Semi-weekly herald., 1914-05-18
MEXICAN INFORMATION OF
VALUE.

The following information concern
ing Mexico was given out by the Ma
tional Geographic society in Wash
ington;
1t is interesting to note that the
area of Mexico is practically as great
as that of the United States be-
tween the Mississippi river and the
Atlantic coast, the Great Lakes and
the Gulf of Mexico, varying in alti-
tude from sea-level to $4,000 feet. Its
climate is affected by these elevations
and by range of 1S degrees of lati-
tude. Twelve hundred miles is the
distance traversed in passing south
from Juarez, on the northern bound
ary, to the capital, and 900 miles
more to the southeastern boundary.
The Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean
Sea coast line extends for 1,700 miles,
while the Pacific Ocean and Gulf Of
California touch 1000 miles of Mexi-
can coast.
Prior to 1886, Mexico, as a Spanish
colony, and the United States covered
approximately equal areas, but the
Texas secession and the result of the
Mexican war added nearly 100000
square miles to our territory, and
the extent of Mexico now is less than
one-fourth that of continental Unit
ed States. Mexico has still territor-
ial expansc equal to the aggregate OF
Austria Hungary, Germany, France
Great Britain and Ireland. The to-
tai area of the republic, 767, 900 square
miles, is less than that of Texas,
California, Montana, New Mexico and
Arizona combined.
The average density Of population
of Mexico approximates 20 per square
mile, the most thickly populated por-
tons, outside of the federal district,
being the states of Tlaxcala and Mex
leo, the former being lass than Della
ware in size and of about the same
density of population, and the latter
being nearly as large as New Hamp-
shire, but with more than twice the
number of inhabitants. The fedora!
district, modelled after the District of
Columbia, but of eight times greater
area, is surrounded by the state of
Mexico, the large population of the
capital, 100000, materially aiding in
bringing the average to more than
1,200 per square mile.
During nearly 300 years subsequent
to the conquest by Cortez, Spain dom
mated Mexico. A century ago bold
effort for freedom was started, which
eventually resulted in the republic of
Mexico of today. More than half Of
the first century of Mexican indie
pendence was abortive, one coterie af-
ter another coming into temporar,
power, and number of those ac-
claimed rulers, after brief regimes,
meeting ignominious death at the
hands of the people they sought to
govern.
The form of government adopted
by Mexico follows In general that Of
the United States, having executive,
judicial and legislative divisions. Each
of the twenty-seven states is repre-
sented in two houses of congress,
composed Of senators and deputies
Congress holds two sessions each year
for limited periods. Each state has
its governor and legislature, and is
sub-divided into districts, or counties,
over each Of which "jefe politico"
is placed, the districts having sub
sidiary municipalities with magis-
trates, presiding officials and coun-
ellis. The so-called autocratic feature
of the government may be largely due
to the fact that governors hold Of
flee with approval of the president;
that efe politicos have similar rela-
tions with the governors, and that the
officers of the municipalities are gen.
orally controlled by the jefe politi-
cos.
The church and state are independ-
ent, and congress cannot pass laws
prohibiting or establishing any relig-
ion. 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 be
ing classed under the common ap-
pellation Of foreign
The City of Mexico, 264 miles by
rail west of Vera Cruz, and 7,400 feet
altitude, is reached by two rail routes,
climbing from the hot lands through
difficult mountain passes, one Of
which closely follows the trail taken
by Cortez in 1919, by General Scot
with American troops in 1S47, and
over which, fifteen years later, the
invading French troops passed. 1t is
the most populous city. One-half Of
the railroad mileage Of the country
Is between sea-Ievel and 5000 feet
and about an equal amount between
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