The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1914-05-09
MEXICO A FOURTH
AS LARGE AS U. S.
Interesting Facts About Repub-
lie In the South.

~ IS Wv SVUbuW
POPULATION IS IS, 100000.
Nation Covers $4,000 Square Miles
City Of Mexico 264 Miles by Rail West
of Vera Cruz and Is 7,4o0 Feet Above
Sea Level-Reached by Two Different
Railway Lines.
Washington.-The following i1tforma.
ton concerning Mexico was given out
by the National Geographic society in
Washington the other day:
1t 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 at
fected by these elevations and by a
range of eighteen degrees Of latitude
Twelve hundred miles is the distance
traversed in passing south from Jua-
rez, 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 Pa
cific ocean and gulf Of California touch
1000 miles of Mexican 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 TIE
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
tria-Hungary. Germany. France, Great
Britain and Ireland. The total area Of
the republic, $4,000 square miles, is
less than that of Texas. California.
Montana. New Mexico and Arizona
combined.
The average density of population of
Mexico approximates twenty per
square mile. the most thickly populated
portions outside of the federal districts
being the states of Tlaxcala and Mexi-
co, the former being less 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 federal
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 / 200
per square mile.
During nearly 800 years subsequent
to the conquest by Cortes Spain domi-
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 indepen-
dence was abortive, one coterie after
another coming into temporary power
and a number of those acclaimed rul-
ers, after brief regimes, meeting igno-
minious death at the hands of the peo-
pie they sought to govern
The form Of government adopted by
Mexico follows in general that of the
United States, having executive, judi
cial and legislative divisions. Each of
the twenty-seven states is 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 a "jefe politico" is
placed. the districts having subsidiary
municipalities. with magistrates, pre-
siding officials and councils. The so
called autocratic feature of the gov
eminent may be largely due to the
fact that governors hold office with ap-
proval of the president that jefe DO
,liticos have similar relations with the
governor and that the officers of the
municipalities are generally controlled
by the jefe politcos.
The church and state are independ-
ent, and 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 mi appellation Of foreign"
The City of Mexico. 264 miles by rail
west of Vera Cruz and 7.4OO feet alti-
tude. is reached by two rail routes,
climbing through 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 1S47 and over
which. fifteen years later. the invad-
ing French troops passed. It is the
most populous city
Sparrow Sets Fire to Barn.
st. Paul. Minr.-A sparrow that dis.
covered way to warm its toes dur
ing a recent cold snap is blamed for
the destruction of a barn belonging
to L. O. Walden of Wilmington. Hous-
ton county. A report on the fire re.
ceived by State Fire Marshal @. e.
Keller says that the sparrow plucked
a live ember from bonfire and car
49, -