Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-12-30
4 Mexico Letter.

the southeast, we pass through a
very beautiful valley which is dotted
with many places of very ancient
history, the pyramids, battle grounds
and ancient temples, some OF which
antedate the period of written his
tory Seven or eight hours ont we
came in sight of Mt. Orizaba. This
snow capped mountain was III sight
for hundreds of miles and lent its
charm to our journey much to the
delight of all As we approached
this silent observer OF the passing
centuries, it's lofty head seemed TO
mount higher and higher until, as
we stood near its base, the very sky
seemed to be pierced by its hood OF
white. The passage from the upper
TO the lower plateau, at this point is
very abrupt. A drop OF 4lO0 feet
is made in going distance OF forty
miles. The scenery here is certainly
sublime. Rayines, cascades, rocks,
foliage and cultivated spots all con.
tributing their quota to make one
beautiful landscape. The most
change in this short jour
ney is in tn. matter of vegetation.
The climate in the lower level is
tropical and the rainfall so great
that the growth is continuous.
Coffee, sugar cane, bananas, zapotas,
mangoes and the like until the eye
wearies in its attempt TO take in the
detail of the landscape. 1t is indeed
difficult to picture to the mind of
one used to "A growing season OF
ninety days true picture of the
vegetation in this region. 1t must
be seen to be understood.
At Orizaba, town at the foot of
the mountains here, we spent about
twelve hours. Imagine our surprise
when we found it's population to be
5000 while we had not thought it
possible to exceed 5000.
From Orizaba we fastened on our
way through Terra Blanca, San
Marcos, San Lucretia and Rincon to
Salina Cruz, passing through in the
meantime many fine plantations
bearing upon them evidences OF the
foreigner with his commercial world
thought and intenser cultivation
The varied scenery Of this section is
beyond my power to describe. Suf
flee it to say that the Atlantic slope
is we'll watered and consequently
densely covered with vegetation
while the Pacific slope, on account
of the direction of the winds, is less
favored. Everywhere growing NOR,
and more dry until Salina Cruz il
reached and the land disappears
beneath the pacific
Salina Cruz is one Of Mexico,
important seaports and by THU
writing no doubt has been graceC
by the feet of Nicaragua's deposed
president 1t is here that tn,
Pacific trade is transferred for the
Atlantic seaports and vice-verss
thus making the business of ths
Isthmus railroad very profitable enc
no doubt permanent. The remain
der OF cur Journey was over the PaI
American, which has recently beef
purchased by former Ambassador
Thompson. This road is now under
going extensive repairs and viii
soon furnish the best Of conyenien
ces to the travelling public. II
extends southeastward along tn,
coast between The mountains anG
the ocean, now and then in sight o
the sea but everywhere in sight o
the lofty range on the northeast.
The seasons along this slope a,
far south as Tonala are two, the we
and the dry. From Tonala on the
southeast the dry period becomes
shorter and shorter until it dis
appears in the celebrated Socunosct
Valley, described by Won Humbol
as the paradise Of earth" and by al
who visit it as superb.
This valley is about $50 miles
long but varies in width from fiy,
or six miles to that of twenty five
Ia this valley and on the mountain
,lo..