The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
MUCH TERRITORY ORIGINALLY
 MEXICAN ADDED TO U. S

It Is interesting to note that the area of Mexico is practically as great as that of the United States between the Missis- sippi river and the Atlantic coast, the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico varying in altitude from sea level to 1S- GOO feet, says a bulletin by the National Geographical society It's climate is af- fected by these elevations and by range of IS degrees of latitude, Twelve hundred miles Is the distance traversed in passing south from Jaurez. the northern boundary, to the capital and 900 miles more to the southea stern boundary. The Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea coast line extends for 100 miles, while the Pacific ocean and Gulf of California touch 400o miles of the Mexican coast.
 Prior to 1896 Mexico as a Spanish colo ny, and the United States covered approx imately equal areas. but the Texas seces- sion 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 conti- mental United States. Mexico has still territorial expanse equal to the aggregate of Austria Hungary, Germany, France, Great Britian and Ireland. The total area of the republic, 767,000 square miles, is less thaD that of Texas. California, Mon tana, New Mexico and Arizono combined. The average density of population of 4'i'NitO oPPtoAiiiiettcS ~ per SuudTe fDllt, the most thicl<ly populated parts, outside of the federal district being the states of Tlaxcala and Mexico, the former be- ing less than Delaware in size and of about the same density of population, and the latter being nearly as large as New Hampshire, but with more than twice the number of inhabitants The federal district, molded after the District of Col umbia, but of eight times greater area is surrounded by the state of Mexico the large population of the capital 47000O, materially aiding in bringing the average to more than 12oo per square mile
 During nearly 300 years subsequent to the conquest by Cortez. Spain dominated Mexico. century ago a bold effort for freedom was started. which eventually resulted fin the Republic of Mexico of to- day More than half of the first century of Mexican independence was abortive one coterie after another coming into temporary power, and a number of those acclaimed 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 27 states is represented in two houses of Congress, composed of senators and depu- ties. Congress holds two sessions each yeaf TOT llmlLeu perlOd6. Each state has It's governor and legislature, and Is sub- divided into districts or counties. over each of which a 'jefe poIitico" is placed. the districts having subsidiary munich palities with magistrates, presiding of ficfals and councils. The so-called auto cratic feature of the government may be largely due to the fact that governors hold office with approval of the president; that jefe politicos have similar relations <1.1 orpg of the municipalities are generally con- trolled by the Jefe politicos.
 The church and state are independent. and Congress cannot pass laws prohibit Ing or establishing any religion. Of tho 100000 inhabitants, two-ffths claim di- rect descent from ancient tribes or fami- Hes which arc accepted as the basis of Mexican history, two-fifths are of mixed native and foreign blood the remainder being classed under the common appella- tion of foreign"
 The City of Mexica, 264 miles by rail west of Vera Cruz and 74O0 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 1519, by Gen Winfield Scott with American troops in 1s47, and over which. 15 years later the invading French troops passed It is the most populous city. One-half of the railroad mileage of the country is be- tween sea level and 5000 feet. and about and about an equal amount between 5000 and 10000 feet.