The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-08-31
A Public Scribe In Mexico.

rrspArsd By the National Geographic 60 |
ciety. Washington. D. c. |
East or west an American must trav- |
ell far to reach q foreign country. But
let him take only a few steps to the
south and he will find himself more
effectually abroad than II he travelled
to many parts Ct Europe. A land de-
void Of Yankee hustle" except where
Yankees themselves display 1t; land
with it's peasantry reminiscent OF
feudalism which the remainder OF
North America escaped; land where
the aborigines were not dispossessed
but with their European conquerors
formed a new race-such is Mexico.
1t Is a country Of striking contrasts
Though 1t Is exceedingly rich In natur-
al resources. a large part Of its popu-
lation lives in dire poverty. 1t had
a university before John Harvard was
born, yet the great mass Of its peo-
pie are illiterate. Modern eQuipages
and machines are to be seen side by
side with the most primitive vehicles
and devices. And desert sands and
tropical tungles can be found almost
within stones throw of eternal snow.
The Mexico Of today has an area OF
about 10000 square miles-approx1-
mately a quarter that Of the United
States. Roughly half of the long shore
tine of the Gulf of Mexico is Mexican !;
and it's Pacific coast is nearly thou
sand miles longer than that of the
United States exclusive of Alaska.
Big in Some Ways, Small in Others.
OF the nineteen independent Latin
American countries, Mexico is exceed
ed in size by only two, Brazil and Ar
gentina; and In population by only
Brazil. With its population of 1900
600, Mexico has twice the total popu'
lation of Argentina and three times
that rountry's density of population
| but measured by the value Of its COM
merce, its revenue or the strength OF
! its navy, Mexico is of less Importance
among the countries Of the world. Ii
| is subordinate in these respects too
to Brazil and Chile, the latter coun
try less than half the size of Mexico
and with population of about quar-
ter. Even in the matter of railroad
mileage per 1000 square miles of ter
ritory, Mexico. before its revolution:
we'll ahead OF all other large Latin
American countries, is now practicali.
eQualled by Argentina and Chile.
But Mexico has wonderful potential
wealth. and with stable and con
structive government and laws tina
make the investment OF capital safe
would have many advantages ovel
Its Latn-American competitors in tn
race for development and rank amoni
the countries of the world.
Though Mexico has an area OF grea
extent, what may be called the re;l
Mexico is much smaller. Throughout
the history of the country. both be
fore the coming of the Spanish con
Querors and since. its culture and it
center of population have been ON tn
great central plateau which rises be
tween the two oceans, and particu
larly in the south central part of tina
region. A section there occupying no
more than one-sixth Of the cOuntr
contains nearly twothirds Of the Il
tai population. This portion. of whie
the valley of Mexico and the city Q
Mexico are near the center, has
delightful climate. Blankets are use
ut night the year round, but seldom a
any time Of the year is an overcoa
needed at midday.
The northern portion Of Mexico
largely occupied by deserts. Tn
southern section is tropical-a coul
try Of steamy moisture and 5ungie
Both coasts are hot and unpleasar
throughout a large part OF their e'
tent. 1t Is natural enough. therefor
that the central plateau has played
important part In the 'country's hi
tory.
But One Really Large City.
. Nssico is essentially rural coul
try Mexico City, the capital wit
| It's million inhabitants, is the onl
: city Of large size within the coul
try's borders. Between the metrop'
us and the next largest city, Guadal'
lara, is great gulf, for the latte
with Its population Of 10000 is onl
the size Of Nashville, Tenn, or Sa
, Lake City. Monterey, the creates
, city Of northern Mexico. and third