davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Mixed Blood in Mexico
Article, MEXICO

AS the Spanish conquerors brought few women,
uncfc was much mixture OF races. Among the pure
"'ntcs-who were practically all Of Spanish extraction
were two well defined classes, the t'aelupines
or Capetoncs Spaniards born in Europe said to be 50
named III allns1on to their spurs, from Aztec words
meaning pr'ckcrs with the foot, and the r,ativcborn
OF erfoIes; the former. though small majority. had
almost all the higher positions both in the nublic ser
vices and III commerce. Besides these there were five
Wen Defined eastas. Mestzoes (Indian and white)
u'attocs NEGRO and white) Zambos (ncgro and IN
da') who were regarded specially vicious and dan
serous native Indians and negroes. But there were
ABOUT dozen intermediate named varieties OF which
t1e saitoatras (tendng away from w,ite) and tentc
en- ARE (tending toward white) NAV be mentioned:
and many OF the last named eventually passed into the
creole class, sometimes by the decree Of court The
TACT that the trade route Manila passed through
Element also of few Chinese and Malavs chiefly on
the Pacific coast
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
The City of Mexico
From the Encyclopaedia Britannica,

Mexico City is 7,415 feet above
sea level, and by rail 26f miles
northwest of Vera Cruz.
With wet, undrained subsoil,
and many thousands of Indians
and half-breeds living in crowded
quarters. the death rate has been
VIGOROUSLY high-46 to So per
thousand. though drainage works,
underground sewers, and SANTA
ton have tended to improve these
conditions.
The city is laid out with almost
unbroken regularity.
The name of street changes
with almost every block, accord
TO old Spanish custom.
The Paseo de la Reforma. the
finest avenue in the city, is a
broad boulevard almost three
miles long.
There were Q90s) 353 govern
ment schools in the city, including
10 professional and technical
schools. and nearly 200 private
schools; Geographical Society,
Geological Society, an Association
of Engineers and Architects, and
Society of Natural History, also
a Nationa, Library dedicated in
1862, of upward of 225,OOO volumes.
There are over 80 manufactur-
ing establishments, including iron
working shops.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Mining
From the Enc

From the Kncy ciopaedia Brltannica)
Mining is the most productive
industry. Mines Of some descrip-
ton are to be found in twenty-six
of the thirty-one states and terri
tories. There is also consldera-
BILE production Of coal, copper and
iron.
The mineral resources Of Mexico
also include petroleum. asphalt,
platinum, graphite, sodium and
marble.
The most celebrated iron deposit
is that of the Cerro del Mercado,
in the outskirts Of the city OF Dur
Angola mountain 640 feet. in
height. LOO in breadth. and 1890
in length. reputed to be almost a
solid mass Of iron.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
characteristics of the Native
Population
From the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

The native population Of the plateau of Mexico.
mainly Aztecs, may still be by thousands without
any trace OF mixture Of European blood Their stature
ESTIMATED to be about it. ill.,, but they of mus
cular and sturdy build. Measurements Of their skulls
show them mesocephalic (index about 49, or inter
mediate between the dochcephac and braclycephalc
high cheek bones, long eyes soping outward toward
the temples fes1y lips, wide and in some cases
attsh but in others aquiline coarsey nodded features
skin masking the muscles has been thought the cause
OF peculiar heavness i'll the outlines Of BODY and face
the complexion varies from yellow to chocolate
labout 40 to 43 in the anthropoogca scalc): eyes
black; straight. coarse glossy black hair beard and
mustachc scantv'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Plants and
Plant Products
from the En-,clopardia E-itanr

