494 



The National Geographic Magazine 



In the Suburbs of Mexico Citv 



valuable tropical plants. Irrigation will 

 reclaim many thousand acres in the 

 north-central arid districts. Water power 

 is available for manufactures, consid- 

 erable coal exists in certain areas, and 

 it is believed that petroleum may occur 

 in sufficient amount to be an important 

 auxiliary fuel. 



THE PRINCIPAL SILVER-PRODUCING 

 COUNTRY OF THE WORED 



Probably the most valuable resources 

 in Mexico are the great mineral deposits, 

 and mining will long continue to be her 

 principal industry. For many years 

 Mexico has produced more silver than 

 any other country, and now is gaining 

 rapidly in output of gold, copper, and 

 other metals. In 1906 the estimated 

 value of her rriineral production was 

 $150,000,000 (Mexican), of which about 

 two-fifths was silver. During the past 



few years numerous old Mexican mines 

 have been revived, some of the aban- 

 doned ones pumped out, and modern 

 methods installed. Large bodies of min- 

 eral have been discovered at many 

 new localities. In some cases these 

 }'ield rich ores, while in others they are 

 of moderate richness, but can be worked 

 profitably by new processes. 



The extension of the railroad lines in 

 various directions through the mineral 

 country has been an important factor in 

 development, for they afford outlet for 

 ores which are not sufficiently rich to 

 carry long distances by wagons or 

 burros in the old-time manner. Smelters 

 have been erected at many places and 

 additional ones are in course of con- 

 struction for the economical working of 

 ores of various kinds. Modern methods 

 of concentration are introduced at some 

 mines, which effect a saving so great 

 that low-grade ores formerly thought to 



