The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-04

the distinction. In instances where
four people ride in a cab in Mexico
the price would be twenty-five cents in
our money, where the same service in
Topeka would cost $500. The charge
in Mexico is the same whether there
is one passenger, or whether the car
riage is fully occupied. Street car
fares are about one-half what they are
in this country.
At Aguas Calientes, a beautiful city
about the size of Topeka. several of
our people paid four cents each. Mex
lean money; that is. two cents on our
money. We discovered afterwards
that we were in a second class car. 1t
was open and good enough for any
body. The car ahead of us was a
first class car and the charge was three
cents, our money. A ride out in the
suburbs of the City of Mexico, a dis
lance of about eight miles, cost an
equivalent of our nickel.
The streets of the City of Mexico
have not always been clean. In fact,
the principal street, San Francisco,
was so dirty and filthy six years ago
that it was often necessary for ladies
to be carried on backs of Mexicans
from one sidewalk to the opposite one.
This was because at that time the gut
tiers were open sewers.
The city lies in a broad high plateau
surrounded by mountains There was
no way to drain the city except by
tunnel fourteen miles long through
the mountains. This tunnel was
building for nearly a hundred years
and was completed so recently as 1901
and the drainage of the city made
possible.
The American Influence.
The American colony in the City Of
Mexico now numbers about twenty
there all seem to be prosperous. The
country appears to be a good one for
both capital and enterprise, as well as
for energy. A half dozen years ago
-1,af iey, of no
residential portions of the city, con-
tanning fine modern homes, was then
but swamp. So while the city is old,
it is yet new. and everywhere in the
steel constructed buildings and mod
ern structures of all kinds bears the
impress and mark of American money,
means and ability. In an article like
this not much attention can be given
to details. The cathedrals in the city
are of mammoth size and cost fabu-
lous sums. One of them seemed as
big as our state house, contained a
pipe organ about six times the size of
our own in the Auditorium, but it did
not sound more sweetly nor appear to
give forth a greater volume.
Sunday. morning party of US went
to the Alameda, a beautiful park in
the heart of the city. Here were
great trees. brilliant. flowers, well
dressed men and beautiful women
handsomely gowned; as well as the
rich there were the well to do; the
poorer classes were notably absent.
They have parks of their own.
A splendid band of fifty pieces fur
nished music. There was a constant
parade around the bandstand and up
and down the pathways. There were
police officers, who quietly and effec-
lively prevented any one from stand
ing or blocking the passage ways.
There were seats everywhere; a
charge equivalent to five cents in our
money was made for each seat.
Our party went to an American
church and afterwards came back to
the park which was still crowded and
the band still played. Later, about
five O'Clock in the afternoon. at the
park the band still played. Mexicans
love music and the open air and like
to sit down.
Places of Note and Interest.
On one of the week days the
Thieves market was visited. This is
place where one likes to go once. 1t
is like an ordinary market place.
filled with booths and contains in the
main an indiscriminate lot of old
trumpery and junk, old revo1vers, old
guns, old swords. cheap hardware.
beads, toys, trinkets and notions.
There is a story that stolen goods are
brought here and if the loser can get
to the market early enough and
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