pfoW INC encyclopaedia B-itsunics,
OF the economic plants and
products OF Mc.ico tho list is
surprisingly long ami interest
ihs. The cereals, fruits and
vegetables of Europ. have been
INTRODUCED and some OF Them
have done well. Wheat is widely
CULTIVATED and Il considerable
part Of t'icpopulation depend upou
1T for their bread. Indian corn
which is believed to have had
It's origin in Mexico, alsoi pro-
'idcs food for a large part Of the
population. .Tumas' or cactus
fruit. rcd peppers. 'zapotes' Che
ffuit OF various trees. .arrayan.'
'cirucias' or Mexican plums.
suasas, 'huamuchil, tamarind..
aSuacafcs, bananas. Ilantajns.
pineappl,s, grapes. oranges, lemons,
lines. granadillas, chirimoyas.
nianrnccs, cocvanuts, cacao-
manages, olives, gourds ana
melons are among the fruits of
The country, and rice, wheat, In
dian corn. beans, vans, sweet
potatoes, onions and tomatoes
are among its better known food
'.prodlIcts
The food Of the common peo-
pie is chiefly MADE up OF Indian
corn, beans, red peppers and
tomatoes. There are about
nifty known species of beans in
"MeAico and Central America, and
probably Il dozen species OF .ed
peppers, which are used both IN
seasoning and All maxim. chill
sauce. The .LOnato' or .toma-
tho mentioned is The fruit of
the Fhysal:s ixocarpa, sometimes
called the strawberry tomato
and the 'Me2ican ground cherry
which is used with reu peppers
10 make chill sauce.
The common potato, or which
wild varieties ale found, is moi
commonly Used as d vegetable.
nut as 4 liavo..ng for SOUPS anu
Other Dishes
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27

IhenceforWard till the second election oil Porfrio Daz
the presidency in 1884, the history OF Mexico of
almost continuous warfare in which Maxmans empire is
episode The conflicts, which may first sight
merely between rival generals upon closer
examination to be mainly o. between the privileged classes
the church and (at tnes) the army, and the OF
the civilized populations between Ccnralists and
Fcdcraists the former being identical with the army the
church and the supporters OF desposo. while the latter rep
resent the desire for repubclnsm and local
Similar conflicts exhibited, though less continuously BY
most Of the other Spanish american states
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Products of the Soil

,rrvm the Enc. clopaedia Britannlra.'
IAN important product Of the
plateau and of the open dis-
.tr,cts of tho ticrraS calicntcs,
growing iii the most arid places,
lis the 'nopaf or prickiy pear
"cactus. Its fruit. called tuna
..nr fine natives. is refreshing and
"rbolesonc, and is a staple rood
..jn spite OF its spiny covering
",u the tierras caljentes OF Mex
leo, however. letter conditions
prevail A fertile soil. abnh-
"dant rainfall and high tcmpera-
lures have covered these noun
tain slopes and ionlard plains
with Il wealth of vegetation The
problem for the agriculturist here
lis not irrigation. but drainage
and keeping down Spontaneous
"growths.
"Iu these reg ons sugar, to-
"bacco, indigo, cacao. rice s"ee
POTATOES, alfalfa, .caEs and cas-
..saya are produced, and Indian
corn yields two and three crops
"a year.
Fruits also are plentiful. both
wild and cultivated. Among
them are the banana, plan;ain,
tuna, chilli pepper, olive. cocoa
nut. orange, lemons lime, man
go, pomegranate. pima or p.ne-
apple wild and cultlvatedl. fig.
"ahuacatl, chirimoya, papaya,
"gourd, melon. guava, ciruela
..tp,um), and the several 'zapote'
fruits, including chico zapote'
from the Achras sapota, which
produces the 'chic!a' or chicle-
gum of commerce. 'zapote
..blanco,' .zapote barracho' tor
.amarillo). 'zapote prieto' Tor
.negro) and 'zapote Nancy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Commerce

,From the Encyclopedias Britannica
Coastwise trade is principally
under the Mexican flag. but the
steamers are owned abroad.
Imports were valued in 191O-1l
at s96OO6 $50, and the exports at
sl47, 4o1 1855. ..s.
The imports largely consist of
railway material, industrial ma
cbinery. cotton, wooden and linen
textiles and yarns for national
factories, hardware. furniture,
building material. mining supplies.
drugs and chemicals, wines and
spirits, wheat. Indian corn, paper
and military supplies and equip
ment.
The exports include god. silver,
copper, coffee, henequeu or s.sal.
textile and other fibe.s, cabinet
woods, chicle. rubber and other
forest products, hides and skins,
chickpeas. tobacco and sugar.
In the production of cane sugar,
Mexico, compared with other coun-
tries, Is thirteenth. with 1856
tons: of rice, sixteenth, with 1875
10000 pounds; of tobacco, four
teenth, with 81. 10000 pounds; cot
ton, seventh. with 100000 bales;
gold, fourth, with l.412. COO ounces;
silver. first. with 81 1000, 900 ounces;
coffee. sixth. with Is. 6SS. 900
pounds; lead. fourth, with 1o46O0
tons.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
Causes of the Present ReuOluOn-7he Privileged Glasses
Versus the People

