land beyond
New Orleans, where acres and
acres are covered with sugar cane,
broken into now aud then by q
swamp, where much timber is OBJ
tanned. The industries in this
part OF the country alternate be-
tween sugar and the lumber bust
ness. Then further we merge into
the oil region of Texas, which is
Included, roughly, between Jen-
nlngs, La, and Beaumont. All
this country is low-nothing re-
sembling hull is seen until we
pass San Antonio. Here the land
begins to roll, and cotton can
be raised. Beyond the land
of cotton, we find a section
covered with a small evergreen
bush, mesquite, with occasion.
ally live oak tree and cactus
plant. Nothing else will grow
and this land for a stretch of 500
miles or more, is of no value ex-
cept for grazing and the only
industry here is cattle raising. A
days ride before we get to Ell
Paso carries us through beautiful
scenery - mountains, hills and
canons, with no vegetation ex-
cept shrubs. On the one side we
have the Rio Grande, and on the
other, the mountains, whose rocks
in some places extend out over the
railroad track. Here we pass over
the second highest bridge in the
world. It is made entirely of
iron, and is 321 feet above the
river that flows beneath. At FL
Paso we spent a short time
Among the things we saw was the
large smelter, using ton furnaces,
and copper, silver and gold were
being taken out. Mexican labor
is used altogether. They can af-
ford to work cheaper, as they
swap their money, one for two, on
crossing the line into Mexico,
The better houses here are made
of stone, and the poorer ones OF
mud, mud sometimes made into
squares and baked in the sun, and
sometimes heaped up in rough
way. The same way throughout
Mexico.
After the unpleasantness of hav.
ing our baggage searched for duti'
able articles, we were on our way
through the barren country Of
northern Mexico. This land i:
capable of producing where there
is water. On irrigated land, we
saw very fine cotton and corn, but
where it cannot be irrigated, it Is
used for grazing. About eight
hours ride. carried us over the
farm of lazarus, the greatest lane
own Oh the globe His cattle are
estimated at 100000 head. Or
this farm is lake, eighteen miles
long, five miles wide and a few
tinches deep, formed by rains
Millions of wild ducks are seen OF
it all the time.
! OuI first pause in Mexico wa!
at Parfal, Chihauhau, a little
city of 10000 inhabitants, $500
| feet above sea level, situated
among mountains said to contain
more silver than any other section
| in Mexico. The mines constitute
the only resource of Parral. The
interesting things here are the
home of Alverado the Peon, the
Catholic cathedral and the ole
Indian temple, built over 40(
years ago. Throughout Mexic,
the old three class social system
exists. The country is unfortu
nate IN having extremely rich an(
extremely poor people. Alyerado
a characteristic member Of thu
poverty-stricken Peon tribe, wal
told by his father, of place h
could find ore. 1t was not untI
some time after his fathers deatl
that continuous labor brought thu
ore into sight. He has taken GU
millions of dollars worth of or
aud the mine cannot be bough
now for five million dollars. HI
spent over million dollars OH hi
home, made of carved stone, al
hand work. In the center of thu
building is the court-in this in
stance, more of park-with 6
fountain in the center, plant'
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