Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-10
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

Torreon, the scene of a recent vio- lent outbreak by AIeXicanS against American residents. is the subject Of tCday's war geography bulletin issued in Washington by the National Geo. graphic Society This town of 35,OGO inhabitants, which resembles @ thriv ing American manufacturing center is thus described:
 Tn the midst of one Of the most fer tile agricultural district of Mexico, and enjoying the advantage of railroad connections north, south, east and west TOrreOn has enjoyed a phenomenal growth during the last twenty years.
 The city is situated on the south western edge of the border state of COahuila, only a few miles from the rich mining state of Durango. Here the Mexican Central Railway and the Mexican International cross. By the former it is 519 miles to the Texas border at Fl PasO, and by the latter 3S3 miles to Eagle Pass. Mexico City lies TOT miles to the southeast. The nearest point to the American border is due north Of Torre0n, about 230 miles in an air line. The city of DU- rango is 150 miles to the southwest by rail, and TampicO, on the Gulf of Mex iCO, is $50 miles TO the southeast.
 With such exceptional facilities and with an enormously rich district from which to draw, as well as a highly pro- dUcttve farming section, it is not sur pTising that TOrTeOn has grown from an insignificant Indian village in 1896 to one of the most progressive centers of population in northern Mexico. As recently as 1887 the site of the present town was the Fl Coyote ranch. The name TOrreOn was taken from Q watchtower which the ranch owner erected as a precautionary measure against maraUding Indians who in feSted the region.
 To-day Torreon has substantial brick and cement business houses, electric lights and telephones, several big cotton factOries?A the largest soap factory in the southern republic, i'm pOrtant flour mills, and gigantic snaeIters which reduce ores sent from
 mines hundreds of miles distant.
 The cotton factories are supplied with raw material form the great La guna district which produces nine tenths of all the cotton raised in Mex ico. The size of the crop depends largely each year on the amount of rainfall during the wet season, which begins in June and continues until October. During the fall months, fol- lowing the rain, the streams of the Laguna districts overflow their banks, covering the valleys with water to a depth of several feet. After this has soaked into the land the farmers ploy the dried crust of soil and leave it un- til February or March when the cot ton is planted.
 "The less progressive natives, who are content with a smaller yield do not find it necessary to plant their crops Oftener than every eight or ten years for cotton is perennial in this region. The plant was found in Mexico by the Spaniards, Columbus recognizing it off the mainland of Yucatan in 1902. The Aztecs and ToItecs knew its uses and not only did they weave beautiful gar ments of it but they used it in quilted form to make breast-plates which were proof. against arrows.
 '"Torreon has quite an extensive trade with the outside world, import ing electrical, mining and agricultural machinery and exporting gold. silver, lead and the rubber manufactured from the Guayule which grows in this region.
 Tt is a ride of 25 minutes on the electric Fears to the large suburban town ~ofFI .er1o. just over the border of Coahufla in Durango. Here the rents are much cheaper than in the larger city"