On both sides in Mexico there element
slsng OF honest octrlaircs: but rival military leaders
plotted the struggles their interest sometimes taking
each side succcssivey and the instability intensified
by the poverty of the pcasantry which made the
sodicrv reluctant return to civil life BY the absence
regular middle class and by the concentration OF wealth
few hands that revolutionary chief generally
both of money! and Of But after 1884 under the rule Of
Diaz. the Federal system continued but ii
cealed with great benefit to the nation highly
trazcd administration very intelligent, and the whole
popular and successiua modern form rational
dcspotiSm
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Tine Marvellous
FlUru

tr rom tuc i.u, yciopacdia Drirupnica.)
No brief description can ade-
'quatcly portray the marvellous
variety and ma snificence of the
flora OF the tierras calicntcs. Its
/forcsts are not composed of one
'or few dominating species. Us
IN the cold temperate zone, bu.
''on countless genera and species
closely interviewer together-a
confused mass OF giant trees,
''lianas and epiphytcs struggling
ito reach the sunlight This strug-
gle for existence has completely
."changed the habits Of some
plants, turning the palm and the
cactus into climbers, and even
some normal species into cpl
.-phytes?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Tropical Trees

From the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Among the more important and
conspicuous trees Of these tropi-
cal forests arc mahogany. rose
wood. Spanish cedar. casSias.
''ceibas. rubber. palms OF many
species. guayacan. logwood. bra
''zilNood. palo bianco. the cascs-
tote and divi-diri trees. the "a
''pote chico. from which rhicle
is extracted. 'zapotc pricto, Wild
fig. myrtlcs. hamboos and many
'of the types already mentioned in
connection with shc sub-trop.cal
zone
of the III species Of trees and
cabinet woods. Il or oil-bearing
plants. and over 60 OF medicinal
plants and dycwouds Indigenous
to Mexico. by far the larger
part arc represented IN the
tler-as caicntcs. Among the
well known forest prod icts 81
this zonc are arnotto. iaiap. inc a
cuanha. sarsapai'illa. rubber.
orchids and . great variety or
gums
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Did the Mexican
Aborigines Come
From Asia?

"The original pcoplins Of Amer
lea might then we'll date from
..thc time when there was contin-
"uous land between it and ASIA
- . At all times comiIunl-
cation has been open from EAST
Asia, and even the South Sea
Islands to the vest coast OF
America The Importance of this
is evident when VIC consider that
.late in the nineteenth century
Japanese jrlnks still drifted over
.'hy the ocean current to Califor.
mia at the rate of about one Il
year. often with some OF the
Grew still alive. Further nortk,
the Aleutian Islands offer u line
..of easy sea passage, while in
northeast Asia, near Behring'S
"Strait, live Chukchi tribes who
carry on intercourse with the
American side.
Moreover, there are details Of
Mexican civilization which are
most easily accounted for on the
"supposition that they were bor
"rowed from Asia. They do not
seem ancient enough to have to
do with remote -Asiatic origin
..of the nations of America, but
rather to be results Of compare
lively modern intercourse be-
between Asia and America. Hum
"boldt compared the Mexican
calendar with that in use in cast
"ern Asia. The Mongols, lib
"etars. Chinese and other neigh
boring nations have a cycle or
series of twelve animals, viz,
rat, bull, tiger, hare. dragon
serpent, horse, goat, ape, COCK,
dog, pig, which may possibly be
IAN imitation of the ordinary
.Babylanian- Greek zodiac familiar
Ito ourselves The Mongolian
peoples not only count their lunar
months by these signs, but they
reckon the successive days by
them, rat day, bull day, tiger
"day, ETC., and also, by combining
the twelve signs in rotation with
1.-The elements, they obtain
means of marking each year IN
the sixty-year cycle, as the wood
rat year, the fire tiger year, etc.
This method is highly artificial,
and the reappe arance of its prin-
..ciple in the Mexican and Cen
trial American calendar is sug-
.gestive of importation from
Asia.
From the encyclopaedia Britannica.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Odd Facts
About Mexico

