Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-15

minds the principles of true religion.
Mr.. Mathewson begins grinding cane
in December and runs his mill day
and night, Sundays excepted, for from
four and one-half to five months. In
this section 1t takes a year for sugar
cane to mature after planting and 1t
requires considerable cultivation.
Other Iowans Here.
Among other Iowans whom / have
met here is w. w. Blake, formerly
city editor of the Burlington Hawk
Eye and afterwards president and
manager of the Burlington Gazette.
Mr.. Blake is in business in the city
of Mexico dealing in antiquities, books,
stationery, etc. He has resided in
Mexico twenty-five years, and is
one of the best posted men
on Mexican antiquities in the
republic. Mr. Blake secured the only
copy Of the New Testament that was
ever published in the Aztec language.
1t was the work of priest and was
done entirely by hand. Mr.. Blake sold
this book to E. 3. Aver of Chicago for
$500 gold Mr.. Aver is well known
along the line Of the Bur-
lington railway, and it is
said purchased this work for the
Field Museum in Chicago. The book
was written by Father Moline In 1855
and remained in the library of the
Convent of Santiago de Tlaltelolco I'M
til 1856. At that time when there was
a prospect of the government Selling
church property the librarian of the
convent sold this book with few 9TH
ers to a book dealer and Mr.. Blake
purchased it from the grandson Of the
dealer Mr.. Blake is brother of w.
E. Blake of Burlington and assures me
that he was 'the original discoverer
of Bob Burdette."
cemetery laws of Mexico City and he
stated that in the municipal cemetery
of Dolores bodies are buried just as
they are in the United States but that
a rental is paid for the grave at the
time of the burial for five. ten or TWEEN
ty years time. If this rental is not re-
newed, when the time expires, by
friends of the deceased, the body is
dug up and the bones disposed OF. In
Mexico after you have been dead five
years, 1t would seem that you are Of
mighty little account.
Superb Through Train Service.
General Passenger Agent Geo. w.
Hubbard, of the Mexican National Rail-
way lines, number of years ago, re.
sided at Sioux City, Iowa. He after
wards went to Marquette, Michigan,
as general passenger agent of the Du-
luth, South Shore & Atlantic railway.
He remained with this line some
twelve years and during that period
its receipts from passenger traffic
more than trebled. The character of
Mr.. Hibbard's work attracted the at
tention Of railway officials in Mexico
and last year he was offered the posi-
ton of general passenger agent of the
national lines of Mexico. These lines
include the National of Mexico, the
Mexican International, and the Inter
oceanic of Mexico. Among other du-
ties, Mr.. Hubbard went at the PROPOSE
ton of bringing tourists to Mexico in
the same vigorous manner that had
distinguished his work in the north.
He originated the plans for through
limited train service from st. Louis to
Mexico City and on January 16 of this
year, this service was inaugurated
over the lines of the st. Louis, Iron
Mountain & Pacific, the Texas & Pa
cific, the international & Great North
ern, and the Mexican National. A
magnificent Pullman service was put
on, the entire train, including dining
car, running through from st.
Louis to Mexico City and vice
versa. At present this service is BIZ
weekly, leaving st. Louis each Tuesday
and Friday morning. The time between
NV ~,
ened tWenty-four hours, the trip being
now made in sixty hours and the SER
vice was of character to Immediately
attract the attention of persons trav-
cling for pleasure as well as for busi-
ness. The success Of this train has
been phenomenal from the start. On
many trips extra cars have been re-
quired. 1t Is believed now by Mr..
Hubbard and other railway officials
that this service will be made perman.
ent not only throughout the entire
year, but that it must soon be made a
daily instead of a bi-weekly train and
that tho starting point of the train will
be Chicago instead of st. Louis Large
ly as result of Mr. Hibbard's enter
prise and enthusiasm in the matter of
directing travel towards Mexico, there
nave been more tourists in this cOun-
try this season than ever before and
the tide seems to be increasing in vol
ume instead of decreasing. The SER
vice furnished by the lines of which
Mr.. Hubbard is the general passenger
agent and the other Mexican railways,
is being rapidly brought up to
the highest standard Of efficiency and
every facility is being offered the tray
cling public to make a trip to Mexico
thoroughly enjoyable from start to
finish