The Washington herald., 1916-12-30
Seen and Heard
Ry GEORGE MINER.

New York, Dec. 2o-The example
set by Gov. Alvarado, of Yucatan, in
opening schools, establishing libraries,
building railroads, and generally inn
proving the condition of the people
he governs, is now being followed by
the governors of several other states
in Mexico.
For instance, a public library is to
be established in Pachuca, capital of
the state of Hidalgo, and 5000 vol
umes have been secured as a nucleus.
Gov. Alvarado began several months
ago to establish free libraries all over
Yucatan to the number of more than
FIVE hundred.
A project is under discussion for
the construction of a railway from
Matamoros, at the mouth Of the Rio
Grande, along the entire Mexican
border to the Gulf of California. The
present railroads are all on the north
and south lines and communications
between the northern states from east
to west is very difficult Such line
would open some very rich sections
which have not been developed owing
to the lack of transportation facilities
In this connection, it is also proposed
to construct port works on the Mexi-
can side of the mouth of the Rio
Grande.
Projects for the construction of up
ward of twenty new railway lines in
all portions of the republic, from Yu-
catan to Lower California, are now
under consideration by the depart
ment of formento.
Seven locomotives of high power
were recently received at Laredo from
the United States for use on the ma
tional lines. Constant augmentations
of the rolling stock are being made,
both by purchase in the United States
and by repair and construction in the
local shops.
Two hundred new schools have been
established in the state of Michoacan,
and in order to supply the teachers
that will be necessary in the further
extension of the school system a nor
NAL school has been inaugurated in
Morelia, the capital city. This is un-
questionably a good beginning, but
does not compare with Alvarado's
work. In the last year he established
more than 1000 schools and devel-
oped the normal school to a highly
efficient condition
The governor Of Oaxaca has also
established a normal school there for
the purpose of training teachers for
the largely increased number Of pri-
mary schools.
Under instruction from Gov. Mi
relies Of the state of Coahuila, work
Is being pushed on a new school for
girls fn the city of Torreon, which
will be one of the largest buildings in
the city and one of the most extensive
schools In the entire state.
A new school of agriculture has
been established in the state Of ia
lisco for the education Of farmers in
modern methods and for the distribu-
ton of seeds and plants of value to
exploitation. Similar establishments
are being started in many other states
as we'll. The whole idea, however,
was inaugurated by Gov. Alvarado,
who not only started an agricultural
college near Merida, under the charge
of an American instructor, but also an
experimental farm In the central part
of the state. They are both proving
highly successful. That fact doubtless
induced the other governors to follow
suit.
A project i, under way In Mexico
City for the establishment of school
for the training of adult indigents in
order that they may be encouraged
and aided to become self-supporting.
1t certainly looks as If the school
idea had really taken a good hold on
Mexico. Nothing Is more needed.