(From the Encyclopaedia Er.tann!ca.l
Mexico is officially called '.Es-
tados Unidos Mexicanos' and
"Republica Mexicana.
Mexico has an area Of 30 go
square miles.
The greatest length OF the coun-
try is. from northwest to south
east, 1900 miles; its greatest width
80 miles, and its least width a
little short of 40 miles.
The outline of Mexico is some
times compared to a huge cornu-
copia. with it's opening toward
the United States.
There are 4,514 miles Of coast
line on the Pacific side, including
the Gulf Of California.
The coast lines on the Gulf OF
Mexico measure about 1,40O miles
and there are 5o7 miles on the
Caribbean Sea. o. .".
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Agriculture in Mexico

THE agricultural resources OF
Mexico are large and unusually
varied, as they comprise some
"of the cereals and other food
products of the temperate zone,
and most of the leading prod
.'ucts of the tropics. -Agricu
"ture, however. received slight
attention, owing to the early de-
"velopment OF the mining indus
tries. An indirect result of the
industrial development OF Mexico.
which began during the last
quarter of the nineteenth century,
has been an increased interest in
agriculture, and especially in I'M
"dertakings requiring large invest
''ments Of capital. such as coffee,
sugar and rubber plantations
From the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
HOWMe Government
IS Organized

Practically it is a FEDERAL re-
public with centralized executive
powers. It's political divisions
consist Of twenty seven states
"loriginaIly ninetccm, having in
dependent local governments
three territories, and one federal
district, in which the national
capital stands.
The central government CON
"sists of three CO. ordinate branches
executive, legislative and Judi
'cial-each nominally independent
of the other The executive
branch consists Of nres.-
dent and vice president, assisted
by a cabinet of eight secretar,a.
of state: % foreign affairs: f0
interior; (s) justice; a. public in
"struction and fine arts; 10
fomento colonial ton and indus
try; 90 communications and pub
tic works; "a finance and public
credit: 90 war and marine. The
president and vice president are
elected indirectly through an
electoral college chosen by popu-
lar vote, and serve for a period
OF six, years tthe term was four
years previous to 1901, the vice
president succeeding to the Office
in case of the death or perma-
"nent disability of the president
"A candidate for the presidency
must be native born Mexican
citizen III the full exercise OF bis
political rights, thirty-five Years
of age. not all ecclesiastic, and q
resident of the republic at the
time of the election.
From the Encyclopedias Britannica.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Climate

IRON the Encyclopaedia Britannica
Mexico stretches across seven
teen parallels of latitude, with the
Tropic of Cancer crossing the ter
ritory about midway. thus placing
it in the tropical and sub-trop!cal
regions
The great central plateau car
ries temperate and sub-tropicai
conditions over much the greater
part OF the republic.
The temperature rises steadily
as one descends to the lowlands
on either side Of the plateau, until
the upper limit of the tropical
region. called "tierras calientes.
is reached. where the climate is
hot, humid and unhealthy. as else
where in the forested coastal
Pains of tropical America. Here
the temperature often rises to 1Oo
degrees. and in the sultry districts
of Vera Cruz, Guaymas and AGA
pulco to and even above 10 de-
srecs.
Above tie plateau rise the mar
-:nal sierras. while a few isolated
peaks in the region Of perpetual
snow gives to Mexico cons;dcra-
BILE area OF cold temperature and
a trace Of arctic conditions.
The four seasons are clearly
marked north OF latitude - de-
rrces \. only. South of that
parable! only j rainy season from
May to October and q. dry season
for the res; or the year can be
distinguished.
Long drcushts are common N
many parts OF the country, and
on the barren surface OF the pla-
teau the rains drain away rapidly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Railways

Urom the Encyclopedias britannica,
The total mileage OF railways
is l5..5,. and that OF telegraph
lines 4611:.
4 concession was granted for
the construction of a railway from
Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico
in 1857. 1t was not completed
until 1873.
This railway, the logical route
of United States troops to the
Mexican capital. is known as the
''Fcrrocarril MeAicano,' and lis
celebrated because of the difficult
tics overcome on the precipitous
eastern slopes of the Sierra Madrc,
the beauties Of the mountain sccn-
cry through which it passes. and
the rapid transition from the hot,
humid coastal plain to the cool,
arid plateau, 1924 feet above the
sea at Boca del Monte. The
railway extends 2G4 miles between
Vera czuz and Mexico City" The
line was capitalized at s46.OO0,OOO.
and has paid good profit on the
investment.
Actual railway construction did
not begin until 1873. during the
first term Of President Porfirio
The two railway lines running
northward from the capital to the
American frontier. popularity call
the Mexican. Central and the Mex
lean National. were merged in
1905 with an aggregate capital of
$3.50, OOO.OOo. Mexican money, of
which the Mexican government
holds a controlling interest.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Rivers

