Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/43

Rh The longest tramway is from Vera Cruz to Jalapa, a distance of 76 miles. In general the horse-car tracks are well laid out, and a locomotive and train of cars may run on them at some future time. It is said that engines will soon be put on the tramways from Vera Cruz to Jalapa, and from Puebla to Matamoros. There are both passenger and freight horse-cars in the Republic, the former being divided into first and second class.

Excepting the road built by Cortes from Vera Cruz to the capital, all communication between the cities and towns of Mexico was for many years made on horseback. This mode of traveling is still common in the rural districts. Tourists occasionally make trips, with a few pack-animals to carry baggage and provisions, in the remote parts of the Republic. Regular pack-trains of mules and burros, or donkeys, are run on the western coast. Horses are commonly fed on straw and corn. A good animal may be purchased for $50, and one able to make a short journey, for $20. Mules can be bought for about $30. If the tourist intends making a trip on horseback for ten days or longer, we would recommend him to purchase a horse instead of hiring one. These animals are always in demand, and can be sold at a slight loss on the completion of the journey. The average price for a saddle-horse is $1 per diem. In the larger cities the charge will be a little more.

Pedestrianism in Mexico is thus far unknown, excepting in the ascents of the lofty volcanoes.

Wells, Fargo & Co.  have established express agencies at the following places in the Republic: Mexico (city); Tula; San Juan del Rio; Querétaro; Celaya; Salamanca; Irapuato; Silao; Guanajuato; Leon; Lagos; Vera Cruz;