Mexico

From Encyclopediak

Mexico, a country of North America lying between the United States and Central America. Its broadly-curving eastern coast forms a part of the limits of the Gulf of Mexico, with its broad arm, the Gulf of Campeche, while at the west the long Peninsula of Lower California, partially separated from the mainland by the Gulf of California, is washed by the Pacific. The Rio Grande divides it from Texas, and the Hondo River at the south forms its natural separation from British Honduras. The area of Mexico is 767,005 sq. m., or about three times that of Texas.

PHYSICAL FEATURES. Mexico is a mountainous country having low, narrow coastal regions on both oceans, from which rise the various ridges of the great mountain system, a continuation of that of western United States. Centrally there is a broad plateau above which rise irregular mountain peaks not much elevated above the plateau. Hundreds of volcanoes, active, dormant and extinct, occupy the plateau and the plains. The highest of these lie southwest of the City of Mexico and include the Peak of Orizaba 18,250 ft., Popocatepetl 17,876 ft., Ixtaccihuati 16,960 ft., Volcan de Colima 12,750 the last of these has been active since 1900. Many are covered with snow throughout the year, and one, Ixtaccihuati, has upon its summit the great Porfirio Diaz Glacier, the only one of great size in Mexico.

LAKES AND RIVERS. Mexico has few-rivers of importance for navigation. The greatest is the great Rio Grande, but it is too much blocked by bars to be of value to any but small boats. It does, however, supply water for irrigation channels, and for this reason its bed is often almost dry. The Rio Conchas rising in southern Chihuahua is the greatest Mexican tribu tary of this stream. The Rio de Tampico and the San Juan are fairly large rivers, but are of little value for commerce because of their torrents and rapids. Probably the best-known Mexican stream is the Coatzacoalcos in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which was once investigated as the possible beginning of an ocean to ocean canal. The lakes of Mexico are numerous. Lake Chapala in Jalisco is the largest, but the valleys, the plateaus and the craters of the volcanoes have their lakes of clearest blue, generally in settings unusually picturesque. Many of these are connected by canals and form waterways or parts of the fine irrigation system of the republic.

CLIMATE. The Mexicans divide their country into the hot lands, temperate lands and frigid lands. The first are those that lie less than 3000 ft. above the sea level. There the climate is moist, hot and generally unhealthful. In the second, the temperate lands, which are at an elevation of from 3000 ft. to 7000 ft., the air is cool and pleasant and the climate equable. Snow is not uncommon even as lar south as the City of Mexico, but it never lasts long. Earthquakes, though frequent, are usually slight.

INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCTS. Agriculture may well become the chief industry of Mexico, for even at present, with the primitive methods employed, the country, especially in the "hot lands," yields abundantly. American capital has been attracted into Mexico and this, with the newly-established experiment stations of the agricultural department, has tended to improve methods of production. The natural products of Mexico are the great forests of palm, acacia, rubber, rosewood, mahogany, brazilwood, campeachy wood, ebony and iron-wood, the cactus and such fruits as the mango, pomegranate, orange, pineapple, coconut and banana. Following in the wake of cultivation come the superior Mexican coffees, cocoa, sugar cane, agave, corn, wheat, maize and beans. Spice growing and tea culture give promise of becoming profitable. Mexico is the greatest silver-producing country of the world. The modern methods of extraction have made the ores once thought to be valueless, now worth mining, and in one region the very streets of the cities that had been paved with tailings from the old mines were found to yield a profitable per cent of silver. The most productive mines are those of Guanajuato, El Oro, Pa-chuca, Santa Eulalia, Parral and Zacatecas. One of the largest gold camps of America occurs at El Oro, and in many localities lead, iron, copper and zinc are produced in great quantities. The copper mines are chiefly in Lower California. The Mexico mining laws have been continually improved until they are now advantageous to foreign capital, and to this is due the rapid growth of the mining industry. In the region of Vera Cruz are oil wells, remarkable for theii production. The manufactories of Mexico are extensive. The making of textiles is the leading one among these, but the weaving and the dyeing of the cloth is often carried on in private homes. The dyeing of the purple goods is an occupation by itself, for the dye is collected from a species of mussel similar to that which produced the royal purple of the East. The collectors go to the tiny islands where the mussels are common and carefully remove the animals, shells and all, from the rocks. By blowing into the shell the men cause the mussels to exude a few drops of the liquid that forms the basis for the dye. The mussel is then tenderly returned to the rock to await another collecting day. Sugar, rum, molasses, distilled liquors, rope and tobacco are manufactured in the south, and everywhere saddlery, boots and shoes and artistic pottery and jewelry are made and presented for sale.

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMERCE. Mexico presents many contrasts in transportation. Up the Coatzacoalcos go the picturesque tall-prowed dugouts of the natives, side by side with modern steamers and sail boats. Along the great railroads, now all united under the name of National Lines of Mexico, the elegant Pullmans, equipped with every conven- 1830 fence of the modern train, flash past the winding roads, where the natives carry their heavy packs, and the swift automobiles pass the long mule trains jangling their discordant bells. There are about 16,000 m. of railroads and long lines of telephone and telegraph connecting all the cities with the outer world.