From the Encyclopaedia Rritanni.a.l
Mexico has no large rivers; only
few small streams flowing from
the mountain slopes at the edge
Of the great plateau eastward to
the gulf and westward TO the Pa
citic. Its peculiar surface forma-
ton. a high plateau shut in by
mountain barriers and the mar
row lowlands region between it
and the coast. does not permit the
development Of large river basins.
The Rio Grande del Norte. or
bio Bravo. on the northern from
tier, IS practically an American
river, as it rises in American ter
ritory and receives very little
water from the Mexican side.
The lakes are small and few.
The six small lakes In the tdIiey
of Mexico are probably the re-
mains of lake once occupying
the whole valley, and are gradual
~ disappearing.
Most of the ports on the gulf
coast are on small rivers obstruct-
cd by sandbars.
Tarnpico harbor has been i'm
proved by breakwaters, or jetties,
and deepening Of the channels. SO
that it is safe and commodious.
Vera Cruz is an open anchorage
inside OF a series OF reefs which
afford no protection to the YES
GELS from the ''northers. This ex-
plains the dispatch Of Admiral
Fletcher describing his first land
ing Of marines. He reported the
landing was made in the face
of an approaching 'norther.' The
report suggests that this condition
is still source of danger.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
Population
From the Encyclopedias Brltanniea.l

The population according to the
most recent estimate is 1J.Ou3. 2Os,
giving an average Of 1876 inhabi-
tants per square mile.
Less than Is 10 per cent? of the
population is classed as whites, IS
per cent is Indian. and 40 per cent
is mixed bloods or mestizos.
Under the constitution Of 1884
all race distinctions were abolish
ed, so that nominally all parts of
the population are free and equal.
The Indians began in about 1866
TO take an interest in public af-
fairs, and soon began to make
their influence felt. ....
1t is the general conclusion that
the Indians have been decreasing
in number while the mixed bloods
have been increasing.
The death rate among the Indian
children is estimated at not less
than so per cent.
The unhealthfulness of the
coastal plains prevents their be-
ing thickly populated, although
Vera Cruz and some other states
return large population.
The Indian element in the popu-
lation Is made up of several dis
tinct races-the Aztec or Mexican,
Misteca -Zapoteca, Maya or Yucca
teco. Otonli or Othomi. and in
smaller number the Totonac, Tar
asco, Apache, MatlanzinSo, Chon-
tai, Nike, Zoque, Guaicuro, Opata-
Pima, Tapijulapa, Seri and Huayi.
No fewer than fifty-one distinct
languages and iitty-nine dialects
have been found among the In
dian inha bitants of Mexico.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
So Dictatoxs, Presidents and
Rulers in SO Years

His term OF office marks prominent change in the
history Of Mexico from that date he at once forced
ahead with financial and political REFORM the scrrpu
lous settlement OF all national debts, the welding to-
gether of the peoples and tribes tere are 20 different
Indian ribes) Of his country the establishment of rail
roads and telegraphs, and all this in land which had
been upheaved for century with revolutions and
boodshed and which had ftytwo dictators presidents
and rulers in ffty-nine years
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27

''quitoes, which are extraordinari
.ly numerous in some. Of the hot
.lowland districts. are the species
credited with the spread of ma
larial and yellow fevers. The
.midges are even more numerous
than the mosquitoes In pleas
ing contrast to such pests are the
butterflies OF all sizes and colors,
beetles OF an iaconceivabic
VARIETY OF size. shape and colora
ton. and ants of widely dis
similar appearance and habits"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
WHAT HAS BROUGHT ABOUT THE PRESENT CONDITION
OF AFFAIRS IN MEXICO?

This Page Contains Few Facts About Mexico from the
Many Splendid Articles in the New Encyclopaedia Bri
tannica These Articles Cover Great Detail not only the
Land and the People, Resources, Finances and hsttu
tons Of the Country, but the Political and Social Con-
dons from the Aboriginal Period to the Present Day,
Affording the Reader Complete Grasp Of the Con-
ditons Lying Behind the Troubles Which Have Finally
Resulted in Armed Intervention by the United States.