Appleton's guide to Mexico, including a chapter on Guatemala and an English-Spanish vocabulary

Front matter

ENGLISH MILES

SUitc Cajiitals .

IQj Longitude West 100 Si

Preface To The Fourth Edition

In preparing a fourtli edition the author desires to state that the book has been carefully revised, and many pages of new matter have been inserted.

The railways described in Sections YII, YIII, IX, XI and XIY are still in course of construction. When the lines are completed, these chapters will, of course, be rewritten.

The chief industry of Mexico is mining, and it may be said that railway construction and operation come next in importance. In the development of the Republic the world will watch chiefly the mines, the railroads and the tropical products. This remark is especially applicable to American investors.

Many mines have long been idle on account of the expense of exploitation and the cost of treating the ores. There are deposits of low-grade silver-lead and silveriron ores which have never been worked until within the past year. The silver-lead-ore ruHngs of the United States Treasury Department in 1889, and the new tariff law of October 1, 1890, have caused the erection of

PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. vii

smelting-works in various portions of Mexico. Tlie low-grade ores will thus be profitably treated and the output of silver will be increased.

Referring to railroads, many miles have been built during the years 1890-91, and several lines will be completed before January 1, 1892.

Of these the most important are :

1. The Interoceanic {Morelos) Railway, from the capital to Yera Cruz via Jalapa, which will be a formidable rival to the English line from Vera Cruz to Mexico.

2. The Monterey and Mexican Gulf Railroad, from Yenadito to Tampico.

3. The Tehuantepec Railroad.

It may be added that about one hundred miles of the Mexican Southern Railroad were built during the past year, and the companies in Yucatan extended their several lines. The western branch of the Mexican National Railroad will soon be finished. The completion of the eastern division of the Mexican Central Railway (406 miles) in March, 1890, was, of course, an epoch in the history of the Republic. The Credit Fonder Company has taken the contract to construct and to lease the Mexican Western Railroad, from Topolobampo Harbor to Galveston, Texas, 1,100 miles, with branch lines in Mexico of 310 miles.

It is interesting to trace the growth of Mexican railways. In 1879 the number of miles of railroad in operation was 372; in 1886 it was 3,725 ; and in 1891 viii PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION.

it is 6,000, with about 1,800 miles in course of construction. All tlie lines are subsidized, except the International Railroad, from Ciudad Porfirio Diaz to Torreon, 384 miles.

The concessions to American capitalists include nearly 13,000 miles. Some of them have been forfeited for non-compliance with the stipulations of the contract. The American companies have built, in round numbers, 4,000 miles of railroad. Of this number about 1,100 are narrow-gauge.

!N'one of the American lines are as yet very profitable, but their receipts are augmenting, and, with a moderate improvement in business and economical management, these railways will become good investments.

The Mexicans are acquiring new wants, and the demand for foreign goods (especially improved agricultural implements) is constantly increasing.

It should be stated that the traveler may now go from New York to the City of Mexico in jwe days ; and 150 pounds of baggage are allowed passengers entering Mexico from the United States. The allowance to local passengers on Mexican railroads is still thirty-three pounds.

The formation of an efficient railway and telegraph service has promoted peace and the stability of the Government. Political revolutions have ceased, brigandage has been suppressed, and a revival of national pride has occurred.

A reciprocity treaty providing a free market for

PEEFAGE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. ix

Mexican live-stock, wool, tobacco and fruit would be very beneficial to both countries, if sufficient rewards were obtained by whicli American manufactures and products could be introduced in Mexico on more advantageous terms than at the present time.

The annual imports of Mexico are equivalent to about $30,000,000 in American currency. The import and export trade of Mexico is chiefly with the United States. Trade between the two Republics is improving. In 1889 the exports from Mexico amounted to $62,499,338, of which eighty per cent went to the United States. The gold value of the exports from Vera Cruz in 1889 exceeded those of 1888 by the sum of $1,000,000.

The finances of the Government were never in a more prosperous state than at present. The national credit is slowly but steadily advancing and liberal appropriations for free schools and for public works have lately been made.

