Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-09
BY HUBERT w. KELLEY.

MEXICO CITY, January e.-City of
palaces and beggars! Carrara marble
glimmers in the vista of bleached adobe
and the sepia towers of venerable
churches
The half-naked burden-bearer, bowed
under his huge load, trotS in the shadow
of colossal monuments. Two little chill
dren, wrapped in flinlSy shawl, sleep
together In the chill of evening on the
cold steps of the gold and marble me-
mortal to the sanity patriot, Benito
JuareZ.
This is a city rich in treasures of
architecture ana art, yet the masses
still are impoverished. The proletarian
gesture really is relieving much of the
ignorance and misery but the scales
pitfalls, Fairgrounds and prisons are
being built, economically enough, but
sometimes the government must be
taken to task by its advisers for plan
ming too elaborate and expensive build
ings for administrative ofices and
public institutions.
Government Complimcnted.
It is not in the Mexican character,
1t seems sometimes, to be moderate
One must starve or build palaces. Many
visitors have complimented the gov
eminent upon the advanced methods
employed in the municipal prison,
which Is quartered in crumbling con-
vent.
"Brave!" cried the public works de-
partment. ITO make 1t complete we
must have new prison"
A few million dollars went into the
budget for q new prison building when
highways and schools were more urgent.
Half the amount proposed, some BUSH
ness men said, was adequate for q new
prison. But one must have a hand
carved prison in Mexico and table
with gold legs for the warden. Happily
enough, however, the prison item was
scratched out, according to report, upon
the advice Of a certain financial adviser.
It was President Diaz who built most
Of this city's marble palaces upon the
backs Of the poems. And the buildings
still stand; they must be maintained.
Occasionally, IN q moment of exalta-
ton, the government has these build
ings further adorned with murals and
statuary, employing the nations best
artists for the purpose.
The beautiful Ministry Of Education
Building, wherein the ofhcials Of the
still undernourished school system sit,
has been redecorated with dozens OF
murals by Diego Rivera and other art
lists Of his class. Even now q history
Of Mexico is being painted in the Ma
tional Palace.
Post Office Expensive.
The magnificent post ONCE was built
at a cost Of 81, 300, 900. The monument
to national independence on the Paseo
de Ia Reform cost more than 81, 000, 900.
But there is little maintenance cost for
this An eternal fire" recently was
lighted near its base, but that is re-
fueled at negligible expense.
The Communications and Public
Works Building, splendid structure
ornamented with stone griffons and
lanterns and wrought-iron gateways,
likewise was built ct a cost Of several
millions And there 10 ne trsversable
highway to Vera Cruz, nor yet to Gan
Luis Potosi. although the latter is under
construction.
Six million dollars Is invested in the
unfinished National Theater, the most
beautiful structure Of It's kind on the
continent. This phantom Of the thea
ter stands in the heart of the city. 1t
is a tragedy and yet the loveliest thing
in the city Of Mexico. The interior is
unfinished; the great dome still Is a
skeleton of steel.
The shining white stone Of the struc-
ture Is alive with exquisite groups OF