The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-09-02
statcs-stiIl Big Country Though
and Has an Enormous Coast Line.


IL Is interesting to note that the area
of Mexico is practically us great us that
Of the United States between the sIis
slssippi river and the Atlantic coast
the great lakes and the gulf OF Mexico
varying in altitude FROM sea level to
$4,000 feet. It's climate Is affected by
these elevations and by a range OF
hundred miles is-the distance traversed
In passing south from Juarez. on the
northern boundary. TO the capital, and
900 miles more to the southeastern
boundary. The gulf of Mexico and
Caribbean sea coast line extends for
LOO miles, while the Pacific ocean and
gulf of California touch 1000 miles OF
Mexican coast
Prior TO 1896 Mexico. as Spanish
colony. and the United States covered
approximately equal areas. but the
Texas secession and the result OF the
Mexican war added nearly million
square miles to our territory. and the
extent of Mexico now is less than one
fourth that OF continental United
States Mexico has still territorial ex.
panse equal TO the aggregate of Aus.
trln-Hungary. Germany. France. Great
britain and ireland. The total area OF
the republic. 10000 square miles. Il
less than that of Texas. California
Montana. New Mexico and Arizona
combined.
fte average density OF population
Of Mexico npproximntcs twenty per
square mile. the most thickly populated
PARTS. outside ~ the federal district
being the states of TlaScala and Mex
icu. the former being less than Della
ware IN size and Of about the same
density Of population and the latter he-
ins nearly rs large ms New Hampshire
but with more than twice the number
Of inhabitants. Tho federal district
nodded after the District of Columbia.
but Of eight times greater area. Is sur
rounded by the state Of Mexico the
large population Of the rapltai. l10000
materially aiding IN bringing the aver
axe to more than 200 per square mile
During nearly 800 years subsequent
to the conquest by Cortcs. Spain domi.
mated Mexico. A century ago bold
effort for-frecdOm was started. which
eventually resulted IN the republic ct
Mexico OF today More than half OF
the FIRST century Of Mexican indcpend.
cnce was abortive. one cotere after
another coming into temporary power
ers after brief regimes meeting lgnO-
NITROUS death at the hands " the PEG.
pie they sought 10 govern
The form of government adopted by
Mexico follows In general that az the
United States. having executive. judi.
cia and legislative divisions. Each Of
the twenty-scven states is represented
IN two houses of congress. composed of
senators ana deputies Congress- holds
two sessions each year for limited Pc.
RODS. Each siate has its governor and
legislature and is subdivlded into dis
trcts or counties. over each of which \
jcfe politico is placed. the districts
having subsidiary municipalities with
magistrates. presiding officials and
councils The so called autocratic fea-
ture OF the government may be largely
due to the fact that governors hold Of
fee with approval of the president.
TINT jcfe poliiicos have similar reln-
lions with the governors and that the
officers of the municipalities are gener-
ally controlled by the jefe politicos
The church and state are independ.
ent. and congress cannot pass laws
prohibiting or establishing any reh-
gion OF the 100000 inhabitants
two-fifths claim direct descent from
ancient tribes or families which ARE
accepted as the basis of Mexican his
tory, two-fifths are OF mixed native
and foreign blood. the remainder being
classed under the common appellation
OF foreign"
The City of Mexico. 264 miles by rail-
west Of Vera Cruz and 7.40O feet aid.
tude. is reached by two rnil routes
climbing from the hot lands through
difficult mountain passes. one Of which
closely follows the trail taken by Cor
ties in 1919. by General Winfield Scott
with American troops in 1917 and over
which fifteen years later the invading
French tnoops passed. Ii IS the must
populous city. One-half OF the railroad
mileage OF the country Is between sea