COAHUILA, ko-a-wela, Mexico, state bounded on the north by the United States, on the east by Nuevo Leon, on the south by San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas and on the south west, west and northwest by Durango and Chi huahua. Its arca is about 63,745 square tniles The capital is Saltillo. The principal mountain ranges are in the districts of Rio Grande and Monclova. Besides these we may mention the Sierra Madre, in the Saltillo district; the Sierra Paila, in Parras; and Sierra Noas, in Viesca. The rivers are Rio Grande (also called Rio Bravo), fortning the boundary line with Texas; the Sabinas, forming the boundary between the districts of Monclova and Rio Grande; the Alamos, Monclova, Patos, Saltillo, Aguanaval, Nazas and their tributaries. The principal la goons are those in the districts of Parras, Viesca and Monclova. Extending from the foot of the mountains northward are sterile plains, where the heat is intense; to the south east lies the Laguna region, fertile and tetnper ate; the mountainous distnct, rich in minerals, has frequent frosts. In general the climate is not healthful, the most common diseases being malarial fevers, typhus, rheumatism and affec tions of the respiratory and digestive organs. Mining has recently become one of the chief industries. Silver, lead, coal, iron, zinc, copper
and gold are found. The first position, how ever, is still held by agriculture. Cotton, corn, wheat, sugarcane, etc., grow rapidly; and grape-culture is attracting special attention. The grapes of Parras are considered by some experts equal if not superior to the Malaga and Granada varieties. Cattle-breeding is carried on quite extensively. The export trade is principally with the United States, to which, among other products, are brought ixtle and its various manufactures. The commerce of Coahuila is in the hands of Americans, Spaniards, Germans and Frenchmen; its total trade is of the estimated value of $11,000,000, or $12,000,000, silver, per annum. Manufac tures are cotton and knitted goods, wines, tanned skins and hides, soap, candles, cheese, shoes, molasses, furniture, pottery, carriages, wagons and chocolate. The railroad system in cludes a number of important lines. There are good wagon roads; also telegraph and tele phone service and an efficient mail-service. The state is divided into five districts subdivided into 33 municipalities. Pop. 280,899.