HIDALGO
Richly endowed by Nature, the State of Hidalgo contains throughout its
extent, rich metalliferous deposits exceeding the wealth of Ormuz or
of Ind. The innumerable enterprises for developing this country have
produced marvellous results in mining its great resources.
Besides silver ore, lead, gold and iron, some precious stones abound.
It is rich in woods and luxurious verdure.
This State bears the name of the great patriot, Hidalgo. It has a
cluster of prosperous cities, El Salto, San Antonio, Marquez, Nopala,
Cazbero, along the lines of the Mexican Central, Pachuca the busy
capital, Tlaxcoapan, Rosal, Temoaya and Concepcion are on a branch
line. It is a comparatively small State but it ranks as one of great
importance, being a prolific source of agriculture and manufacture as
well as mineral wealth, which has attracted the attention of the world.
With a splendid chain of railroads and tramways, all parts of the State
are easy to reach.
Majestic mountains, valleys, and plains add to the natural beauty of
the State and this part of the republic enjoys a pleasant but varied
climate.
Few rivers are found, but there is one famous water-fall, called
the Regla Cascade, some mineral springs of medicinal note, and the
beautiful lakes of Metztitlan, Tecomulco, Apam, Zupitlan.
In the district of Pachuca are the mining camps, Zimapan, Jacala, and
Cancando. Cancando, a magnetic iron mountain ten thousand feet high,
appears to be one mass of iron so rich as to contain about eighty
per cent. of pure iron. The ore, however, is so rich that a flux is
required to smelt it. These mines were not exploited until after the
war of independence, although as early as 1824 many mining claims in
that district were taken up and denounced, among them San Antonio, El
Carmen, San Cosme and Las Animas.
Encarnacion has an up-to-date works, producing a million and a half
kilos of bar iron per year and possesses all the modern equipments.
One of the best known gold mines of the early days of New Spain was
San José del Oro, ten thousand feet above the sea. It is difficult of
access and is not worked to any great extent at the present day.
[Illustration: GOVERNOR SEÑOR DON PEDRO RODRIGUEZ.]
The State of Hidalgo produces millions of dollars worth of silver per
year from its two mineral centres. Among the most notable mines of the
district are Zimapan, San Martin, San Judas; of the Real del Monte
groups, San Francisco, Santa Gertrudis, San Eugenio, San Rafael, San
Miguel Tajo and Barron.
Pachuca has twelve reduction works; El Chico, nine; Real del Monte,
eight; and Zimapan, eight. There are in this State many iron works and
in the districts of Zacualtipan and Huejutla are deposits of coal now
developed by an important company. In Molango are graphite deposits.
The mines in Pachuca were worked by the Spaniards in 1523, only two
years after the conquest and untold millions have been withdrawn from
the inexhaustible resource where busy men to-day still delve with the
same eagerness as in the days of old.
[Illustration: THE GOVERNOR’S PALACE.]
This is one of the few districts in the world where the plant vanilla
grows, which contributes to the enormous, almost fabulous, riches of
some of the Mexican planters. In this State is found the same class
of maguey as in Mexico. It is called the marvel plant and is the very
highest quality and largest yield. In Apam, Pachuca and Tula all
classes of cereals are produced and Apam and Pachuca are the greatest
centres for the production of pulque. In the hotter districts coffee,
india rubber and other valuable products yield splendid bounty to the
farmers and there is abundant supply of medicinal plants and valuable
cabinet woods. The yield of pulque is about a gallon and a half a day
for each plant during three months of the year. This industry alone
yields millions of dollars a year in the State of Hidalgo. Mescal, a
highly intoxicating liquor, ordinarily called Tequila, is made at the
Tequila Hacienda. It is one of the popular drinks among certain classes
and is noted for its fiery strength, which none but a cultivated taste
can endure.
The capital, Pachuca, is most interesting, with characteristics of
a miners’ town. The houses are built with an idea of comfort and
their appearance is somewhat different from the dwellings one sees
in other large cities. American and English capital has taken a firm
hold and the spirit of enterprise and energy has given this city the
appearance of a business centre. The hotels are alive with mining men
and travelers of staunch purpose, the colonies are alert with social
enjoyment, while the government of the city is conducted with zealous
care and attention. The conditions of the state, especially under the
present Governor, lend themselves most favorably to the establishment
of new enterprises.
[Illustration: SAN JULIO MINE.]
