1892 
valleys of Toluca and Mexico a series of very beautiful and inspiring 
Bn Route 
to 
Mexico City 
views are obtained such as are rarely afforded from a oar window. 
The great elevation, however, renders the air so cool that a 
July 
light overcoat is very useful in the open observation car that is 
run across these mountains. 
Descending the eastern or Valley of Mexico slope, the hillsides 
are covered with pulque or maguey plantations which are arranged in 
patches with long rows of the plants following the curves of the 
hill contours in parallel rows and giving a very odd appearance to 
the slopes. 
Several little towns are passed lying below the track so that 
the view is made up of a small sea of brick-colored tiles cut by 
irregular streets along which wander broad-hatted, serape-wrapped 
men end women with rebozos drawn tightly about them. 
Viewed thus from above, the objects are dwarfed until the scene 
seems almost like a dream filled in with toy people and houses to 
which the little fields of stiff magueys all about add to the un¬ 
reality, Early in the afternoon we ran into the oily through an 
evil smelling street that gives a poor opinion of the sanitary 
regulations in force. 
Mexico City 
(Mexico) 
Cn the morning of the 6th, I called upon the American Minister, 
Hon. Thos, Ryan, and explained my desire to obtain letters from 
July 
Senor Romero, Minister of the Treasury, to the governors of Michoa- 
can and San Luis Fotosi, Armed with a card of introduction from 
Mr. %an, I called upon Mr, Romero and was courteously received 
and my request granted at once. 
Mr. Romero is a slight, thin, gray-haired man apparently suffer 
ing from overwork and poor health. His ante-room was crowded with 
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