Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-04

ally decreasing in population, in strength
and wealth ever since. In time they Will
disappear, for they do not mix with MOD
ern Mexicans. They are very exclusive, re-
served and conservative. They nave their
own distinctive customs and laws and their
poverty and ignorance does not anect their
pride.
A mile or so back of the village of lguat,
zio is prehistoric amphitheater about 900
feet long and $50 feet wide, surrounded on
two sides by terraces of seats constructed
of stone. cement and sand AT one enc
stand two pyramids about 90 feet hlgh ana
1875 by 100 feet at the base. The SUBMITS
of the pyramids are about % by 40 feet
and are reached by q series of steps. The
natives have all sorts of traditions con-
corning these structures. They VIII tell you
that they were the tombs Of the ancient
kings of Tarascan and that the interiors
were once divided into chambers like the
Egyptian pyramids, but Father PiZarro is
of the opinion that the amphitheater was
intended as a parade ground where the
king of Tarascan reviewed his troops, while
the mobiles were seated upon the steps of
the pyramid according to their rank and
the people occupied the terraces on either
side They at least an interesting
study for archaeologists.
Extensive Packing Houses
About fifty miles farther down the rail-
road at the terminus of the western branch
of the National railroad. on the Pacific
slope of the Sierra Madras. is the enterpris
ing city of Uruapam. where the United
States Packing Company of Chicago is
putting up a modern plant, capable or
handling 1900 animals a day-hogs. sheep
and cattle. The packing houses, with the
cold storage warehouses, lee plant and stock
yard, will represent an Investment of ST.
000, 600 or more chiefly Chicago capital. with
several influential Mexicans. The company
has a contract with the Mexican Nationals
railroad to distribute its products through
out the central part of the republic and will
start with an equipment of fifty -four re-
frigerator cars, the first that have ever
been introduced into Mexico. Cold storage
warehouses will be erected at several con-
venient distributing points and the COM
pany proposes to furnish fresh beef. pork.
mutton, eggs, chickens. game butter, lard
and other provisions to the public on the
American plan. 1t has a concession for
twenty years free of all taxation. Thus
while the government and people of the
United States are trying to suppress beef
trust the government of Mexico is nurs-
ing one.
1t Is something entirely new down here.
There has never been cold storage re-
frigerator car system IN the republic. Cat
tle hogs and sheep are slaughtered at pub
lie abattoirs for a fixed fee-s5 a head for
cattle. SO head for hogs, and SO on, and
the meat Is sold over the counter the same
day. 1t is very poor meat, too. particularly
the beef, as everybody who has visited
Mexico will testify, and all of the by-prod-
ucts are wasted except the hoofs and the
horns. which are made into glue, and the
tallow and hides The new company ex-
poets to begin business this fall at Uraa-
pam, and as soon as that plant Is well in
motion It intends to erect similar one at
Vera Cruz, on the other side of the repuDiic,
with capacity of 1000 animals day.
They propose to put up a canning plant
there also. I understand that the Swifts
have had agents investigating the situation
In northern Mexico and propose to erect
plant at Monterey. but they have not OBJ
tanned concession thus far and their plans
have not been disclosed.
According to the latest census there were