Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-12-16
FACTS ABOUT MEXICO
Natural Resources Practically with.
out Limit.
LITERAL TREASURE HOUSE OF WORLD
In Area is Only one-fourth as Large
as United states-Althoush Semi
Tropical Has Wide Variety of
Climate,

Climate.
Pertinent geographical facts abou
Mexico are given in the following bul
letin OF the National Geographic So
ciety:
Prior to 1856, Mexico, as Spanisl
colony, and the United States covered
approximately equal areas of Norti
America. but the Texas secession anc
the result Of the Mexican War addet
nearly a million square miles to oul
territory, and the extent of Mexico nov
is less than one-fourth that of CONT
mental United States" says the bulle
tin, which is based on several COM
munications to The Society. '."
"But our neighbor Republic still has
territorial expanse equal to the aggre'
gate Of Austria, Hungary, Germany
France, Great Britain, and Ireland.
THE total area of the Republic OF
Mexico (767,O0O square miles), is less
than that Of our five largest States
Texas, California, Montana, New
Mexico and Arizona-combined, all OF
these except Montana having been
part of New Spain Is years ago
None Of the 81 political subdivisions OF
our neighbor is as large as any of the
five states named, but four Mexican
states contiguous to the United States
aggregate an extent greater than that
Of Texas. ... ..,. ..'.. N
'.Chihuahua, ths largest Mexican
state, appromixates in area $4,000
square nilss) that OF Utah. Sonora
(77,OOO square rniles) Of Nebraska,
Coahuila (6S,000 square miles) OF
Georgia, and Durango (4O,O0o square
miles) of Kentucky. Nine subdivisions
of the United States Excluding
Alaska) are larger than Chihuahua, 10
of greater magnitude than Sonora, and
SO longer than Durango. The rugged
and desert character Of the Mexican
border states support sparse popula-
tions. except where mining exploitation
and cities resulting therefrom nave
concentrated settlement.
Juan and Sangre de Christie ranges OF
the Rocky Mountains in southern Colo
RADIO form the genesis of the Rio
Grande, which, after flowing south
through New Mexico, bends southeast
at the western extremity Of Texas,
courses between it and Mexico for
distance equal to that of Saint Louis
from New York, and desoends in 1,10O
miles from an elevation Of 4,50O feet TO
sea level at the Gulf of Mexico.
EXCEPT when in food, the Rio
Grande is apparently an unimportant
stream and readily crossed, for the
normal flow is we'll utilized for irriga-
ton in both countries; but it has
carved in a part Of its course canyons
difficult Of exploration. The changes
wrought by freshets, which shift the
channel, demanded the attention OF an
international commission, which mas
adjusted the boundary along the Rio
Grandesto meet the varying conditions.
The uncertainty of this is Illustrated
by claim some years ago that por-
tion of the important city Of FL Paso'
Texas, was Mexican soil. The re-
manning TOO miles Of the international
boundary to the west separating our
neighbor Republic from Mexico, Ari-
zona, and California, is through an arid
desert section, much Of which is noun
famous. This is not direct line, but
has five changes in alignment, which
have been accurately surveyed and es-
tablished by 25S permanent monuments
easily distinguishable.
Mexico has an area approximately
one-fourth of that of the United States,
a fourth of whose area once belonged
to Mexico. It has a coast-line some
5000 miles long, although its greatest
length is less than 1000 miles and its
greatest breadth only $50 miles. AL
though it's area is only one-fourth that
of Brazil, it's population is approx
mately equal to that of the largest
republic of the southern continent.
Some 100000 souls live within its
borders, of whom more than two
thirds can neither read nor write.
"Of the total population, only 19 per
cent. are white, 43 per cent. are OF
mixed parentage, while 3S per cent still
maintain their Indian blood uncorrupt-
ed. The foreign population in 1912
numbered 100000 souls, of whom 10000
were Americans, 10000 Spanish, and
5000 British.
Mexico probably has a greater
range of remarkable vegetation than
any othar esuntry In the world.
NO other country in the New World,
south of the Rio Grande, was so well
supplied with railroads as was Mexico
prior to the Madero revolution. Then
it had 20, 900 miles Of up-to-date Amer
lean railroad At six different points
lines crossed the frontier from the
United States and Laredo, Eagle Pass,
and Ell Paso gateways handled much
traffic to and from Mexico. The MeXi
can railroads carried 100000 pas
sengers annually at that time, and
handled about 100000 tons Of freight
Their total revenue amounted to about
$40,000,000.
Humboldt once pronounced Mexico