DURANGO, Mexico. Capital of the State of Durango. It is situated 6,321 feet above sea level, has an average temperature the year round of 70° F. in the shade. Pop. 32,263. Founded in 1563 and decreed a city by Philip IV in 1621. It was long the capital of the prov ince of Nueva Vizcaya and has been an impor tant trade centre since a very early day, of a territory including the Mexican state of Chi huahua and the southern portion of Texas and New Mexico. It is 540 miles from Eagle Pass, on the Texas border, by the International Rail way, and 480 miles from Mexico City. It is a city of considerable wealth, the region round about being very rich, both in minerals and agricul ture. Many Americans are located here and are actively engaged in enterprises of various kinds, adding materially to the prosperity of the com munity. Almost within the city's limits rises a wonderful hill of very nearly pure iron, the famous Cerro del. Mercado, 640 feet high, 4,800 feet long and 1,100 feet wide, which has been estimated by mining engineers 'to contain 300, 000,000 tons of that metal. Among the local industries are extensive ironworks, cotton. and woolen mills, foundries, sugar-cane mills, to bacco factory and flour mills. The stores and
shops are particularly well stocked and credit able. A local bank — the Bank of Durango with a capital of $2,000,000, and a branch of the National Bank and an agency of the Bank of London and Mexico provide for financial needs. The notable buildings are the Cathedral, which was begun in 1695 and completed in 1844; the new City Hospital; the college formerly con trolled by the Jesuits, founded in 1594; the Episcopal Seminary; the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Catholic churches of San Francisco, San Juan de Dios and San Agustin; the government palace; the market house and a magnificent theatre. A pen itentiary and bull are located here also. It formerly had a mint, in which was coined annu ally about $1,000,000 in gold and silver. An Alameda and several plazas tempt the lover of nature. Not far distant• is an everflowing stream which is said to excel the famous one in the grounds of Chapultepec park, at the national capital, and from which the city receives its drinking water. Two electric light companies supply light and there are street railways and telephone service. Durango is called the 'Den ver of Mexico'