GUERRERO, gA-ra'r6. One of the Pacific States of Mexico, bounded by the States of Michoacan, Morelos, Mexico, and Puebla on the north, Oaxaca on the east, and the Pacific on the southwest. Its area is 24,996 square miles (Map: Mexico, J 9). With the exception of the coastal zone, about twenty miles wide, where the land rises gently, the surface is rough and mountain cus. The Sierra Madre del Sur, rising to an alti tude of over 9000 feet, traverses the whole length of the State parallel with the coast. It sends out numerous lateral spurs, inclosing narrow valleys through which small streams run south into the Pacific and north into the Rio de las Balsas, also called Rio Mexcala, the only large river of Guer rero. Its valley, separating the Sierra Madre del Sur from the main range of the Sierras, occupies the northern half of the State. The climate is very hot and unhealthful in the coastlands, where fe vers and leprosy prevail to a great extent; but the uplands enjoy a temperate, dry, and healthful climate. There is an extensive region of agri cultural land, but its cultivation is greatly im peded by the sparseness of population. The chief
agricultural products are cereals, fruits, tobacco, coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and cotton. The mineral deposits are believed to be extensive, but thus far relatively little has been done toward their ex ploitation, although considerable quantities of silver have been mined. There is direct steam ship communication between the port of Acapulco and foreign countries. The Interoceanic Rail road, which is to connect Acapulco with Vera Cruz, is still in course of construction, and has been completed as far as Chilpancingo. The population in 1900 was 475,594, largely aborigi nal Indians. The largest city is Chilapa, with a population of 12,000; the capital is Chilpan cingo, a small town in the centre of the State, situated about 200 miles from the City of Mexico, and about 110 miles from the coast. It is well built and lighted by electricity, and had in 1895 a population of 6321.