Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-03
First Floor. Northeast Corner.

dow bars and stopped without smash
ing the window. 1t lies undisturbed to
this day. The West Point Of Mexico
adtoins the castle. and just below the
rocky ledge of the hill is a monument
to the brave cadets who gave their
lives defending the castle against the
victorious Americans. Americans an
nually decorate this monument, While
the cadets do honor to the Americans
who fell in the attack.
To describe MeXicos array OF historic
churches. from its great cathedral.
built on the site of the Aztec temple at
an outlay of more than $2O0OoOO down
to the humble Church Of Corpus Christi,
built as convent chapel for Indian
nuns of regal blood: to tell OF It's pup
lie buildings. from the national palace
more than three centuries old, down to
the splendid theater, one of the finest
in America. and still uncompleted' 10
relate the history of the capital WIN
its stories of the conquest. the nioooS
inquisition. its emperors, It's presidents
it's American army of invasion: to give
the story of the hundred historic places
and beauty spots within its enNirons'
would fill a book.
Here is the Hospital of Jesus, where
for nearly 400 years: there the great
tree under which Cortez Wept AFTER
the bloody defeat sustained at the
hands Of the Aztecs. Here Is the ma
tional pawnshop, where the poor nias
borrow money at a low rate OF intefess
and where unredeemed pledges are sold
by silent auction. a price being nxed
on each pledge and reduced once q
month until some one buys IL; h dea ~
The old mint. where 3.OO0.000.006 or
silver has been coined. Here is Churu-
husco. where Americans and MeXicans
fought in 1S47. and where they frater-
nize and play golf in 1911; Az san
Angel one sees a city of flowers, at
1,o
wealthy and a gambling mouse that
once was the American Monte Carlo.
Ruilt i'm the midst Of a lake, Mexico
was first an American Venice. with canals
instead of
r.,ol. for STRAITS streets, and con-
nected with the
in the Early Days. m ainIand by
large bridges Gradually the lake was
filled, and today the visitor knows noth-
ing of Il until told. Later the city was
repeatedly flooded. and to prevent this
huge drainage canal costing millions OF
dollars was built several centuriese ago.
But IL did not serve to drain the city, ana
In 1879 a great canal was undertaken, and
a tunnel more than six miles long was
cut through the mountains OF Xalpan. 1T
cost 1900 900 pesos to build the canal
and it was under construction twenty
wears, The city and the plain are SO
level that large pumping stations must
be used to flush tho sewers OF the city.
At some points one sees evidences OF
the gradual sinking of the city In the
leaning buildings. 1t is said that the
floor OF the valley is sinking at the rate
of about a yard every 100 years. Geoi-
oRists predict that ultimate ruin stefes
Mexico in the face. but Ak the date pc
yond all present human interest Inc
Mexican valley IS vast oval basin thirty
miles wide at it's narrowest point ana
sixty at it's widest.
Blessed with a climate that is superb,
with days which are a dream or oaimy
spring and azure skies the wnoie year
round, Mexico City Is making such prog
ress as to cause one who mas VISITED
every important city OF Europe 70 re-
mark that when the work now under
way ia completed the old capital OF the
Montexumas will be more beautliui thah
Paris. more admirably planned than vi
emma and a distinct Improvement upon
Berlin.
Tomorrow-THE NEW CONGRESS-.