Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-08-15
MEXICO'S TWO RICH
PENINSULA STATES
Furnish Most of the Worlds
Sisal Hemp.

Observation-Disclosures between In
dian tribes along the border between
the Mexican states of Campeche and
Yucatan recently threw into the spot
light Of the days news two of the po-
tentially richest Of the common
wealths comprising the Mexican re-
public" says a bulletin from the
Washington Cd. CO. headquarters of
the National Geographic society.
"Campeche and Yucatan together
with the territory Of Quintana Roo en-
brace the entire peninsula Of Yucatan.
except a small portion Of the east
coast within the boundaries Of British
| Honduras and section Of the heavily
wooded interior where an arm of
Guatemala runs up from the south.
From the two peninsula states comes
most of the worlds production Of sisal
hemp, which Is neyt to manila hemp
in durability and strength. The region
also furnishes valuable timber, agri-
cultural products, and live stock.
Home Of SisaI Hemp.
although the greater part Of the
area of the peninsula Is one vast plain,
at small elevation, the two states
are strikingly different In many re-
spects. Campeche has fairly abundant
rainfall, dense forests, and a number
Of minerals throughout its $4,000
square miles. Yucatan, on the other
hand, presents dreary aspect, un-
little agriculture and no minerals. Yet
this arid region affords the chief
source Of wealth, hecequen or sisal
hemp. Yucatan with Quintana Roo Is
about twice as large as it's neighbour
ing state, yet, with $4,000 people. it
has almost four times as large
population.
despite the sparsenesS of Its rain
fall, Yucatan is not totally arid. Water
can be found in any section of the
state not far beneath the surface. AL
though there are no rivers of import
ance, the limestone formations under
ground are honeycombed with water
caves-termed locally 'cenotes'-and
subterranean streams. The Indians
knew Of these caves and rivers ages
ago and marked their courses on the
surface with heaps Of stones, never
building their cities except along the
flow Of an underground stream. Every
pueblo and ranch has its well and a
constant supply Of fresh cold water
for drinking and irrigation purposes.
"The fertility of the soil increases
in the northeast and southern portions
Of the state, where there are thick dye
and cabinet-wood forests. This is also
the home Of the beautiful Yucatan
turkey and the venerated quetzal, the
Mexican bird of paradise. sacred to
some of the Indian tribes.
with a coast line of 600 miles
Yucatan has only two harbors, Pro-
greso, the principal port, on the north
ern coast Of the peninsula, and an old
abandoned one at Sisal, few miles
farther west. Sisal, however, is the
better harbor Of the two, for Progreso
Is no more than an open roadstead,
without shelter. Merida, the capital.
thriving city of $4,000, is on the site
Of the ancient Maya metropolis of
TihOo.
'Yucatan is Of especial interest to
psychologists on account of the re-
markable ruins Of the Maya civiliza-
ton found there and throughout the
peninsula. In the culture scale these
Indians stood at the head Of the Amer
lean tribes. The remains Of their pre-
historic temples and cities are Of ut
most interest and beauty.
Better favored with natural re-
sources, Campeche is handicapped by
lack of labor and adequate means Of
communication. Great tracts of virgin
forests and unutilized wealth and ad-
vantages await the stimulus of foreign
capital and initiative. The seat Of
government, of the same name as the
state, is connected by railway with
Merida, the Yucatan capital, and some
Of the plantations have light railways.
Iogwood Valuable Export.
"One Of the principal products Of
the province is logwood. heavy red
timber, which contains a crystalline
yellow substance called hematoxylin
used extensively in dyeing and in
coloring wines. The annual export Of
this product alone in 1923 was valued
at more than a million pesos. Cam
peche stands second only to Yucatan
in the production Of henequen, or sisal
hemp, as well as the usual tropical
products such as sugar cane, rice, to-
bacco, indigo, cotton, etc. Many Of
the natives make a good livelihood
manufacturing the so-called Panama
hats,
"Campeche, the capital, is a quaint
old city Of $1,000 inhabitants. Founded
in 1910 by Francisco Montejo. it is,
therefore, one Of the oldest cities in
America. During the adventuresome
buccaneer days Of the Spanish main
it was sacked repeatedly by pirates
until its Fashioned and fortified walls,
segments of which are still standing,
were hastily erected.
GlTNH-