The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-26
PARTY RETURNS FROM OLD MEXICO;
 MEXICAN WOMAN ENVIES AMERICAN
BY ANNIE KENDRlcK WALKER.

" WO weeks in the saddle, on a mar
 row trail, where the altitude varied
 from a few hundred to 12.O00 feet; i where a single misstep of the little pack mule would mean instant death to it's riLer; armed like a bandit in Robin Hood, where encounters with Indian tribes were hourly expected, but, trail enlivened with a strange hospitality from native Mexicans, are some of the experiences Of Birmingham party who have just re- turned from stay of two months in Old Mexico.
 In the party were MT. W. R. Me- Dougal, MT. zaek P. Smith, Jr., and MT. J. L. Benefield of this city. who went to inspect the mines of the La Dura Mines company at La Dura in the state of Chi huahua. This mining property had spe- cial attention called to it recently in mining journal at the time that the con solidation was effected when the Brming ham company took over the Southern Mining company, the Robert E. Lee Min ing company, the Teneriba Mining and Smelling company, the outlying inter- ests of the Union Mining company, and other desirable properties. The company owns total of 27 properties which con- sist of about 12o00 acres in Old Mexico.
 Members of the Birmingham party have expressed themselves as agreeably sur prised after their inspection of the prop critics. The gold and silver output is already large and with the installment of a cable to convey the ore from the mines to the mill. 100 tons a day will be the output of the mines. This article is not intended however, to discuss the future plans of the mining company, but will speak rather of the interesting ex- periences social and otherwise, of the visit to Old Mexico.
 MT. Zac P. Smith, Jr., has kindly re- called some of the experiences of trip which he considers one of the most in teresting he has ever made. MT. Smith accompanied his mother as far as Kan sas City from where she journeyed on to San Francisco, sailing from there for Japan while MT. Smith 1ourneyed on to Fl Paso, through Arizona and entered Mexico. ,f
 The party travelled through the Yaqui country, where their first Impressions came from the Mexican soldiers guarding Yaqui Indian prisoners. Passing through ,..e capital of the state, Hermosilla, the party had an opportunity of seeing one of the most fertile and beautiful sections, the valley being surrounded by orange groves, wheat fields and other agricul- tural products.
 Guymas was an interesting city en route, of considerable importance as sea port and also reached by the Southern Pacific railroad. Their next stop was at San Bias, where the South ern Pacific crosses the Kansas City Mobile and Ohio railroad, a frontier town. and from where the party jour neyed to Fl Fuerte, one of the oldest and most picturesque cities in the re- public of Old Mexico. Ther the mule train met the party and conveyed them for a trip of seven days across the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world They were in the saddle all day camping out at night by the most beautiful streams of water, and sleep ing on their blankets beneath the stars.
 "We were accompanied by Mexican mosos or guides" said MT. Smith. My favorite mosos was a crack shot, the finest one l have ever seen. He never failed to bring down deer, and in fact, each member of the party greatly enjoyed shooting deer. I succeeded in killing a deer at a distance of several hundred yards, and across a creek, as he was running up the mountain, and have had it mounted as a special trophy of my visit. Although my Mexican guide could not speak word of En- glish, nor l Spanish, we became friends and seemed to understand each other perfectly. I shall never forget him