davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1915-07-25
BY CHARLES M, PEPPER.

~ OSSESSION of Mexico City is a
HO diplomatic rather than a mill
tary advantage. The capital OF
q the distracted country is not a
military stronghold. The Carranza
government. operating from there, is
in no better position to direct army
movements than when it was at vera
Cruz. but it gets more recognition as
an established administration.
The diplomatic corps, or what re-
mains of it, at no time has forsaken
the capital. Villa politely invited the
ministers to accept the hospitality of
his camp and promised them full pro-
lection. Carranza intimated, when he
went to Vera Cruz. that he would be
glad to welcome the foreign ministers
there.
The few ministers who constitute
what remains of the diplomatic corps,
calmly ignored the hints from the two
factions They remained in Mexico
City. not that they had any preference
for Zapatas administration. but be-
cause their place was at the nominal
seat of government of the whole coun-
try.
Military occupation by one faction or
the other since Huerta was driven out
therefore has had little meaning for
representatives of the foreign govern
ments except as they sought to protct
the lives and property of their nationals
and to mitigate the suferlngs OF the
native population.
One reason why Mexico City has so
little military significance is the dif1-
Guilty of defending it. There are too
IN
That there are SO many ways out ha s
been of advantage at various times to
the different factions.
Villa found it easy to withdraw the
body of his troops when he discovered
that Zapata would not yield his su-
preme control without a fight. and that
it would take practically all his army
In the north to dominate the situation.
Gen. Obregon found it easy to get
away when it became apparent that the
Carranzistas would lose most of their
territory in the northeast If they kept
the bulk of their troops in the capital
city and he withdrew by an easy mill
tary movement
Gutierrez, one of the numerous pro-
visional presidents, when he learned
that Villa meant to use him as pup
pet and that he was virtually a pris-
oner SO long as he remained in the
city, also got away and took small
body of troops with him.
Zapata made his retreat to Cuernavaca
to the south. This historic town. with
it's memories of Cortez and Maximilian.
has been a favorite retreat both for
non-comb batants and for the troops OF
the different military chiefs. 1t is
easily reached by the railway, and as
1t happens, this line is capable of de-
fense by a small body of troops against
q large army.
When Americans and other foreign
ers were fleeing from the city during
Evening star., 1915-07-25

that he was simply in seclusion. with
two or three of his trusted cabinet
the earlier stages of his diplomatic
controversies with the Washington ad-
ministration. in which he showed how
clever Mexican diplomacy really was,
with his foreign ministers and the
members of the cientifico faction. who
how shown themselves accomplished
diplomats.
government at Mexico City is stable
enough to carry out the plans for maxi
ing the city what all Mexicans who
have been abroad intend it shall be
that is. symmetrical and beautiful
capital. The city was created federal
district, something like the District of
Columbia, partly in order that its phys
ical improvement might be unhamper-
ed. The difference was, however, that
the Mexican Congress had very little
to say about the control of the federal
city The executive attended to all
that while the congress voted the
money without question.
The new post Office building. notwith-
standing that 1t was of Italian renais-
sance architecture was meant to be a
typical national structure. and the
opera house and theater were to be
typical of Mexican culture. The cor
ruption and graft disclosed in these
and other public buildings was one
cause of the undermining of the Diaz
regime.
When the period of continuous peace
comes. If ever. Mexico City. as the cap
ital, will have a series of beautiful pub
lie buildings. and the corruption which
entered into their construction may be
forgotten just as it has been forgotten
in the case of certain beautiful struc-
lures in American capital cities.
Some of the public monuments have
suffered mutilation during the period
Of anarchy. but it is to be hoped that
none of them has been destroyed or
disdgured beyond repair.
Several of these are placed on the
Evening star., 1915-07-25

