Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/95

Rh and the rates for messages are much higher than in the United States.

On the 1st of June, 1883, the total number of telegraph lines in operation amounted to 10,200 miles. The Mexican Central and Mexican National Railroad Companies are erecting telegraph-poles as fast as each mile of track is completed. In some cases the wires are extended beyond the temporary terminus.

No complete census has ever been taken of the Mexican Republic. The figures given in the public documents are generally estimates rather than correct enumerations of the inhabitants.

At the time of Humboldt's visit (in 1803), the total population was 5,840,000.

In 1838, it was 7,044,140; in 1856, 7,859,564; in 1872, 9,097,056; in 1874, 9,343,470; in 1878, 9,384,193; in 1879, 9,577,279; in 1882, 10,000,000.

In 1803, the number of inhabitants in the three principal cities was in Mexico (city), 135,000; Puebla, 67,800; Guadalajara, 19,500.

In 1879, Mexico had a population of 241,110; Guadalajara, 78,600; Puebla, 64,588.

The following table, copied from Señor Busto's great work, gives the population of the several States, their area and the number of inhabitants to the square kilometre; also the population of the capitals of the States, in 1879: