Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1942-07-02


claimed that they Jump at you as
you approach, an impossible claim,
greeted with laughter by the skepti-
cal. Ruined churches appeal" from
time to time.
High on the plataeu, 1000 feet
above sea level, is an irrigated and
cultivated strech of land around
Lagunilla. Much corn is harvested,
and the corn leaf ba1ed, and piled in
monstrous ricks or stacks. 1t SEEM
ed beautiful and productive up
land country, which has been irri-
gated from, time immemorial.
II The scenery changes, for now It
is maguey, the big leaved pulque
plant, that streches on both sides
of the road for an interninable
distance. There is enough pulque
here to keep the country drunk for
year. fear. A land mark, called
{ the friars," high on the mountain
side to the left, consists of a group
of monoliths, standing like grey
friars together, with, band Of
rock around the middle like friars
rope.
We now reach the highest point
in the whole Pan-American High
way, the Gina, or summit. 1t is
marked 8,209 feet. Here is an in
teresting monument placed by the
American Colony in Mexico It
commentaries the opening of the
Highway and is dated July 1, 1886.
It commentaries also skill of the
engineers, the vision of the states
men, the labor of the workmen.
"Skill, Vision, Labor" "It is path
of mutual respect, an indissoluble
bond of peace between two neighbor
nations" President Cardenas stood
here to receive the monument,
and to make speech in response
to the Americans presenting the
gift.
There is then long and uninter-
esting level drive, dropping very
gradually down to the great capital
city. Very modern signs of civil
ization appear every where. All
along the way are election signs in
viting the voter to vote for Cam
acho, or recommending Amazan,
in the election Of 1941, for Ell Pres
idente.
We come to Cerro Gordo (fat
hilD, a remarkable volcanic cone.
We recall that here Zachary Taylor
with American soldiers defeated
much larger Mexican force of
Mexican soldiers under Santa Ana
in 1847. We recalled that in that
war, Mexico gave up more than half
of her possessions to United States.
Soon afterward that ceded country
became fabulously rich in gold, sill
yer, copper, oil, gas, cattle, sheep,
citrus and every other kind of fruit,
exporting the finest lumber to most
parts of the world. We can never
repay our defeated friend.
Tourists will remember a long
wall to the right, the odorous, open
sewer from Mexico City to the Gulf,
passing through the great tunnel
under the mountains, and the
long ancient aqueduct of the early
Spaniards, now cut in two by the
Highway. 1t is almost 400 years
old, and as firm as when it was
built.
Herds Of Holstien cattle Craze in
the fields furnishing some of the
: milk for the million and a. half
of the population of the great city.
, They make strong contrast with
the descendants of the first Span
ish cattle, which are noticed all
along the road from Laredo to
Mexico. Great changes are seen
since we were here four years ago.
Great buildings are going up, and
brand new thorofare, with park
and trees in the center, has been
opened up to receive visitors who
come to this Paris of all the Ameri-
cas-. The police examine all our pa
pers, furnish the services of a free
guide, and we are soon snugly
housed near the very heart of this
vitality gay and throbbing metro
polis.-HOWARD H. SCOTT
Mexico City, January 21, 1912.