bad as would be the poisoning of the
water.
The water supply, like sanitation.
was for long time a perplexing ques-
ton. but it did not bother the primi-
tive inhabitants as much 8 it did the
modern population. Substantially. there
is only one source for obtaining fresh
water, and this is through what is
known the La Eiga water works.
The Niga is real canal. navigable
even. and is fed from Lake Xachmilco
In providing for the water supply the
engineering work was hardly second to
the drainage of the mountain bowl.
The La Viga canal is the waterway
to the village of Xochimilco. where the
life and manners exist today almost as
they existed in the time of CorteZ At
least, that was the condition few
years ago. 1t is an Aztec Venice, with
a chain of floating islands anchored to
the mainland. The canals are the
thoroughfares.
The creation of the islands is still GO
ing on. Masses of vegetation that come
floating along are seized by the natives,
fastened together, tied to piles or trees,
and after time there Is enough of this
vegetation holding together to form
soil and subsoil and to be made capable
of cultivat tion.
With this process going on for CEN
turies large arabic area has been
formed. The soil is rich and is given
over to raising fruits and vegetables.
Much of the food supplies of the city
used to come from these islands. A
Venice gondola and gondolier are no
more picturesque than a boatload OF
garden truck with its native family
floating down the La Viga canal.
Beyond a thin veneer of civilization
the inhabitants of Xochimilco were de-
clared by Mexican antiquarians to af-
ford almost an exact picture of the
native life of centuries ago. They
speak the Aztec language. although
most of them knew some Spanish. 1t
is likely. too. that some of their pic
turesqueness, such as the cone hat and
some of the trappings, are a reflex Of
modern Mexico rather than of the an
cient Aztecs.
Xochimilco. although unknown to
most tourists, used to be sought out by
travellers in Mexico who wanted to see
something of the real life of the native
population apart from the squalor and
drunkenness and misery of the city
poems. When the Pan-American con-
Evening star., 1915-07-25

Reforma the boulevard which leads
out to Chapultepec Wealthy Ameri-
cans living in Mexico City were respon-
sible for undermining and Transforming
this section of the city. They began
putting up residences which, while pre-
serving the traditions of Moorish archi-
lecture and the open courts or patios,
also were constructed with some re-
gard to comfort. and the conveniences
necessary to a city which has a winter
as well as a summer climate.
But the monuments themselves were
planned before the American era and
are the chief attraction on the drive to
Chapultepec. The monuments to Mexi-
Evening star., 1915-07-25
Copyright, 1915. by Frank C. carpenter)

Copyright. 1915. by Frank G. Carpenter)
POSADAS. Argentina.
7 CROSSED the Alto-Parana river
from Encarnacion to Posadas by
train. The Alto-Parana is very
x wide at this point. and the through
ears from Asuncion to Buenos Aires
are carried across on a ferry. The
banks Of the river are high. and the
cars are lowered by a wire cable. Our
boat went up the stream for some dis
tance. and made an arc of a circle in
coming to the Argentine boundary.
We crossed in the evening. The city
Of Posadas, with its hundreds of cleo
tric Lights. shone plainly out from the
opposite bank. and the rays of cleo
trfcity reflected in the Parana looked
like pillars of gold upholding the SOM
ber blue shore. just before leaving
the customs inspectors came on board.
They were polite. but insisted on open
ing every piece OF our baggage.
Landing at Posadas We found good
quarters at the hotel. and are now
waiting here before starting on an ex-
ploration of the Argentine Mesopota-
mia. that great body of fertile land be-
tween the Uruguay and Paraguay riv-
ers. The country is an island. On the
extreme north II has the Rio Iguazu.
which empties into the Parana river
several hundred miles above Posadas.
The Alto-Parana bounds IL on the
north. the Parana on the west and
south and the Uruguay on the east.
The whole country Is made up of the
earth washings OF these rivers. and II
will some day be one of the thickly
populated parts OF the world.
Posadas 10 the northern capital of
this region. 1t is town OF ten or
fifteen thousand people. situated on a
bend of the Parana. below which the
great river spreads out like a lake.
There are islands below the city. and
these abound with game. including
puma and 5aguars There are big FISH
in countless numbers in the river it
self. and many fishing boats are NOV
ing about. The town is one Of the
centers of the mate industry. and its
mate factories are now making Para
quay tea for shipment to all parts of
southern South America. II has sew
eral good stores. two banks and a
number of clubs. The rates at the
hotel are 81 a day. and the food is
fairly good.
Posadas is the starting point for the
Iguazu falls. the Niagara Of South
America. The distance from here Is
three or four days. You go seventy
hours by steamboat to Puerto Aguirre.
about twelve miles inland over a good
carriage road TO the falls. The s. cam
ship fare is $26: and the horseback
At Puerto Aguirre. with dining room
and two sleeping rooms. that will ac-
commodate about forty persons. One
Of the rooms 10 set aside for the women
and the other for the men. The road
from Aguirre to the falls goes through
a virgin forest. which 10 tropical to an
extreme. II has been cut out Of the
Evening star., 1915-07-25
The Bottled Fleet.

