The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1906-03-15
THE CITY OF JALApA.
An Old Fashioned Place, Curious Even
In Mexico

Jalapa means place OF water
and sands" 1t was an Indian town
at the time of the conquest, and be-
cause of its position on what for a
long while was the main road be-
tween Vera Cruz and the City of
Mexico it early became a place of
importance. After the establish
ment of the republic it was made
the capital of the state of Vera
Cruz. Between the years 1920 and
1777 great animal fair was held
here for the sale of goods brought
for years by the feet from Cadiz,
whence it derived the name of Ja-
lapa de la feria. frequently applied
to the city in documents Of the
eighteenth century.
The city is famous throughout
Mexico for the exceeding beauty Of
its women and Of its situation. From
these, its pleasing characteristics,
arise the saving that Jalapa is a
part Of heaven let down 10 earth,
and the proverb, "Las Jalapenas son
halaguenas" (bewitching, alluring
are the women of Jalapa). A less
pleasing characteristic, its frequent
days of mist and rain, at once the
cause of and very serious draw
back upon the enjoyment of its
green loveliness, has given rise to
yet another saying in Jalapa. During
these melancholy days the Jalapeno,
muffled in his serape and smoking,
dismally mutters, "Aye Maria puri-
sima, pue venga el sol" (Holy Vir-
gin, let the sun shineD
The city is curious, old fashion,
ed place-curious even in Mexico,
where everything seems odd to the
tourist - with narrow, crooked
streets, lined with tile rooted
houses, whose pitched roofs project
their caves so far that they seem to
cover the sidewalks like shed. and
pending from these are spouts to
carry the rainfall from the roof to
the center of the roadway. The city
has perfect drainage system, based
upon and indeed consisting almost
entirely of the facilities so lavishly
bestowed by nature in the shape OF
rain and grade. The streets slope
gently from the sidewalk on either
side TO the center of the roadway
thus practically forming high
troughs or cutters, and all dirt oil
refuse matter is Immediately washed
beyond the city limits by the rains
which fall, at least for short time
almost daily throughout the entire
year. This accounts for the scrupu
lousy clean appearance of the city
which impresses those who have Wis
tied other Mexican cities not so adj
vantageously located in respect t.
drainage as Jalapa. So abrupt i
/ the descent of the streets down tn,
, side of the hill that no attempt il
2 made TO use carts or carriages fo
transportation of goods or persons
A tramway which provides mean
of transportation to COatepec run
through portion of the main thor
e oughfare and is the only wheeled We
: hicle to be found within the city linn
, its, and even this requires six mule
to haul it up the steep grades fror
the railroad station TO the hotel;
4 All merchandise is carried from on
l part of the city to another by cargs
s dores and pack mules, which latte
9 are utilized extensively and almos
to the exclusion of the trrro and tn
y horse.
A walk through the streets of Il,
e city is repaid by many interestin
l. sights. The layanderas, or washer
women, pursue their vocation in tn
= public streets at large basins c
troughs, which have been placed i
b all parts of the city flr their accom-
n modaticn. The churches are ope
It all through the day, and at all houl
" worshipers may be found.-"MoC
ern Mexico"
n Costs Less.
"IIe can discover mines by means
a crooked stick"
THAT is probably as satisfactory
way as discovering them by means
q crooked promoter"