Mexico is still deficient in hotel accommodation. Better hotels are needed and it is hoped that American investors will provide them.

The author renews his expression of thanks to SeSor M. Romero, the Mexican Minister at "Washington, and to the various officials of the American railways, for great assistance in the preparation of this edition.

New York, June 15, 1S91.

Part First Chapter

L — Traveling in Mexico .

Hints .

When to Travel .

How to Travel

An Agricultural Trip

A Mining Trip

The Cost of Travel

Railroads

Steamships

Diligences

Horse-cars

Horses and Mules

Express .

II. — History , III. — Geography

Situation

Boundaries

Area .

Topography .

Mountains

Rivers

Lakes .

Islands

Climate

Political Divisions IV. — Literature . "^rt

V. — Ruins .

Mayapan

Uxmal

PAGE

I

1-2

3-4

4-6 v-ia

12-13 13-14 14-15

25 25-30 26-28

29 29-30

30 30-3] 32-33

33 84-49

36 36-38

Xll

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTBB

PAGE

Palenque .

. 38-40

Mitla ....

41^3

The Pyramids

. 43-4'7

Cholula

43-44

San Juan Teotihuacan

. 44-46

Papantla

46-47

Northern Mexico .

. 47-49

VI. — Hotels and Restaurants .

49-62

VII. — ^Passport

VIII. — Custom-Houses .

IX. — Commerce

. - . . 53-56

X. — Army and Navy .

56-57

XI.— Duties.

XII.— Taxes .

XIII.— Finance

. 58-59

XIV.— Public Debt

59-60

XV. — Money — Coins

, 60-62

XVI.— Mints ....

X V 11.- Post-Office and Letters

. 63-66

XVIII.— Telegraphs

66-67

XIX.— Census

. 67-68

XX.— Population ' .

68-69

XXI. — Architecture .

. 69-73

XXII.— Painting ....

73-74

XXIII. — Immigration .

. 74-75

XXIV.— Mines ....

76-82

XXV. — Mineral Springs

XXVI.— Geology ....

83-85

XXVII.— Zoology

. 86-89

XXVIII.— Botany ....

89-91

XXIX.— Agriculture .

. 91-100

XXX. — Maps and Surveys

101-102

XXXI.— Stock-Raising .

. 102-103

XXXII. — Weights and Measures .

103-107

XXXIII.— Labor and Wages

. 108-112

XXXIV.— Wines and Liquors

112-115

XXXV.— Cigars and Tobacco .

. 115-116

XXXVI.— Manufactures

116-119

XXXVIL— Native Productions .

, 119-121

XXXVIII.— Jewelry ....

121-122

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

xiu

CHAPTER

XXXIX.-

XL.-

XLI.-

XLII.-

XLIII.-

XLIV.-

XLV.-

XLVI.-

XLVII.-

XLVIII.-

XLIX.-

LI.-

LII.-

LIII.-

LIV.-

-Theatres

-Music

-Dances

-Festivals .

-Bull-fights

-Cock-fights

-Costumes

-Lotteries .

-Stores .

-Pawnbroker-Shops

-The Church .

-Jurisprudence

-Education

-Newspapers

-Miscellaneous ,

-What Mexico needs

PAGE

122 122-124

Part Second. Section

I. — How to reach Mexico . . . . .

How to reach the Country ....

Route I. — New York to Vera Cruz by Steamer

Vera Cruz ....

Jalapa . . . . .

Route II. — ^New York to New Orleans by Rail, thence by

Steamer to Vera Cruz

Matamoros, Tampico, Tuxpan

Route III. — ^New York to Laredo or El Paso, Texas, by Rail

II. — The Mexican Railway Company from Vera Cruz to Mexico

From Vera Cruz to Orizaba ....

Orizaba . . . ...

From Orizaba to Esperanza ....

From Esperanza to Puebla via Apizaco

From Puebla to the City of Mexico ni. — The City of Mexico and Environs

Hotels, Restaurants, Theatres, Carriages, Banks, Soci eties, etc., etc. ....