Señor Don Pedro Ladislao Rodriguez was born in the State of Oaxaca,
from whence came so many of Mexico’s noted statesmen. He has given his
energies and active service to his country. He fought in the War of the
Reform, the War of the Intervention, and afterward retired to a private
life of strenuous work. He became expert in all branches of telegraphy,
erected lines between Mexico City and various capitals of the states,
besides being the director and manager of telegraph offices throughout
the republic. He evinced such strong interest in political affairs
that he was elected to Congress and through his strength and splendid
bearing in public matters he rose to the prominence of one of Mexico’s
leading political powers. Since assuming this important office, he has
dedicated his best efforts to the advancement of his State. Through
his wise administration, Hidalgo has paid its public debt, has a large
surplus in the treasury, and the government has been placed on a
splendid business basis. Public instruction is one of the main features
of the administration of this able executive. He is endeavoring
to wipe out illiteracy among the people; the school system has
attracted widespread attention. There is a Scientific and Industrial
Literary Institute in which are prosecuted the studies necessary for
the occupations of assaying, topographic, hydrographic, and mining
engineering. There is also a practical mining school belonging to the
Federal Government where all practical training in mining exploitation
under professors of Metallurgy is acquired.
[Illustration: STATUE OF HIDALGO.]
Pachuca has splendid architecture and some old palaces and churches
form an interesting spectacle of the city. It is considered one of
the most prosperous cities in the republic, in proportion to its
population, and its rich metal districts make it noted as one of the
most celebrated mining centres of the world.
The churches, La Parroquia, San Francisco and San Juan de Dios are
notable for their solid masonry and size. A beautiful theatre, a
literary institute of higher education and good charitable institutions
are among the more notable buildings. Private academies flourish and a
Protestant church built by the English-speaking colony help to make
this city picturesque and interesting, with its admixture of ancient
and modern architecture.
[Illustration: HACIENDA LORETO.]
During the month of September, when the Mexicans were celebrating
their Centennial of Independence, this capital was foremost in its
enthusiasm. Triumphant arches were erected, the city was festooned
in gay national colors, myriads of lights gave a dazzling appearance
of gaiety and the ceremonials that took place were very imposing.
New schools were inaugurated, new monuments dedicated and all public
buildings opened officially.
Tula is a city built upon a series of terraces in a beautiful valley
teeming with tropical flowers and foliage. It is noted for Toltec
ruins and relics which have been found there. The old church built
three hundred years ago has walls seven feet thick and the tower is
one hundred and twenty-five feet high. It lies in the valley which the
Toltecs entered when they came southward in 648, over twelve hundred
and fifty years ago. A thousand years ago Tula was an important town
and was the capital of Mexico until 1325. Proof of this antiquity lies
everywhere--the grand houses, the broken columns, and quaint images
that are still remaining relics in the present town. Here is the
witchery of an old world, shadowy people, vague and mystical rights
and ceremonies. In the small Plaza stand the remains of old gods, and
crumbling into dust is an old pyramid, built many centuries ago. Where
once the idolatrous worship of the Aztecs took place, a purer religion
of to-day is worshipped and the people have thrown off the lethargy
of the past. There are three ancient bridges in this vicinity. It is
claimed that one of these bridges was built in 210 A.D., the ruins of
which remain, forming a picturesque bit of Tula.
[Illustration: XATAL MINE.]
“The Treasury of Montezuma,” now in ruins, is on the top of the hill.
There are two distinct kinds of fragmentary walls, eight feet thick.
There is one large room thirty-two feet long with the chunam flooring
nearly perfect. The people of Tula visit these ruins continually,
believing many treasures to be concealed there. They dream dreams, and
then go out and sink pits in the flooring, hoping to enrich themselves
with wonderful treasures of Montezuma’s time.
There are other strange relics of ancient times on another hill near
Tula. These are carved rocks resting upon a stratum of adobe, below
which the hill slopes down to the river precipitously. The carvings are
symbolical, and are supposed to have been made about 1160 A.D. in the
Chichimec era.
[Illustration: REAL DEL MONTE MINE.]
The canal of Nochistongo is an open cut about twelve miles long with an
average depth of one hundred and eighty feet and an average width of
three hundred feet, but one part is six hundred feet wide. It was built
in 1607, to save the city of Mexico from the floods of Lake Tezcuco. It
can be seen from the railroad, the trains passing along the side of the
cut.
In the Barranca of Itzala nature has been very lavish in her imposing
and majestic beauty. The mountains of this State are unusually high and
picturesque. The Sierras of Pachuca have lost much of their beauty on
account of the mining camps interspersed, but the cañon of the virgin
Omitlan affords beautiful views. The principal mountain chain is in
Zacualtipan and Metztiplan which forms deep ravines and is a beautiful
aspect to the lover of nature. Journeys through these mountains on the
road to the different mining camps are very interesting.
[Illustration: SAN RAFAEL MINE.]
[Illustration: OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL RAILWAYS OF MEXICO.]
[Illustration: DEVIL’S BACKBONE, TOMASOPO CAÑON.]