Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-03-26
INCIDENTS ON THE WAY
THROUGH MEXICO
On the Fly, March 3.

the scenes through which he passes
Six days ago we traversed this same
section but having been up all night
In transferring. as heretofore enum-
Grated and In crowded car, life dld
not take on the same rosy nue. as TO-
day. not having taken the train until
1915 this morning and being able 10
secure Pullman accommodations
Our sojourn of six days in Guadala-
jara was one that will long be remem
bered. The weather was delightful
and everything seemed to transpire to
our welfare For climate Guadalajara
Is claimed to be the best all the year
round In Mexico. Along coast points
II is too hot and no one thinks OF go
ing to any Of the cities on either side
Of the Republic to spend few days
and receive benefits of the sea breez-
es, especially In the summer time. al
though during the winter months
Tampico is said TO be just the thing
| and in. the course of couple of weeks
we expect to land there and test the
statements advanced. Guadalajara Is
so situated as not to be subject TO the
sudden coast changes and vegetation
is the rule the year around, And the
city is surely growing. Especially Is
this true regarding modern improve
ments. Within the last year many
miles of asphalt pavements have been
laid and many of the streets are torn
Up at this time, one million dollars
having been set aside for street paw
ing this year. The cobblestone pave
nents are being dug up and asphalt
substituted and in two or three years
the city will show wonderful advance
ment. All that is really lacking at
his time is proper hotel accommoda-
ions for American tourists. How an
American travelling in Mexico would
,njoy 10 visit the Dairy restaurant in
Danver, the Brown or any of the ho-
tells! 1t is simply out of the ques-
tion to get what one wants to eat.
And this is land of plenty, especially
n line of vegetables and meats Beef
Is cheaper by 25 to so per cent In
Mexico than In the United States and
vegetables are also cheap-all except
potatoes and butter. Both of the lat
ter are almost as precious as dia-
monds, potatoes being 10 to ~ cents
Der pound and butter from 81 to SIPS
Der pound and at most of the hotels
II Is quite novelty to have butter
every meal. In fact. we had to ar
range with the head waiter to secure
butter-montekela, It is called-and
then failed many meals, And potatoes
likewise. special arrangements being
necessary at the hotel where we
stopped. The morning meal is cocoa
and rolls without butter. and eggs.
1t is out of the ordinary to secure
lnything different. Then at noon
'omes soup and then three kinds Of
neat whether you want them or not,
with one or two vegetables. but no
potatoes or butter. The evening meal
Is repetition of the noon meal
meats and then again meats, until one
gets thoroughly tired. And If one
'ould secure fine steak to relieve
he monotony it would he different.
therefore we say an American hotel
properly conducted ought to be
seems to be the opinion of every one.
The tourist season lasts six months,
not to mention the summer. which Is
headquarters for many Americans dur
ing the hot months. If the writer
vas seeking for a location and a pay
ing business 1t would be to cater to
The wants OF Americans visiting the
1lnnGnnn nj
lefore a place of this character is a
ixture. Such pldce should nave. one
or two trustworthy guides and then
he time spent at Guadalajjara would
be pleasure In every way.
Returning to the way one views
country through which he passes. Is
Illustrated In our case. On our return
20 the main line of the Mexican Cen.
tral, distance of nearly 200 miles, |
we discover the country to be under
almost complete cultivation. At the
present time only certain sections
'ook green. lands easily watered and
planted 10 wheat. The rainy season
starts in April. or first of NAV M Int
est. and last until October. And the |
rainy season is not a continual rain, |
as may be supposed. except in ,cca-
sional years. II is the season for the |
growing OF corn. hay, etc. Then the |
and is cleared ard wtea; sown, which |
is harvested before the rainy season. |
being essentially winter prodi,ct |
ma raised entirely by irrigation. or |
course vegetables are grown the year
round. the markets receiving fresh
supplies every morning. And 1t is
worth an early visit to see the yend.
ors coming to the city from uutl,irg
sections with their products Oranges
IRE grown In great quantity. probably
he cheapest and best piaca to secure
mem being about mi iwav between
iuadalajara and Trapu.o. where the
'rice averages about cent apiece.
tlthongh the vendors NJ the train ask
III they way from one to four cents.
i'nt Wholesale they run ons ceht. This
means six cents dozen In American
money. And they afc choice. large
ma sweet. Notwithstanding they are
ull OF seeds. Not having the neces.
'ary time we pass ny Lake Chapella.
tn To-, |