COAHUILA
Coahuila is a highly productive State. It is a hilly and mountainous
country, but its valleys are very fertile. Minerals are found
extensively but the most important product in this State is coal, which
is being shipped to all parts of the country. The Rio Grande separates
it from the United States of America, on the east it is bounded by the
State of Nuevo León, on the west by the States of Chihuahua and Durango
and on the south by Zacatécas, Nuevo León, and San Luis Potosí. It
embraces an area of one hundred and sixty-five thousand and ninety-nine
square kilometres. Its population is about two hundred and ninety-seven
thousand. Its capital, Saltillo, is an industrial and mercantile centre.
The other chief city, Torreon, founded as recently as 1887, is a
commercial emporium of the greatest importance. Cotton and all classes
of cereals and fruits are the chief products. The wines of Parras,
which is a great grape cultivating country, are famed throughout the
entire republic and the best woods grown in the country are found in
these parts.
The City of Monclova, which was for a long time the capital of the
State, is also of commercial importance.
The governor of the State is Señor Licenciado Don Jesus de Valle, is
an illustrious and progressive gentleman, experienced and well-versed
in political and administrative science, who knows so well all the
branches of State government. Since taking office he has diminished
the public debt and caused many reforms in the capital and in the
neighboring cities, and through his encouragement colonists are welcome
and all kinds of franchises are granted to those whose purpose is
the establishment of enterprises that will revert to the good of the
people and the country. With splendid irrigation facilities and all
the advantages of a rich country, Coahuila is an open field for future
prosperity.
Saltillo is reached by the Mexican National Railroad. It was founded
in 1586, and incorporated as a city in 1827. The government palace,
the Church of Santiago, and the old convent of San Esteban are the
chief edifices of interest. The climate is good, the city being a
delightful resort at all seasons. The “Coahuila” is one of the most
beautiful hotels in the republic and enjoys great popularity. Many of
the hostelries in Mexico are old private dwellings or palaces which
are to a certain extent picturesque, but this modern hotel offers
encouragement to the seeker of health and pleasure.
[Illustration: SEÑOR LICENCIADO DON JESUS DE VALLE, GOVERNOR
OF COAHUILA.]
The Plaza de la Independencia is a modern park, very attractive
with its beautiful flowers and ferns. The Cathedral is an imposing
structure filled with beautiful paintings and priceless altars. The
new penitentiary is one of the finest of its kind in the country.
Hospitals, public libraries and the finest normal school in the
republic are the results of the enterprise and progress of the State.
Some of these educational establishments are noted for their handsome
architecture. Special attention is paid to the sanitary conditions of
the school houses.
There are many philanthropic societies and charitable institutions; one
of the most important is the asylum of the Immaculate Conception.
The many brightly colored serapes, which are hand-woven and form one
of the industries of this city, cannot be duplicated, and all the
factories of the republic are making strenuous efforts to imitate those
made here. The Delft blue shade, which is noted all over the world, is
no longer made here as it has become a lost art, but other colors most
artistically and intricately woven mark one of the chief features of
the native craft.
[Illustration: GOVERNMENT PALACE, SALTILLO.]
Some of the finest pleasure resorts on the continent are found here.
The famous Hot Springs are at Hermanas. Here are the largest springs
of hot mineral water in America, that flowing out of the hillside form
a river of hot clear water which passes through a fine grove of trees.
The natural temperature of the water is one hundred and ten degrees
Fahrenheit. With unexcelled scenery, the climate is invigorating and
the splendid conditions make it a great health resort.
The construction of the Mexican International Railroad was a very
important event in the State of Coahuila. It penetrated a country rich
in resources where splendid inducements to the miner, manufacturer
and agriculturist are offered. The prosperous condition of various
enterprises situated adjacent to the line of this road testifies beyond
question to the practicability of profitable investment.
Ciudad Porfirio Diaz, named in honor of the President of the republic,
is one of the most enterprising of the Mexican border-towns. The custom
house and post office buildings, including other federal offices are
splendid specimens of modern architecture.
Coahuila has attained commendable progress under the able
administration of Governor Jesus de Valle. The State has given to
the Mexican nation many men distinguished in politics, in war and in
science. Some of these were Don Melchor Muzquiz, who became president
ad interim and from whom the city of Muzquiz gets its name; General
Ignacio Zaragoza, hero of the glorious victory of the national army
over the French on the 5th of May, 1862, in Puebla, and from whom the
State receives the name of Coahuila de Zaragoza; Don Miguel Ramos
Arizpe, statesman, who was a deputy to the Court of Spain in 1812,
and on account of his idea in favor of independence was eleven years
a prisoner, until the Declaration of Independence; he was one of
the deputies to the Constitutional Congress in 1824, and Minister
of the State; Don Juan Antonio de la Fuente caused a law to be made
for the separation of the church and state in 1858; he was also
minister plenipotentiary from Mexico to France and England and figured
prominently in France by his indignant protest against the Preradical
Interference of Napoleon III., on Mexican Territory. Here was born
Manuel Acuña, one of the most notable and sublime writers which Mexico
produced in the nineteenth century.
[Illustration: STATE CIVIL COLLEGE, SALTILLO.]
[Illustration: GOVERNOR’S PALACE, MONTEREY.]