Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-08-09
BY E. NJ. CARR.

trasts, such a variety OF climates,
such a diversity of products and so
many places Of historic interest.
1t is pre-eminently mountainous
region, the surface of which every
where betrays the volcanic nature of
its origin. 1t is bounded or each
side by the two great oceans, the
same as this country, and extends
southwark from the Rio Grande for
a distance Of about 1000 miles
The country consists largely Of
vast elevated plateau, or table-land,
from 5000 to 5000 feet above the
sea, and between this .able-land and
the strips OF level lands adjacent to
the coasts there are terrace-lands,
containing fertile valleys which in
places penetrate far within the cen
trail mountain system. These terrace
lands present every degree and con
dition of temperature and soil, from
the dark, tangled forests Of the trop-
ical lowlands to the everlasting snow
on the mountain tops. The broad
table-lands are not level like the sur
face of Illinois and Iowa, but consist
Of numerous saucer-like valleys, none
of which are large enough to prevent
the mountain rims from being plainly
visible whenever it is light enough
to see. The historic Valley of Mex
leo, the ancient home of the Monte
zumas, and the site Of the country's
capital city, is only about six times as
large as Delaware county.
Like so much of the western part
of the United States, Mexico is on
the whole badly supplied with water.
Springs and clear streams are rare,
and the water in all of the lakes and
rivers seen by me was of a brick-red
or muddy color. We who live in
Northeastern Iowa, where sparkling
springs and streams gush forth
from St. Peter sandstone, have great
reason to be thankful. When the
Fire Spirit is helping us to resist
the attacks Of the Storm King next
winter, cur Mexican neighbors may
be basking under green trees and
enjoying the perfume Of wild flow
ers, but very few of Them will
be inspired like we will be by the
Spirit Of GoodSWater.
| But most interesting Of all things
lin Mexico is the Mexican people,
with their history reaching back into
the Middle Ages, with their ancient
pyramids four times greater in area
than the greatest Of those in Egypt,
and their towns and cities, some OF
which were founded as far back as
the seventh century. Notwithstand
ing the 800 years Of Spanish rule
the Mexican race of today is pro
nouncedly Indian. President Dia,
and his wife are Indians, and SO art
a great majority Of the country's
statesmen, scholars and military Off
GERS.
If the foregoing generalities hell
to explain and lead to better un
; derstanding Of what | may hereafte
say, they will have served thei
: purpose.
THE CITY OF JuAREZ
, pronounced Wares, giving a TIL
/, same sound as in water, is l22-
! miles north Of the City of Mexico
and is the northern terminal Of th'
! Mexican Central Railway There il
nothing very inviting in Juarez, o
in the country adjacent to the %
miles Of railway between there ant
the city Of chihuahua. ] made thu
run twice in the daytime between
the two cities, but if | ever go owe
that line again ] will try and secur
q good berth in a Pullman sleepin!
car and take night train. And, j
, / do, the Pullman company will no
charge me but about half what i
would charge for the same service
. in any part of the United States, be
; cause its charges in Mexico are reg
ulated by the government.
Owing to the lack of sufficient rain
fall, to porous condition Of the vol
canic rocks and the rapid evapora
ton incident to a light soil, thu
northern third or more of the plateau
Of Mexico is of little value excep
for mining and grazing purposes
Outside Of the towns and cities yer,
few houses or buildings Of any kline
are to be seen in that part of tn
; country. All of the great platea,
, Of Mexico is what might be callet
, treeless, but most Of the surface
even of the northern portion, is GOV
cred with shrubs, low grasses {:
vegetation OF some kind. There are
however, not far south Of Juarez
} long stretches Of sand hills, of a ligh
| yellowish color, upon which there i
, not trace of anything green.
The Mexican people are not prout
,, of their
GREAT HACIENDAs,
!, OF great farmsas we would call then
, in this country, and ] think for tina
!. reason ] encountered all kinds o
1 obstacles in my attempts to secure
4 reliable information in relation t
! Terrazas possessions, through whicl
the Mexican Central Railway run
for a distance Of 1876 miles to tn
northward from the city of Chihua
hua. Terrazas is said to be tb
largest landowner in the world
} His big pasture in the state Of Chi
huahua is about 100 miles wide ant
J, 1876 miles long. and in this pastur
]. about million head of cattle, horses
sheep and goats live year in an,
l year out, for it can hardly be sait
that they have either winter or sum