Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-26
To BEAUT|H MEXICO
Diaz Ambitious to Make Ii the
HandsomeSt City.
MILLIONS FOR BUILDINGS
Opera House Patterned on That in
Paris.
HOMES OF THE PRESIDENT
Reconstruction of Monasteries for the
Use of the Government-Lack
of First-Class Hotels
OF THE PRESIDENT
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
ID William SDhIlo.
Special Correspondence OF The Star and Chicago
Record Herald.

in the world, and, to realize that aspira-
ton, he and his ministers have planned
group of public buildings on a scale sim
liar to those in Vienna. The headquarters
of the government Will remain. of course
in the ancient and historical old palace
OF the viceroys, which is associated with
SO much sentiment and is probably the
most venerable public building in America
II has recently been restored and modern
lied as much as was possible without de-
stroying its individuality, at a cost of 3d.
S6i, 1G0 and. next to the cathedral and the
Castle of Chapultepec. is the most inter-
esting building In Mexico The president
has his office there and several other of
the departments Of the government occupy
the rooms that surround its enormous
patios
Chapultepec is a military academy. and
part Of the castle is reserved a summer
residence for the president. 1t is much
cooler than any other part of the city be-
cause of its elevation above the valley of
Mexico and the beautiful grove of cypress
and eucalyptus trees that surrounds it. 1t
still remains very much in the condition
that it was when Macmillan the pseudo
emperor and the unfortunate Carlotta. his
consort, occupied it, The furniture they
brought from France is still used and the
beautiful brocades which are said To have
been selected by the Empress Eugene still
drdur he windows and doors. Cen DlaZ
doe not spend much time there, although
il is always ready for him during the sum-
mer season and staff of servants remains
there 10 serve him. When he can get away
he prefers to run down to a hacienda in
the ncighboring mountains on the road to
EZRA cruz where Madame DiaZ usually
spends the hot months. He has two or
three other places where he can find rest
and recreation within a short distance OF
the capital. and there is no need or lnten-
ton of erecting a presidential palace
Most OF the government departments are
now uccupving gloomy and inCOnvenent
buildings which were monaSteries under this
old regime and monkish cells are not well
adapted TO official purposes. A good zeal
of money has been spent in reconstructing
these old piles which were conf1scated from
the church after the fall of Macmillan. but
they are gradually being abandoned FOR
more appropriate and convenient edlflces
The department of foreign aHalrs mas
fine building, formerly private residence,
which was remodeled and refurniShed at a
cost OF $500 900; the department of justice
has been treated with similar liberality,
and one of the most beautiful buildings in
all America has just been completed for
the tuse of the city post office and the
postal department. 1t is built OF white
limestone deliberately embellished with
carving in imitation of a Venetian palace.
It cost 81 500, 900 and covers half block
on Buena Vista street, adjoining the law
school, the school of mines and the de-
partment of art and education.
National Grand Opera House.
An entire block on Buena Vista street.
between the new post office ard the Ala
media. which is the largest and most popu-
lar park In the city. has recently been pur-
chased by the government, cleared Of the
Anticipated buildings which formerly occu-
pied It. and is now filed with workmen
who are laying the foundations of ma
tional grand opera house, which will cost
not less than Sl25O0O0O. and probably
S15. 900. II was designed by local archi-
teCts In competition, after a careful study
of all the great opera houses of Europe,
and the photographs of the exterior suggest
many resemblances to that OF Paris IN
deed. IL is admitted to be, to a considerable
extent. an imitation. The auditorium is
expected 10 seat aoout 600 people in the
parquet which viii be surrounded by three
tiers or boxes and. a gallery for the ''hoi
poHol Attached to II will be the neces-
saTy offices for the management a restau-
rant and buffet, and a large hall which
may be used for balls, banuuets and other
assemblies and for fine art exhibitions.
rms Is practically the plan OF Mr.. Idman-
tour, minister OF finance who Is the most
enthusiastic patron of the arts and sciences
IN the cabinet. He has long argued that
The government should encourage art
music and literature. and use it's influence
70 develop a national drama The govern
ment has already sent a number of prom
Using young musicians and artists abroad
10 complete their education in painting,
sculpture architecture. literature and
music under pledges that they will return
10 educate their felIow-,ountrymen The
Mexicans have considerable genius In art
ana music. and have produced some cele-
bratcd performers. They also cultivate the
art OF poetry much more than our own
countrymen- The grand opera house Is
therefore intended to be not only a tenn
pie Of culture, but its magnitude splendor
and artistic excellence will represent the
Ideal toward which all Mgy{raus Oh
aspire.
Proposed Legislative Palace.
Near by. on the other side of San Fran
cisco street. just south of the Alameda.
where a hospital and almshouse stood for
generations. the government proposes TO
erect legislative palace. to cost s15 600. 900,
OF the same soft white porous limestone
that resembles marble. and IS almost as
hnc In texture rs Autograph stone. 1t
comes from a quarry near station with
an uupruDouuCable name. on the Inter
oceanic railroad. The new post office Is
built OF Il, and It win be used in the con-
structiOn of the opera house. The design
Tor the capitol has not yet been decided
upon. but II VIII be In harmony with the
other buildings and upon the same gener-
ous scale and imposing magnitude as the
Capitol al Washington.
The department OF communications, which
has charge OF railways and other trans
portation lines. rivers and harbors. high
ways. telegraph. telephones. etc. now
occupies u venerable building formerly
used by the Dominican Order as a monas-
terry, but II viii soon have a new and state
ly building, with all modern conveniences.
that viii cost s., 500 900
It is proposed also to erect a new
museum at q cost of a million dollars, and
a new building for the palace of justice. for
the use ot the supreme court. which will
be Of similar dimensions and cost
These projects Altogether involve an ex-
penditure OF about $50 900 600 to be made
within the next ten or twelve years, at the
rate Of three or four million dollars
year.
Restoring Old Buildings.
During the last five years the following
sums have been expended by the govern
ment in new structures for the purposes
named or for the restoration of old build
ings:
Remodeing national palace ............. 50 s6i Ts0
General Hospital Observation-Disclosures. . osT s24
Municipal prison and reform school 2. 1896 914
New post office building 49,. .......-. I 500 600
Restoration % national library. $40 eco
Asylum Tor the poor .......-...... h5T TBS
Department " Justice and education 445 COZ
National medical institute .......... $50 coo
Department o. foreign affairs. ...... 800 600
Normal school .--........ .-.,....... 800 23l
Geological lastitutt ...+....... 300 Oa9
Astronomical ohserva-a ..f. 900 0pn
Public printing of .-...... 3Dsl 600