io 4 6eo0rapbical motes on flDejico. 



through a list that would rival that of any other country. The School 

 of Mines and Engineering, however, stands as one of the first. Its 

 magnificent building of Chiluca, the nearest to granite the valley affords, 

 was built for it by Tolsa in 1793, and cost three millions. The institu- 

 tion named the Colegio de la Paz, better known as the Vizcainas is one 

 of the principal establishments for the education of young women, 

 founded in 1734, at a cost for construction alone of about $2,000,000, 

 subscribed by three Spanish merchants, who also provided funds for 

 its support. These funds, when insufficient to meet expenses, are sup- 

 plemented by the Federal Government. We have also a very high 

 grade Military School located at the historical grounds of Chapulte- 

 pec, which educates fine soldiers. 



As late as 1824 Humboldt declared, " No city of the New Con- 

 tinent, not excepting those of the United States, presents scientific 

 establishments so great and solid as those of the capital of Mexico.'* 

 Except as to the buildings, of course, so much could not be said to- 

 day, as wealth and numbers have made other countries take more 

 rapid strides in higher education. Some of the universities of the 

 United States pay even $10,000 a year to professors and they there- 

 fore can secure the best talent. 



From the time of the Spanish domination in Mexico to but a few 

 years ago, the Mexican Government considered itself bound to give to 

 the people free secondary education, and for this purpose colleges for 

 all literary and scientific professions were established in the City of 

 Mexico, and each State did the same in its respective capital, in so 

 far as its means allowed it, so that anybody who intended to follow a 

 scientific career could do so without any expense to himself. 



The result of the free technical schools has been that most of the 

 young men of well-to-do families in Mexico follow a literary career 

 and that does not cost them anything, and we have more lawyers, 

 doctors, engineers than we really need for the country. 



Reorganization of the Technical Colleges. We had before 1868 sev- 

 eral higher colleges and in each of them the same careers were taught, 

 as law, medicine, engineering, etc., but in the reorganization of our 

 national colleges which took place in that year, it was thought proper 

 to establish a special college for each career, and a preparatory col- 

 lege for such elementary studies as would be required for all careers, 

 such as elementary mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc., etc., so that 

 we now have in the City of Mexico, supported by the Federal Govern- 

 ment a special school for engineering, one for law, one for medicine, 

 another for agriculture, etc., etc., but each State generally supports 

 one technical college where all literary careers are taught. 



Primary Education. Comparatively little attention was paid to the 

 primary education, and the public schools were so deficient that 



