Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/186

158 Papantla may be reached in two days on horseback. (See p. 46.)

Valuable petroleum-wells are found in the vicinity, and two American companies have already erected works to refine the oil. The petroleum occurs chiefly in the State of Vera Cruz, between the Panúco and Tuxpan Rivers. The wells are mostly near the coast, at Chapapote, Santa Teresa, Juan Felipe, Escondida, Sepultura, Carribajal, Monte Grande, Paso Grande, and on the borders of the Laguna de Tamiahua. There are submerged stone ruins in this lagoon. A railroad from this port toward the City of Mexico is projected, but it will probably be several years before the work of construction is finished.

It should be borne in mind that passengers can disembark at Bagdad, Tampico, and Tuxpan in good weather only. During severe northers they are taken to Vera Cruz.

(For description of these routes from New York southward, see Appletons' General Guide to the United States. )

Sections IV and V of Part Second describe respectively the routes from Laredo and El Paso to the interior of Mexico.