MEXICO. The largest and finest city in Latin North America. It is situated in the Federal District (area, 4(33 square miles) on the went side of the Valley of Mexico on the Ana huac plateau, 7:350 feet above the sea, in latitude 19° 26' N. and longitude 99° 8' W.(Alap: „I 8). Its area is about 20 square miles. The city is 263 miles by rail 'from Vera Cruz on the Gulf of Mexico, 290 miles from Acapulco on the Pacific, 839 miles from .Nuevo Laredo, the nearest railroad town on the United States frontier, and 1224 miles from El Paso, Tex. Its population by the census of 1900 was 368,898, of which num ber 12,064 were of foreign birth. It is one of the most ancient cities of the continent, and has been successively the capital of the Aztecs, of the Spanish colony of New Spain, and of the Re public of Mexico.
The valley in which it stands is an immense basin. approximately circular in shape, embrac ing some 2220 square miles, and completely en circled by high mountains. through which only two or three quite elevated passes afford an en trance. The view of the valley and of its girdling mountains and snow-capped volcanoes from eleva tions such as the towers of the Cathedral or Chapultepee Hill, three miles west of the city, is superlatively beautiful. There is no natural exit for the waters which pour down the inner sides of the mountains and they collect in six lakes scattered over the surface of the plain Chalco and Xochimileo (fresh water), and Tex eoeo, Xaltocan, San Cristobal. and Zumpango (salt water). In an early age nearly the entire surface of the valley was a lake bed, but for many centuries desiccation hai, been very gradu ally progressing until the waters are collected entirely in the six shallow basins whose extent has been still further reduced by the drainage work recently completed. The waters of Noehi mileo, however, were practically absorbed by the network of canals that irrigate the surrounding region.
Owing to the inadequate drainage and sewage systems and a soil permeated with the refuse of centuries, the city long had all annual death-rate of 40 to every 1000 inhabitants, a larger propor tion of mortality than in any other civilized city of the world. The conditions which promoted this high death-rate have now largely been reme died, and the city compares favorably with others in salubrity, and is decreasing its death-rate.
though the unhygienic manner of life of the poorer classes swells the mortality. The city is naturally healthful, and in its climatic comfit ionn is a delightful place of residence. The tempera ture is extremely equable, with an annual range of only to 15°. The mean temperature of the S111111111'1' months in 60° to (35°, and the mean temperature in mid-winter is about 53°. The prevailing winds, coming from the northwest, are damp. while the south winds. which blow only a sixth of the time, are very dry. The total rain fall is about 20 inches. or about half of that at New York.
From its three centuries of Spanish domination Mexico still preserves many characteristics of the great cities of Spain, and from a certain Oriental suggestion in its appearance. far sur passes them in novelty and interest. Along with the wonderful commercial development that has characterized the last quarter of a century are to be found evidences of an artistic plan to preserve more beautiful forms of architecture than are usually associated with a modern indus trial city, with the result that het•c may be found an artistic centre for local color not equaled elsewhere on the American continent. seen from a distance the city, prevailingly white in color, is an imposing spectacle. Spreading widely over the plain, overtopped by domes and pinnacles, and hemmed around by majestic moun tains, few cities of the world are more charming and impressive.
-Most of the houses have terraced roofs and inner courts. are solidly built of sandstone or lava, and arc only one to two stories in height, a precaution against the frequent though usually slight earthquakes; hut many of the business and public buildings. supported on solid founda tions of piling, are three and even more stories in elevation, and some of them reach an altitude of live stories. The walls of many of the poorer buildings are not quite perpendicular. owing to the shocks they have sustained, thus giving to some of the street a rather rickety appear ance. The later buildings along the business streets are making greater use of steel in their construction, a practice better adapted to the rather insecure foundation soil of the city.