n HOMAS A. EDISON. at a dinner in
u Orange. insisted-as he has insist
ed from the first-that the allies will
beat the Germans in the end.
But Germany" said a German Ameri-
can, lis building ships at a tremen-
dous rate. She will soon have her navy
UP to her army. Germany. since the
war began, has added twelve dread
naughts and seven cruisers to her feet.
you know"
"Humph." said Mr.. Edison. IF she
keeps on at that rate she'll soon have
to enlarge the kiel canal"
Evening star., 1915-07-25

fense would have little significance.
Gen. Diaz during his long term as
had a modest home
in the city proper. which he called his
winter residence. but most of his time
was spent at Chapultepec. and it was
there that many magnificent official en-
tertainments were given.
Gen. Huerta. during dictatorship.
sometimes occupied Chapultepec as a
residence. but more as a headquarters
When he wanted to be entirely free,
he would disappear somewhere in the
spacious grounds, and then report
would go abroad that he was on one
of his periodical sprees. The truth was
Evening star., 1915-07-25

ference was held the delegates were
taken to Xochimilco in order to see the
times of Cortez reproduced. But it was
a gala day, and in holiday adornment.
with flags and streamers. and the
native people decked out in their
smartest. it was more modern Mexico
than the ancient one. later visit,
when no one was expected and no
preparations had been made for receiv-
ing visitors. proved much more inter-
esting. and also exhibited Xochimilco
and it's people in a much more pictur
esque setting.
During the height of the Diaz regime
these Xochimilcans were all said to be
Evening star., 1915-07-25

can independence are noteworthy. On
the centennial of independence in 1910.
which preceded the outbreak against
Diaz, many wreaths were laid on them
and many encomiums were said of the
heroes whose patriotism is commemor-
ated in the statues erected to them by
the different states. Many of those
heroes of the revolt from Spain after
ward became factional chiefs, like some
Of the leading Mexicans of today.
There is one statue which reflects
probably the deepest Mexican senti-
ment. 1t is not to a victorious hero at
all, but is to the hero of a conquered
Evening star., 1915-07-25

