Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-04-16
Monterey. Mex. March 22

Leaving Mexico City Tuesday even
ing at $3.50 we arrived In Monterey
over the National railroad at IL
o'clock last night. but as our sleeper
is side-tracked we are not disturbed
until morning. AS our homeward
Journey takes us through this city, we
conclude day should be spent here.
For years we have read of Monter-
ay and had the city on our list OF
stopping places before entering the
Republic But II we had the thing to
do over again the program would be
changed.
We take street car to the city and
stop at the best hotel. run by Ameri-
cans, called the Windsor but II the
Windsor is the best. we trust the
good Lord will direct our steps in
some other direction next time. And
what a graft It must be! But one
| must expect to get robbed In Mexico
occasionally. OF course we may be a
little hard on the hotel from the fact
that we nave become thoroughly tir-
ed and disgusted with food obtained
| in Mexico and 1t is hard work to down
| the best offered any place. Again,
we are tired of things Mexican. and
this accounts for the dullest day spent
| in the Republic. Had we entered
| Mexico via Monterey and stopped here
all would have been different The
city would have been seen with diff
ferent eyes. We ask what there is to
see The reply: Churches. plazas,
bishops palace, etc"
| Well. we are tired of churches:
tired of bishops palaces; tired of one
story adobe houses; tired of watching
Mexican women grinding their corn
and making tortillas. In fact, we are
tired in more ways than one. hence
there is nothing that fascinates.
| hence it may be we are somewhat
tough on the Windsor hotel grub.
| Monterey is a city of between CO.,
900 and 10000 souls. And 1t is the
real commercial center of the Repub
lie outside of the City of Mexico. 1t
is called the Chicago of Mexico" and
we believe this is about correct 1t
is the real entering wedge to the Re
public, being the first city of import
ance after entering the Republic and
on the direct line to the City OF Mex
| leo and the heart of the country for
| the greater portion of the United
States via Laredo. Here is located
one of the largest smelling plants in
the district. formerly the Guggen
helms, but now belonging to the
American Smelling & Refining com
pany. Employment is furnished a
great many men. Tneh there is a
smelter operated by a Mexican com
pany. Near by are mountains from
which are extracted large quantities
of silver ores. In fact, Monterey Is
surrounded with high mountains of a
picturesque type. Monterey is the
supply point for the mining interests
as well as large scope of country,
although there is little but mining, as
the country Is not adapted to farming
owing to long dry seasons and cattle
| find grazing pretty slim. At least we
should judge so. as many on the
| plains were SO poor they hardly made
| suduOW. american StOre-KeeDerS
report good business and appear to
be making money. From Monterey
the National railroad has branch to
Matamoros, on the Rio Grande river.
near the gulf-just opposite Browns
vile, Tex. 1t also has branch lines
to several mining districts and main
line to Torreon and Durango, Mex.
leo. from which point ore shipments
are made. While the main line to the
City of Mexico passes through large
section devoid of interest, the road
bed Is in fine condition and the trav-
eler puts in comfortable day. At
San Luis Potisi one can see fine
Mexican city and take the Mexican
Central for Tampico 1t was our in
tention to take this trip and put in
some days angling for tarpon. but the
lateness of the season and prevalency
OF yellow fever and danger of quaran-
tine changes plans somewhat
Laredo, Tex, March o.
| Thank heavens, we are again in