Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1913-02-27
ME<,oo.

Many questions are being asked
about Mexico just at this time.
A few pertinent facts about that
country will, therefore. be of in
tereSt.
1t would make 20 States the
size of South Carolina. The pop
ulatlon few years ago was H.
Ga, 913. The boundary line be-
tween it and the United States
is about l, 400 miles long. The
Rio Grande river forms the boun-
Diary for about half the distance.
Its length from Central Amer
leo to the northwestern limits is
1880 miles. it's greatest breadth
is 750 miles; at Vera Cruz it is
about $40 miles and at the mar
rowest point it is 140 miles. 1t
has 6,086 miles of sea coast. 1t
lies between the Gulf of Mexico
and the Pacific ocean. A range
OF mountaing extends through
the whole territory. They are
nearer the Pacific than the Gulf.
There are a dozen mountain
peaks 10000 to 1900 feet high.
There are a half dozen active
volcanoes.
According to the message of
President Madero to Congress
last September the national army
was composed of 1O7 generals,
6, 236 officers und 49, 332 men.
the budget calls for an expendi-
ture of $55, 100000. an increase
of nearly $4,000, 600 over the pre-
vious year. A $4,000, 900 loan
was negotiated early last year
and another was about to be
asked when the present uprising
began. During last year 1000
miles of new railroad were un-
der construction at cost of S14.-
600, 600, but work was suspended
because of the expense on the
new $18, 100000 capitol and the
new $12, 600, 600 national theater.
Mexico has every variety of
climate from tropical heat the
year round to mountains always
covered with snow. Silver and
gold mines are rich and many
Americans have gone down there
to operate the mines. The min
eral wealth includes also gold,
iron. tin, zinc, mercury, lead.
About 100, 600 men are employed
in the mining and smelling es-
adjustments. There is in sight
a low-grade coal supply estimat-
ed at 300, 100000 tons, and in
the petroleum deposits on the
gulf there'is a supply of fuel oil
of incalculable value. Much, if
not all, of the capital used in the
development of these resources
is American and British.
The history of Mexico goes
back to the seventh century.
when the Toltecs were in posses
sion. After 500 years they were
succeeded by the Aztecs and
their dynasty ceased with the
Spanish invasion under Cortez in
1919. When the Spaniards came
to Mexico they discovered ruins
of immense buildings which ap-
peared to be very ancient. After
Montezuma yielded to the Span
lards, for more than three CEN
turles the country existed in a
semi-barbaric way. After a long
struggle, the territory of Texas
secured its independence in 1898;
then came the War with Mexico
In 1848. After that date Mexico
has been torn by internal dissen-
sions and suffered from anarchy
until the present time. Howev-
er, an orderly and progressive
government could hardly be ex-
pected when 100000 of the
population are full-blooded In
dians; 100000 Mestizoes, or
half-castes; 100000 Creole
Whites; so, ZOO Spaniards; 10, 600
negroes, 100000 Americans and
Europeans. 1t would be impos-
slble to bring such mixed pop
ulation up to that point of virtue
and civilization necessary for
best citizenship and good gov
ernment. The Spaniards are
the ruling class. Many of the
Indians are mixed race and are
held in a state of slavery. That
will always be the condition of
country where there is such
diversity of population. Exc.
n
The SAVINGS Rank of Fort Mil