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Rh is $10. The road is rough, and two days are required for the trip. The route passes through two towns named after heroes of the War of Independence—San Miguel de Allende, a well-built city of about 20,000 inhabitants, and Dolores Hidalgo. The latter was the parish of the illustrious padre, Hidalgo, and it was here that he sounded the key-note for the Independence of Mexico, while addressing the populace on the 16th of September, 1810.

Leaving Querétaro, the road traverses a rich agricultural plain bounded by hills of moderate extent. The track runs nearly due west to Calera (264 kilometres), elevation, 5,904 feet, and the grade is now slightly downward. Passing the station of Apaseo (278 kilometres), we reach Celaya (292 kilometres), where the elevation is 5,800 feet. At the latter point the main line of the Mexican National Railway crosses the track. (For a description of this route, see Section IV, pp. 237-252.)

Celaya (Hotel Cortazar) lies in a broad plain. The population is about 15,000. The town is noted for its churches. Those of San Francisco and El Carmen are worthy of a visit. Several woolen-factories are found here. There are also factories of cotton thread at the town of Salvatierra, 20 miles distant.

Celaya is destined, when the American trunk-lines are completed, to become a place of some importance.

Leaving this station, the road continues in a westerly direction with a gradual descent to Guaje (311 kilometres), and thence to Salamanca (333 kilometres). The latter place has an altitude of 5,680 feet, and a population of 13,000. It is celebrated for the manufacture of leathern clothing and gloves. Boys bring the latter into the cars for sale. There are also rich deposits of kaolin and white clay here. The best hotel is the Cortazar. At Salamanca