History of Tenochtitlan ....

PAGE

175-176 176-179

XIV

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

SECTION

PAGE

Places of Interest . . , . ,

. 182-194

Excursions around the Capital

196-201

San Juan Teotihuacan . . . . '

Pachuca ......

196-19'7

Cuernavaca .....

. 199-200

IV. — The Mexican National Railway ....

202-253

Eoute I. — From the City of Mexico to Manzanillo .

. 202-236

Mexico to Toluca ....

202-205

Toluea ....

. 205-206

Toluca to Maravatio

206-209

Maravatio to MoreHa .

. 210-211

Acambaro. ....

Morelia ....

. 211-215

Morelia to Patzcuaro and thence to Manzanillo ....

215-220

Patzcuaro via Ario to Jorullo

. 220-236

Acapulco .....

Eoute II. — From the City of Mexico to Laredo and Corpus

Christi ....

. 237-253

Mexico to Celaya . . . .

Celaya to San Luis Potosi

. 237-238

San Luis Potosi ....

238-240

San Luis Potosi to Tampico .

. 240-241

San Luis Potosi to Monterey

241-247

Saltillo ....

Monterey .....

248-249

Monterey to Laredo .

. 249-252

New Laredo ....

Laredo ....

.252

Laredo to Corpus Christi

V. — ^The Mexican Central Railway

. 254-289

Route I. — From the City of Mexico to Zacatecas

254-279

Mexico to Queretaro .

. 254-260

The Canal of Huehuetoca

255-258

Queretaro ....

. 260-263

Queretaro to Guanajuato .

263-269

Silao . . . ".

Guanajuato ....

265-269

Guanajuato to Lagos ,

. 269-270

Lagos to Guadalajara and San Bias

270-272

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

XV

SECTION

Lagos to Zacatecas Aguascalientes

Aguascalientes to San Luis Potosi La Quemada .

Zacatecas Duraogo Route II. — From Zacatecas to El Paso, Texas Zacatecas to Lerdo Lerdo to Chihuahua .

Chihuahua to El Paso VI. — The International and Interoccanic Railway VII. — The Mexican Southern Railroad Northern Division Southern Division .

Oaxaca and Mitla VIII. — The Morelos (Interoccanic) Railway . Mexico to Cuautla Amecameca and Popocatepetl Cuautla to Acapulco Table of Distances .

IX. — The Tehuantepec Railroad X. — The Sonora Railway ....

XI. — The American and Mexican Pacific Railway XII. — The New York, Texas and Mexican Railroad . XIII. — The Mexican International Railroad XIV. — The Sinaloa and Durango Railroad XV. — Table of Distances

XVI. — Guatemala .....

Geography ....

Miscellaneous ....

Route I. — Tonala, Mexico, to San Joso dc Guatemala Route II. — San Jose to New Guatemala Guatemala .

Old Guatemala .

Appendix .....

Language .....

Vocabulary ....

Index ......

PAGB

2'73-2'74

276-278

280-289

280-282

282-284

285-287

291-297

291-293

293-297

298-304

298-303

299-303

303-304

305-308

309-315

316-318

319-321

322-324

327-343

327-335

335-338

339-341

342-343

345-378

345-358

358-378

379-390

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PART FIRST Scene in Mexico

Mexican Table-land .

Aztec Temple ....

Toltec Palace ....

The Cathedral of Mexico

Longitudinal View of Timbered Level

The Peak of Orizaba

The Axolotl ....

Cochineal Insects on Branch of Cactus .

Indigo Plant (Anil) .

Brazil-Wood, Leaves, Flower, and Fruit .

The Vanilla Plant .

India-Rubber Plant {Hule)

The Coffee Plant .

Cocoanut Palm ....

Mexican Porters

Pulque Tlachiquero

PAGr . 26

28 . 44

48 . '70

80 . 84

87 . 88

90 . 91

92 . 93

. 98

. 113