Page:Campbell's new revised complete guide and descriptive book of Mexico (IA campbellsnewrevi00camp).pdf/24

 18 After Torreon the road enters the San Juan Valley and extends, south-westerly, 157 miles across the plains, over a fine roadway to the beautiful city of Durango.

There are branch lines at Sabinas for Hondo; at Baroteran for Musquiz; at Pedricefia for Velardefa; at Torreou for Tlalmalilo; at Durango for Guanacevi; at Horizonte for Bermejillo; at Monclova for Cuartro Cienegas; at Hornos for San Pedro; and at Matamoros for Tlalmalilo; at Mesquite for Carbon.

Interoceanic Railroad has its main Jine from the City of Mexico to Vera Cruz. On the eastern division the principal points of interest are Texcoca, Trolo, San Martin, Puebla, Perote, Jalapa and Vera Cruz. On the western division are La Compañia, Tlalmanaico, Amecameca. Nepantla, Cuautla, Yautiepec and Puente de Ixtla. The scenery is pleasing beyond description; the great volcanoes are in full view for many miles; in fact, scarcely out of sight during the entire journey. Leaving Mexico, the road passes along the shores of Lake Texcoco, seen from the cast windows, while Lake Xochimileco and Chaleo can he seen from the other side. At Los Reyes is the junction of the Morelos division. On the main line the points of interest are the hacienda of General Gonzales—Texcoco—Molino de Flores—the pulque Plains of Apam, Puebla, Pyramid of Cholula, Voicano of Orizaba, Perote and beautiful Jalapa. From San Lorenzo there is a "cut off" to Oriental, which shortens the line to Vera Cruz.

From Los Arcos on the main line five miles west of Puebla, the Matamoras branch leads off in a southwesterly direction, extending into a rich sugar district around Cuautla, From Virreyes a branch extends northward to San Juan. and another to Teziutlan. Connections at Puebla with Mexican Southern, and Ixtla with Mexican Central.

National Railroad of Mexico has its northern terminus at Laredo, Texas, Nuevo Laredo being the city in Mexico on the opposite bank of the Rio Grande, The line runs in a southwesterly direction 802 miles, to the City o7 Mexico, passing the cities of Monterey, Saltillo, Catorce, San Luis Potosí, San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro on the main line, with Celaya, Salvatierra, Acámbaro, Maravatio and Toluca on the old line.

At Monterey the road crosses the Monterey & Gulf division of the Mexican Central and connects with the Matamoros division to the Gulf, and Mexican International Ry. At Saltillo the connections are with the Coahuila & Zacate- cas and the Coahuila & Pacific division of the Mexican Central. At Vanegas connection is made with the Vanegas, Matehuala & Rio Verde Railroad. At San Luis Potosi is the crossing of the Tampica division of the Mexican Central; at Rincon there is a branch to San Luis de la Paz and Pozos. At Gonzalez the old line runs due south to Acámbaro crossing the Mexican Central at Celaya. From Soria there is a branch to Salamanca and Jaral. Acambaro is the junction for Morelia, Patzcuaro and Uruapan. At Maravatio connection is made with the Michoacan & Pacific; at Toluca with minor branches.

All roads lead to the capital,-and all have their points of interest. These are not lacking on the National, and daylight schedules are to he chosen whenever it is possible, To he especially noted are the following: the beautiful Monterey Valley. the City, Saddle Mountain, Mitre Mountain, Bishop's Palace, on the cast side; the ride through the cañons to Saltillo; on the east side see the mountain peak with a hole in the top, as if made with a monster cannon shot; Hacienda Ramos Arispe and approach to Saltillo: battlefield of Bauena Vista, just south of Saltillo; Catorce, station for the great mining town of the same name; Bocas, with its beautiful hacienda (on the cast side) and