tourist center as Niagara is now
But let me give you some figures to
illustrate the comparative sizes of the
Falls of the Zambesi, the Niagara, and
the Parana. The Iguazu cataract be-
longs to the Parana for the falls are
right where the Iguazu river flows into
that mighty stream. The Zambesi
river is one of tie great streams of the
world. 1t has 1000 miles of navi
gable waterways. and in Africa.
it ranks next to the Nile. the Niger
and the Kongo. 1t rises in the high
lands of the central part of the conti-
nent and drops 1000 feet be-
fore 1t reaches the falls. At that point
it drops 1000 feet within twenty miles.
and 1t has one jump of 400 feet into the
canyon Of which l have spoken.
The Niagara river is only thirty
three miles long. but 1t carries all the
water of the great lakes. The falls
really have their source 500 feet above
the sea. in Lake Superior, which, next
to Victoria in Africa, is the largest
fresh water lake in the world. The
waters drop twenty feet in flowing out
of Lake Superior through the st. Mary
river into Lake Huron, and there is
another drop Of from $50 to 1913 feet
at Niagara. Where the waters of Lake
Erie flow into the Niagara river it Is as
quiet as mill pond. The descent for
some distance is not more than q foot
to the mile. The waters move slowly
until they are within a mile of the
the jump of $50 feet into the great
abyss below. After that the river flows
for seven miles through a ravine, the
banks of which are 200 or 800 feet
high A little later 1t passes Lewiston
and then goes peacefully on into Lake
Ontario.
The Parana river has a greater flow
than the Zambesi It's basin is more
than twice as large. and its volume is
three times as great. These figures.
however. are for the whole Parana
system. of which the lguazu is only a
part. Indeed, the Parana is about the
third largest river of the world. being
exceeded only by the Amazon and the
kongo. Its volume is eighty per cent
bigger than that of the Mississippi.
and if you would take all the water
that flows through the Rhine. Danube
and Elba and add to them the Volga.
the Seine and a number of other Euro
pean streams they would not be equal
to the Parana at low level The vol
ume of the Rio de la Plata, which Is
the outlet Of the Parana system, Is said
to be three times that of the st. Law
renee. the down spout of our great
lakes. of which the Niagara river Is a
part. The Alto Parana, of which the
1guazu forms part. rises in the nigh
lands of Brazil. 1t covers the whole
central part of that republic and Its
sources are not far from Rio de ia
Metro.
The Iguazu rises in the mountains
which border the Atlantic coast and
flows three or four hundred miles west
ward across Brazil before 1t empties
into the Alto Parana The drop pa. at
eight more feet than the highest point
in the Niagara Falls. The width Of
Niagara. including Goat Island. IL less
than thrse-fourths of a mile. The
Evening star., 1915-07-25

race. This is the splendid monument to
Cuanhutemoc. the last Aztec emperor.
nephew of Montezuma, who defied the
tortures of CorteZ. The monument was
erected during the early period of Gen.
DiaZ's dictatorship and ii is said that
he dictated the inscription: ITO the
memory of Cuanhutemoc and the war
riors who fought heroically in defense
of their country in 1921"
Among other notable monuments and
statues along the boulevard to Chapul-
tepec are the bronze statue of Charles
" of Spain, of heroic dimensions, and
the statue of Columbus.
Evening star., 1915-07-25
Iic0s Capital City and Its Chances i'm Futur

the first days of terror under the Ma
dero regime. they reached Curenavaca,
although only after terrifying ex-
murdered many of the Mexicans. who
also were fleeing. At that critical time
the bandits, to the number Of 1000 or
5000, held the whole of the surround
ing country.
Gen. Huerta, himself, came with
troops and cleared out the bandits, but
Cuernavaca and the surrounding coun-
try offered them a strategic advantage
and they never have been kept away
for long period. 1t is convenient to
the bandit stronghold in the state of
Morelos.
Not unlikely for while Cuernavaca
will be the Zapata seat of government
1t would take large section of Car
ranza's army to occupy and hold the
place permanently. and the army may
be needed in Mexico City for defensive
rather than aggressive purposes.
The great mountain bowl in which
Mexico City lies requires defense around
the whole rim in order to be safe. and
this necessitates very large army
There are, however. more serious prob
lens than that of arms and ammuni-
tion and troops. One of these is sani.
tation. The engineering problem of
providing drainage for the city was
solved by Lord Cowdray when he was
of great British engineering firm.
He bored tunnel through the eastern
mountain rim and by canals connecting
the lakes, solved the problem of
centuries. which the Spaniards had at
tempted unsuccessfully in the Nochis-
tongo canal.
His success in constructing the draid-
age works brought Sir Weetman Pear
son into high favor with the Diaz gov
ernment, and obtained for his firm the
contract for the harbor works al Salina
Cruz and the reconstruction of the
Tehuantepec railroad. as well as other
public improvements. 1t also resulted
in giving him important concessions for
rubber lands. and for petroleum
The Cowdray interests have large
part in the material development of
Mexico, and they also have been one
of the potent international factors in
the troubles of the last four years. But
in the beginning they had a substantial
justification in the recognition of Lord
Cowdray's work as an engineer.
The sanitation facilities for Mexico
City are today as good as those pos
sessed by any large city, but in the
midst of civil war and of irresponsible
government they are not always util-
lied in avoiding pestilence and epi-
denies. Whatever administration con-
trolls the city has as great a RESPONSE
bility in the matter Of sanitation and
hygiene as in that of actual military
defense. The water supply is of equal
Importance. To defend it is anything
but easy.
Readers of newspaper dispatches,
from time to time in the accounts of
the chaotic conditions Of the city. note
that one or the other body of troops
in retreating has cut off the water sup
ply from Xochimilco. This, in the ef-
feet on the civilian population, is as
Evening star., 1915-07-25