PEOPLE AND RELIGION. The inhabitants of Mexico are of many classes, whites, Indians and mestizos, or mixed races. The Indians are the descendants of once-powerful tribes. They differ greatly in dress and in customs and, in general, have little of the energy, executive ability and skill of their ancestors. Many of these dwell in villages in Yucatan and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where they live by agriculture and by trading. The Zapotecas are a gentle, hard-working and refined people. The Mexicans are of widely different classes. The wealthy class has always furnished the rulers and the higher officers of the army. These are of Spanish and Indian descent, aristocratic in looks and in bearing and much like their Spanish ancestors. They have acquired their wealth from the natural resources of the .country and through the force of arms. The poorer classes are, in general, inefficient and lazy. By contrast, however, they are excitable, fond of bright colors and gayety, and are easily influenced. The Roman Catholic religion prevails, though the greatest religious freedom is allowed. The Indians have nominally adopted Catholicism, but the most of hem still cling to their ancient superstitions.

GOVERNMENT. Mexico is a constitutional republic, a federative republic made up of 27 states, three territories and a Federal District. Its model is the United States Government, and its executive power is vested in a president, whose duties and privileges are very similar to those of the President in the United States. The legislative department is vested in a Congress made up of a House of Representatives and a Senate. The executive is elected for four years, and the congressmen for four. Congress meets twice annually, and a permanent committee of both houses meets during the interim of sessions. In the absence or disability of the president to perform his duties, Congress calls immediately for new elections, which are to be held as soon as possible. Each state has its own internal constitution, government and laws, with a governor. Legislature and judicial bodies. The constitutions are based upon the Federal Constitution and uphold its principles. The principal cities are the City of Mexico, which is also the capital, diiadalajara, Puebia, San Luis Potosi, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Santa Ana, San Pedro and Escalon.

HISTORY. Mexico is a country of an old civilization, and as early as the seventh century a people known as the Toltecs lived in the region of the northern rivers. The name of the country is derived from that of a tribe of Indians also found in the North and called the Mexicas, or Aztecs they must have entered Mexico as early as the 12th century and soon after laid the foundations of Mexico City. Even this early, Mexico was a land of poverty, famine, jealousies and conflicts. It was conquered by Spain in 1521, and for nearly 300 years was under the domination of viceroys and governors, each having a period of government that averaged scarcely more than five years. These rulers and their followers robbed the mines, oppressed the people and checked all attempts at Mexican independence until the beginning of the 19th century. In 1810 Hidalgo, a Mexican patriot, incited a revolt that resulted, after 11 years of desperate fighting, in gaining independence for Mexico. For three years there was a monarchial form of government then, in 1824, the Republic of Mexico was established, although on a rather uncertain basis. For many years Santa Anna was the leading spirit in Mexican politics (See SANTA ANNA, ANTONIO LOPEZ DE) and he sometimes exercised arbitrary powers. In 1836 Texas, which had formed a part of Mexico, declared its freedom, and when it united with the United States 10 1831 years later, war broke out between the two countries. Mexico, which during the war had 12 executives, was defeated. By the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Feb. 2, 1848, Mexico received 15,000,000 and lost part of the present Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico and all of Utah and Nevada. After many years of political uncertainties, during which the Constitution of 1857 was adopted, Maximilian of Austria was asked to become emperor. In 1867 he was executed, and Mexico again became a republic. (See MONROE DOCTRINE) Porfirio Diaz took the office from his predecessor by force in 1876, and was elected president the following year. (See DIAZ, PORFIRIO) With the exception of four years 1880-1884, Diaz was in office until 1911. He ruled with a strong hand, and the Government of Mexico was put on a firmer basis than formerly. An insurrection, headed by Francisco Madero, led to the retirement of Diaz, and he resigned in May, 1911. In February, 1913, Madero was deposed and executed. The revolution which accomplished this was headed by Victoriano Huerta and Felix Diaz. Huerta assumed the office of provisional president, but almost immediately a revolt against him broke out. The revolutionists, who called themselves Constitutionalists, were headed by Venustiano Carranza. Francisco Villa led the forces in the field. The American flag suffered insults from the Mexican Federalists, and in April, 1914, Vera Cruz was occupied by United States troops. A war between the United States and Mexico was averted by the offer to mediate on the part of Brazil, Argentina and Chile. The mediation conference accomplished little, but the continued success of the Constitutionalists led finally to the resignation of Huerta July 15, 1914. He appointed as his successor Francisco Carbajal. The latter was soon compelled to resign and General Carranza became president. He fled in May, 1920, and Huerta was selected by Congress to fill the unexpired term. General Alvaro Obregon was elected President in September, 1920. The population in 1921 was estimated at about 17,000,000.