The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1914-05-21
MEXICO A FOURTH
AS LARGE AS US.
Interesting Facts About Repub-
lie In the South.
POPULATION IS IS, 100000.

Nation Covers 100000 Square Miles.
City Of Mexico 264 Miles by Rail West
Of Vera Cruz and 10 7,4oo Feet Above
Sea level-Reaohed by Two Different
Railway Lines.
Washlngton.-The following informa-
lion concerning Mexico was given out
by the National Geographic society In
Washington the other day:
IL is interesting to note that the area
OF Mexico Is practically as great as
that of the United States between the
Mississippi river and the Atlantic
coast. the great lakes and the gulf OF
Mexico. varying In altitude from sea
level to $4,000 feet. Its climate Is af-
fectcd by these elevations and by n
range of eighteen degrees OF latitude.
Twelve hundred miles is the distance
trayerscd In passing south from Jua.
rcz on the northern boundary. 10 the
capital, aud 900 miles more TO the
southeastern boundary. The gulf OF
Mexico and Caribbean sca const line
extends for loo miles while the Pa.
cIdc ocean aud gulf of California touch
1900 miles OF Myxicnn coast
Prior to 1896 Mexico, as n Spanish
colony. and the United States covered
approximately equnl 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 United
States Mexico has still territorial ex.
pansc equal 10 the aggregate OF Aus.
trla.IIungary. Germany. France. Great
Britain and ireland. Tho total area OF
the republic. 100000 square miles. Is
less than that OF Texas. California.
Montana. New Mexico and Arizona
comblncd
The average density OF population OF
Mexico approximates twenty per
square mile. the most thickly populated
portions outside ~ the federal districts
being the states OF Tlaxcnln nnd Mexi.
co. the former being less than Den.
ware In size and OF about the snne
density OF population. aud the latter
being nearly rs large ns New Hamp-
SHIRE but with more than twice the
number OF inhabitants. The federal
district. modelled after the District OF
Columbia. but OF eighf times greater
area. IL surrounded by the state of
Mexico. the inrgr population ~ the
capital. 5TO.OOO. materially aiding In
bringing the average TO more than loo
per square mile.
During nearly 800 years subsequent
TO the conquest by Cortes Spain domi'
mated Mexico. A century ago a 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 indepen'
dence was abortive. one coterie after
another coming into temporary power
and u number OF those acclaimed rul'
ers. after brief regimes. meeting igno-
minious death at the hands Of the peo-
pie they sought 10 govern.
The form OF government adopted by
Mexico follows In general that OF the
United States. having executive. judi
cial aud legislative divisions. Each OF
the twenty-seven states IN represent
ed In two houses OF congress, compos-
ed OF senators and deputies. Congress
holds two sessions each year for limit
ed 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 subsidiary
municipalities. with magistrates. pre-
siding officials and councils. The SO
called autocratic feature OF the gov
ernment may be largely due to the
fact that governors hold ofice with ap-
provNl of the president, that jefe po'
liticoS have similar relations with the
governor and that the officers OF the
municipalities are generally controlled
by the jefe pollticos.
The church and state are independ'
ent ana congress cannot pass laws
prohibiting or establishing any reli'
gion. OF the 100000 inhabitants
two-ffths claim descent from ancient
tribes or families which are accepted
as the basis OF Mexican history. two
hfths are of native and foreign blood,
the remainder being classed under the
common uppellation OF foreign"
The City of Mexico. 264 miles by rail
west Of Vera Cruz and 7.400 feet alti-
tude, is reached by two rail routes.
climbing through the hot lands through
difiicult mountain passes. one or which
closely follows the trail taken by Cor
tes in 1910. by General Winfield Scott
with American troops in lS4T and over
which, fifteen years later. the invad'
Ing French troops passed. IL Is the
most DonulouS citv