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180 capital, or since the Conquest, there have been five great inundations, viz., in 1553, 1580, 1604, 1607, and 1629-'34.

In 1607 the Viceroy Salinas began the artificial drainage of the lakes, by constructing a canal at Huehuetoca, on the northern side of the valley. This canal, or desague, is described at length in the section on the Mexican Central Railroad, which now passes through the remains of it. The Indian system of dikes had been temporarily abandoned, and the canal proving a failure, the result was a terrible inundation in 1629, which lasted five years. During this period communication was made by means of canoes, the seat of government was removed to one of the suburbs, trade was at a stand-still, and the distress and misery of the lower classes baffled all description. It was deemed advisable to return to the dike system, which has been preserved ever since.

For many years the Plaza mayor was only three or four feet above the level of Lake Texcoco. The level of this lake varies from year to year, and there is now a gauge on the Plaza mayor to indicate the height of its waters. Owing to evaporation the surface of the lake is much lower than during the reign of the viceroys. In the winter of 1882-'83 it was about six feet below the Plaza mayor. There are no cellars in the City of Mexico, and water is reached a few feet below the street-pavement. The soil is so soft that a solidly cemented foundation of lime and stone is used for the larger buildings.

In 1882 an American company entered into a contract with the Mexican Government to drain the valley of Mexico, agreeing to deposit a bond of $200,000 as a guarantee to carry out the scheme. The last session of Congress, however, declared this contract forfeited on account of the failure to file the bond.

It has been suggested that a thorough system of drainage for the capital would do more harm than good, for the