Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/341

Rh population of 6,000. The hotels are the Cosmopolitan and Central. Plans for building a railroad to this town have been discussed for many years. Now that the line is finished, Guaymas is destined to grow rapidly.

The completion of this road is a very important event, as it establishes the third interoceanic route on this continent. When fast trains are placed on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé line, the Journey may be made from New York to Guaymas in five days and a few hours. The fare by rail is $108.40. The new line is expected to facilitate communication with Australia, while it will also give the traders of the Mexican, Central, and South American coasts an opportunity to send their products quickly to the Mississippi Valley, the East, and the large cities that lie between the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes.

The Sonora Railway also affords Americans a short route to the ports on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

The city lies in latitude 28° north and longitude 110° 40' west of Greenwich. It is situated at the foot of a ridge of mountains, and is well protected from winds. Its land-locked harbor is one of the best on the Mexican coast.

The entrance to the port is encompassed by islands. The bottom is covered with a very soft mud, so that masters of vessels intending to remain a long time in the harbor are obliged, to raise their anchors occasionally to prevent them from smking too deeply.

The depth of water in the inner harbor is from two to four fathoms, affording safe anchorage for vessels drawing from fifteen to eighteen feet. The depth of the outer harbor is from four to seven fathoms, allowing safe anchorage for vessels of twenty-two to twenty-eight feet draught. The bay abounds in a great variety of fish.

Guaymas is built along the shore of the bay, its length being about one mile, and its breadth not exceeding a quarter of a mile. The houses are of stone, brick, and adobe.