59 [26]. 
State so isolated in the interior of a large country, with a very thin popu- 
lation, without any navigable river, receiving most of its. merchandise 
either by the long Santa Pot irail from the United States or far from the inte- 
rior of Mexico, or but occasionally by direct importation om the eee 
on the Pacific, a certainly no cluim to commercial advantages. But if, 
in the course of years, a shorter se ria ope should = opened i . 
the seashore by a good, direct road to the Rio Grande; if the indolent 
Mexieans should be spurred on -to saionses industrial energy by their go- 
neighbors; if the Indians, the very scourge of the country, shou f 
ps driven out or ‘extirpated by some companies of ‘Texas rangers; if : 
pressive laws and monopolies should be supplanted by free competition oo 
industry, the State would soon be productive and rich enough to exchange 
ever year many millions of goods with the seashore, as well as with the 
interior. 
em population of the State, exclusive of; the wild ‘Indians, was 
In 1927 = “ - - “ = - 120,157 
1839 6us x é “3 “ eae 138,133 
1833 - P _ “ mewigge ts 439,081 
"4 1842 ‘ ie “ ie ig om. - 147,600 
At present it is estimated at fom 150. to 160, 000 inhabitants, which - 
number would give about 1.3 for each English square milé.. ‘The greater _ 
ctl of the people are of Indian descent, though some have preserve 
ire. Castilian blood. 'The settlements generally commenced and 
pepgriive with the discovery of mines.. The oldest town in the State is, 
Santa Sea (near Parral,) whose mines were discovered in 1556. About 
1600, the town contained 7,000 inhabitants, who were mostly oceupied . 
in the gold mines, which produced then from 12 to 14 ounces of gold in the. 
carga. Afterw. ards’ Parral was settle d, Santa Eulalia, Cieneguilla, Cae 
heteeee ete, "The numerous Initians that in — years occupied 
others ers natalie yet, and roam restless aicun ae by tne and 
depredations upon the Mexicans. Those hostile Indians are principally 
the aga ver general de en compriaee the a. related, 
400; nevertheless, this small number g mi = ae 
. asd impeded the progressof the State so completely, that 11 more ener 
getic i acon taken, the Mexicans will ye become the vassals ée 
these sa hordes 
‘In the northwestern pat of the: State of Chihuabua § some old ruins. are, 
found, set no doubt, bya cultivated Indian tribe that has passed away. 
‘knowns Casas s Grandes, and lie near the village and creek of 
ame, between Janos and Galeana. Ruins of large novaeets is 
Wr in the upper stories om. oa ted doleeatianmene abe lower ‘canal 
ane — metsteiailiaiiaiibie stands tw 
