Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
SONORANS CALLED
MEXICAN YANKEES
Aspects of Geography of Re.
gion involved in RevoIu-
ton Are Given.

Many of the % states of Mexico have
been mentioned in stories OF the recent
revolutionary outbreak. but nearly all
news stories agree in the prominence
of four-Sonora, Coahuila, Nueva Leon
and Vera Cruz. A bulletin from head
quarters of the National Geographic So
ciety gives the geographic and economic
background Of these four states and of
three key cities, Monterey, Vera Cruz
and Tampico.
Sonora, in Northwestern Mexico.
which is the fountainhead of the new
revolution, has points in common with
our own Southwest" says the bulletin.
ITO many Mexicans in other states the
Sonorans are the Yankees of Mexico
This Is because of their alertness and
activity and because contacts with
Americans have shaped many of the
Sonoran customs.
Mining and Ranching Chief Activities.
Nearly every well-to-do family
among the merchants and rancherS has
sent it's sons and daughters to schools
in the United States and 1t is not diff
cult to find natives who speak English
fluently. There has been a stream of
American goods into the state, and in
Sonoran homes one is constantly see
ing American monographs. sewing ma
chineS, baby carriages and brass beds.
THE state is primarily mining and
cattle country. Rich silver, gold and
copper mines have been operated since
the coming of the Spaniards, and there
are treasures, some of the rarer min
erals. never yet worked commercially.
In the southern end of the state is the
valley of the Yaqui River, home of the
Yaqui Indians. All Mexican govern
H., TxxIi
ruly lot. and sanguinary wars have been
fought with them.
Sonora has several gateway towns
along the American border. At Nogales
an important railway enters Mexico
from the United States, striking south
to the Gulf of California and thence
along the Mexican west coast for 500
miles or more Turning inland, it
reaches Mexico City.
Adjoining Sonora on the east is
Chihuahua, MexicO's biggest state,
which. according to early reports, re-
manned faithful to the federal cause
Immediately east of Chihuahua is
Coahuila, another center of revolution
airy activity. Coahuila is semi-arid
region crossed by mountains and with
some desert patches: but with consid-
cradle areas on which wheat can be
grown and cattle pastured. 1t was to
this state that Texas was linked when,
century ago. that huge common
wealth was a part of Mexico. Saltillo,
in the northern part of Coahuila, was
a common capital, and to this remote
town. across deserts and barren noun
tains. the early American colonists Of
Texas had to go to present their Pc
titionS.
Monterey Railway NERVE Center"
Monterey, capital of Lueva Leon,
about 1870 miles south of Laredo, Tex,
and 500 miles north of Mexico City,
has a population Of more than 100000
and is one of the most progressive and
modern cities in Mexico. Its chief i'm
portance from military point of view
lies In the fact that it Is the railway
nerve center of the republic. Through
Monterey passes the main railway line
between Mexico City and the Eastern
United States, crossing the United
States Mexican border at Laredo. Tex.
Two other railways from the border
converge at Monterey; one from Eagle
Pass, Tex, and one from Brownsville.
Tex. near the mouth of the Rio
Grande
1.-The spokes in the city's wheel &
railways also include a line extending
due west to Torreon and the Mexican
Lake district, the main line south to
San Louis Potosi and Mexico City, and
q line southeastward to the port of
Tampico. without this rail center. 1t
will be almost impossible for the Next