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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



MULE HAULING HENEOUEN FIBER • PROGRESO, YUCATAN 



This is a product of an agave plant grown in large quantities in Yucatan, the bulk being 

 shipped to the United States as a substitute for hemp in many specialties of manufacture. 



the capital each claiming second place, 

 with approximately 100,000 inhabitants. 

 Monterey, with its growing industries ; 

 San Luis Potosi and Leon exceed 60,000 

 inhabitants. Other important cities — 

 Guanajuato, Zacatecas, Pachuca, Chi- 

 huahua, Parral, Burango, Oaxaca — have 

 developed from mining enterprises, while 

 industries and agriculture are responsi- 

 ble for the growth of Merida, Aguas 

 Calientes, Celaya, Irapuato, Torreon, 

 Jalapa, Queretaro, Orizaba, Morelia, Sal- 

 tillo, Hermosillo, Colima, and Toluca. 



The more important ports are Vera 

 Cruz, Tampico, and Puerto Mexico, on 

 the Gulf of Mexico ; Acapulco, Mazatlan, 

 Manzanillo, and Salina Cruz, on the Pa- 

 cific Ocean, and Guaymas and La Paz, 

 on the Gulf of California. 



Other localities maintain considerable 

 coastal trade by using lighters plying be- 

 tween the shore and vessels in road- 

 steads, and some apparently favorable 

 sites await projected railroad connec- 

 tions to encourage harbor improvements. 



These numerous cities offer many at- 

 tractive views, their ornate churches, 



handsome plazas, and industries each 

 presenting features of interest. The 

 mountains also are rich in scenic and 

 impressive characteristics, and the types 

 of people instructive. 



WELL COVERED WITH RAILROADS 



The bonds of steel, represented by 

 15,000 miles of railroad, constructed 

 within the last 30 years — of which 55 

 per cent is owned or controlled by the 

 government — have done much to unite 

 the various portions of Mexico, but there 

 is necessity for transcontinental lines 

 crossing the Sierras, or connecting set- 

 tlements along or near the northern bor- 

 der, where the country has its greatest 

 width. 



Of railroad mileage within the borders 

 of the country, approximately one-half 

 is between sea-level and 5,000 feet ele- 

 vation, and about an equal amount be- 

 tween 5,000 and 10,000 feet. Few im- 

 portant cities are at lower elevation than 

 4,000 feet, and they range from this to 

 9,000 feet above sea-level, the most noted 

 exceptions being the city of Monterey, 



