The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-08-13
MEXICO A FOURTH
AS LARGE AS U. S.
Interesting Facts About R0pub-
lie In the South.
POPULATION is $4,000, 900.

Nation Covers 1920 Square Miles
City of Mexico 264 Miles by Rail West
of Vera Cruz and is 7,4oo Feet Above
Sea Level-Reached by Two Different
Railway Lines.
Washington.-The following informa-
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 af-
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 1896 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 United
States. Mexico has still territorial ex-
panse equal to the aggregate of Aus
Hungary. Germany. France, Great
Britain and Ireland The total area of
the republic. 10000 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 she average to more than 1000
per squS re mile
During nearly 300 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 q 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- /
prevail 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 politicos,
The church and state are independ-
ent, and congress cannot pass laws
prohibiting or establishing any reli-
gion or the 100000 habitantS
two-ffths claim descent from ancient
tribes or families which are accepted
as the basis of Mexican history. two
fifths are of 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 T,400 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 1917 and over
which. fifteen years later. the invad-
ing French troops passed. Ii is the
most populous city