Evening star., 1940-02-25
Pon-Ameicon Highway Lures
u. S. Motorists to Mexico
Exchange Rote Makes Travelling
inexpensive; Roads in Good Condition

the foothills Of the Sierra Madre
mountains on through q more pic
turesque and fertile valley Of the
city Of Monterrey.
Monterrey Dates From 1896.
Monterrey dates from 1896 and
is the leading industrial city Of
Mexico. The narrow streets, flat
rooted houses, the patios, cathedral
and other buildings still reflect the
atmosphere Of old Spanish colonial
days. There are excellent modern
hotels IN Monterrey, and a branch
of what appealed to me as the great
est American Institution in Mexico,
Sanborns. rendezvous tearoom and
gift shop, an excellent place to eat.
At Monterrey one encounters for
the first time the native boys who
jump on the side of the car asking
to show you to your destination and
to watch your car. It is desirable to
select one of these boys to watch
your car for which you pay him
from 10 to 20 centavos, to 4 cents
in United States money. Through
out the principal cities of Mexico
there is never ending succession
of these boys, beggars and peddlers
who seem to have the idea that
every American is a millionaire and
it is often easier to get rid of them
by the expenditure of a few centavos
than by ignoring them or attempt
ing to say mo"
Eighty -one miles south of Monterey
is the little town of Linares in the
center of an extensive farming and
ranching district and from here
south there is steady increase in
the density and variety of tropical
vegetation including a great IRON
producing area.
One of the most delightful features
Of our trip was the visit to haci-
enda Santa Engracia IL miles west
OF the Pan American Highway at a
point 70 miles south of Linares.
This old hacienda formerly en-
braced over $4,000 acres, but now
all but small portion has been
appropriated and divided up among
the Indians. The 14-room Casa
Grande Chg House, was erected in
1765. There are IL enormous bed
rooms with large individual fire.
places and four-poster ebony beds.
In the great dining room we were
seated at a huge ebony table with
delightful guest and were served
delicious home cooked meals.
Fish in Great Abundance.
On the nearby lake 400 acres in
extent we saw myriads of wild ducks.
Bass and perch abound in great
abundance. This was also true in
the river which flowed through the
hacienda.
The hacienda is also a hunters
paradise. It is situated at the foot
of the Sierra Madre Mountains
where many kinds of game from
wild turkeys and squirrels to lions,
bears, tigers and deer may be found.
In addition to hunting and fishing
we were offered our choice of hiking,
swimming and horseback riding.
Here surrounded by interesting
sportsmen and by charming and
courtly host and hostess we enjoyed
all the Spanish colonial atmosphere
OF the 18th century with all modern
conveniences. When you visit Mex
leo you will want to visit Hacienda
Santa Engracia by all means.
Continuing south on the Pan
Aberican Highway you reach Ciudad
Victoria. About Is miles south of
Victoria you cross the Tropic of
Cancer and enter the Torrid Zone.
Here in the heart Of the tropics you
reach Ell Mantle Cuidad Wales and
then Tamazunchale.
Prior to the advent Of the Pan
American Highway, most Of the in
habitants of Tamazunchale had
never seen an automobile. Wales,
the nearest railroad station was two
days distant by burro trail and Mex
icn City was several days journey by
horseback. The most scenic portion
of the trip lies Immediately south of
Tamazunchale. Here the real climb
into tAe Sierra Madres begins. In
the course of 60 miles you climb
from near sea level to about a mile
high and the road winds through
some of the most stupendous noun
tain scenery in existence.
Indians Garry Heavy Loads.
In this region are many small
Indian villages with hundreds of
thatched rooted Indian huts clus-
tered along the mountain slopes.
There are no beasts of burden in
this area and the Indians, very
small of stature, are seen carrying
loads, seemingly several times their
own weight, over the mountains to
the nearest village.
The principal activity of these
Indians is farming. You will see
their patches of corn in the steep
slopes of the mountains sometimes
where it is too steep to work except
by the aid of rope tied to a tree
or rock higher up the mountain.
Continuing south you pass through
the villages of Jacala, Zimapa,
TX miquilpar, and Actopan and then
reach the highest point on the road,
5000 feet and from here drops
gradually into the great valley of
Mexico City just go miles distant.