woods. but is said to be safe. There
is little inn near the stopping places
from where roadway has been con-
structed along the banks of the river
it Is easy to reach point farther up
near the opposite shore, from where
you may have good view of the
Brazilian falls.
be made in about sixteen days, and by
the new railroad, which is now being
extended across Paraguay. this time
will be cut down to little more than
a week. The cost Of the trip at pres
ent is something like 200 Argentine
dollars.
The Falls Of Iguazu are among the
wonders Of the world. There are those
who say they are greater than the
Of Victoria. on the zambesi. ami .s in Africa. s
It is dif1icult to make comparison.
The falls of the Zambesi and those
OF the Parana at Iguazu are affected
by. by the seasons: They have times OF
over the rocks is less than that Of
Niagara. and also times of high water
when it Is very much greater. 1t Is
now ten years since I stood on the
narrow rocks in the very center of the
wide falls of the zambesi and saw the
mighty floods on both sides of me- ex-
tending a half mile or more to each
shore. drop down into the terrible
of the falling water was SO thick that
/ seemed to be in the heart of a storm.
and the rain made by this mist fell
down In a steady pour, soaking my
note book to pulp and filling the
pockets Of my rubber waterproof coat.
was told that the Zambesi at the
time Of the floods had a force equal to
al mill of
and that 1t was about Ave times as
much as the electric force of Niagara.
I learned later that the force was re-
time Of low water. 1t il the same with
the falls of Iguazu.
The volume has not been carefully
measured, and the engineers tell me
that until that has been done no prop
er value can be placed upon their
electrical possibilities.
The capitalists of Argentina have
plans for the industrial development Of
the falls, and at some time in the
future a great electric plant will be
constructed to utilize them. A little
further up the River Parana are the
seven falls Of La Guayra. over which
thirteen million cubic feet OF water
are said to flow every second. These
will probably be used by the railway
that is now building to cross Paraguay.
tHe trdch potu III a. eooS anu -. az :
being electrified for the purpose. This
road is under construction.
Another limo Is to be built from
Posadas across Argentina to Iguazu.
and the government 10 planning to
purchase the land about the falls and
create a great national park. A hotel
will be built nearby and town found
ed there There will be q military
post where the Iguazu and the Parana
join. and also experimental farms and
forest reserves These with thA nav
railroads. will make Iguazu a. great q
Evening star., 1915-07-25

Mexico Diplomatic Rather Than Military AdvageNo Con-
military Stronghold diplomatic Never Capital Although
CzIhe Water SuppyWhat
ChThe Islands
Anchored tot Famous and NMumn
Evening star., 1915-07-25

THIS PHOTO WHEN WATER Low

whole arc of the circle at Iguazu. in
which the falls are broken by many
cascades. is about two miles, and when
the water is high. at the time of the
foods, the whole Is one mighty cat
aract with little island corresponding
to Goat Island or to the rocks in the
middle of the Zambesi in the center.
The mist of Iguazu rises high. but 1t
Evening star., 1915-07-25

il nothing like that of the Zambesi,
which can be seen for miles and which
gives such a constant dropping that it
forms a continuous rain, creating the
rain forests nearby, the leaves of
which are wet from one years end to
the other.
The Niagara Falls were discovered by
Father Hennepin in 167S and at tha: