Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1917-04-11
THE WAR PRIMER
By National Geographic Society

Manzanf1o ms been SelecIed by the
Mexican government the site for
the huge cartridge making plant now
in course of installation, according to
bulletin given out by the National
Geographic Society. which says OF
this San Francisco of Mexico:
This is one of the oldest ports in
Mexico, only recently moderated.
During the first quarter of the If
teenth century Emperor Charles cx-5
pressed great interest in projects
opened by the discovery of the South
Sea, beyond New Spain, as Mexico
was then known, and in the explc-a
ton of the then uncharted Pacific, and
by cedula he enJoined fernando Cor
ties to undertake the task. 1t WAS at
ManzanilIo that Cortes built and out
pears not to have been consumated by
him. For many years this was fav-
orite resort of buccaneers who sailed
out of the port to prey upon the rich
laden merchantmen returning from the
Philippine Islands and the Orient, and
Manzanillo and it's surrounding pro-
vince. Colima, witnessed the Spanish
'subjugation of the Aztecs who had
empire. In 1865 Admiral Miguel Lopez
Legaspi built in this harbor some of
the ships destined for the conquest
of the Philippine Islands.
Had any such alliance taken pace
as that which was reported to have
been frustrated some time ago, the
strategic importance of this west coast
port would have given to the power
holding it as base of operations
wonderful advantage. 1t is the half
way station between San Francisco
and Panama, in direct touch with the
''granary of Mexico" the populous and
fertile State OF Jalisco. and as the
terminal of the Mexican Central Rail-
road, which connects with the entire
and extensive railroad system of the
Southern Republic. it taps. the great
resources of that country. Its mar
Dor will accommodate the biggest bat
tleships afloat. Ores. timber, cattle,
and agricultural products abound in
the rich hinteriand, and while in nor
NAL times the four other Paclhc ports
of Mexico-Guaymas, MaZatlan, AGA
rpulco, and Santa CruZ-Will play some
part in the future development of the
country, through ManZanillo will pass
the bulk of Maxico's trade wit the
Pacific ports OF the United States,
Braitish COLUMBIA, Central and South
America, and the Far East. The Pan
American Union, in 1914, reported that
a group of Mexican capitalists had
made preliminary arrangements for
the exploitation of the rich iron MINES
of Colima, to be connected with Man
zanillo by narrow-gauge road
about GO miles-and in the town of
Colima has been installed the plant of
man Mexican.
THE Personalities of this port made
Il profound impression on the mi id of
Porfirio Diaz, who, throughout his
long Administered ton, maintained a
vigorous policy relative to port i'm
provemcnts. Here was a great nat
ura1 harbor needing certain changes
to render it a h-.ven. While the mind
an American-Edgar K. Smoot, build
er of the Galveston jetties-that
wrought out of the solid rock a quiet
anchorage for the shuttle-cocks of
trade. The Manzanillo breakwater is
cyclopean, deeper and wider than the
famous walls of Plymouth and
Cherbourg. Work began on It in
March, 1900. Thousands upon thous-
ands of tons of blue granite were
hewn and transported by rail from the
tant, and piece by piece there arose
from the waters of the Pacific an
elongated pyramid of rock extending
1850 feet into the sea, 81 feet in height,
resting on a base 315 feet in width,
and crowned its entire length with a
solid deposit of concrete 10 feet thick
and 26 feet in width. The most pom
derous blocks of granite ever placed
by the hand of man were brought from
the Colomo quarries and deposited IN
this breakwatec. those Gaping the
outer Surface weighing from 80 20 60
TONS Concrete mono1iths weighing 80
tons were used to reinforce the outer
slope, Following this work came the
construction of sea-walls for the town
having an extension of over a mile.
The work called for a protected area
of 319 acres to accommodate nearly
200 of the deepest draft ships. The
general depth OF the harbor is so feet,
alongside the wnarves, % feet.
"Industrially Manzanillo has suf-
fered from the political disturbances
which have SO enfeebled Mexico Our
ing the past five years, but the port,
and the Province of Co1ima have Jared
less severely than the neighboring
states and territories. The British
consul in the district possesses a
keen appreciation of possibilities for
Great Britain in that quarter, and has
recently earnestly advised British mer-
chants to 'Famt:iarize themselves with
the rates and facilities Of the new
trade route via the Canar' with a
view to extending their trade in that
part Of Mexico.
when Mexico finally RECEIVERS from
its political inGisposition and gets
down to business, the port of Man
zanillo will play a leading role in her
industrial development, and the man
ufacture Of vital rather than of Ietha1