Chapter XXII: Coahuila

Coahuila is a highly productive State. It is a hilly and mountainous country, but its valleys are very fertile. Minerals are found extensively but the most important product in this State is coal, which is being shipped to all parts of the country. The Rio Grande separates it from the United States of America, on the east it is bounded by the State of Nuevo León, on the west by the States of Chihuahua and Durango and on the south by Zacatécas, Nuevo León, and San Luis Potosí. It embraces an area of one hundred and sixty-five thousand and ninety-nine square kilometres. Its population is about two hundred and ninety-seven thousand. Its capital, Saltillo, is an industrial and mercantile centre.

The other chief city, Torreon, founded as recently as 1887, is a commercial emporium of the greatest importance. Cotton and all classes of cereals and fruits are the chief products. The wines of Parras, which is a great grape cultivating country, are famed throughout the entire republic and the best woods grown in the country are found in these parts.

The City of Monclova, which was for a long time the capital of the State, is also of commercial importance.

The governor of the State is Señor Licenciado Don Jesus de Valle, is an illustrious and progressive gentleman, experienced and well-versed in political and administrative science, who knows so well all the branches of State government. Since taking office he has diminished the public debt and caused many reforms in the capital and in the neighboring cities, and through his encouragement colonists are welcome and all kinds of franchises are granted to those whose purpose is the establishment of enterprises that will revert to the good of the people and the country. With splendid irrigation facilities and all the advantages of a rich country, Coahuila is an open field for future prosperity.

Saltillo is reached by the Mexican National Railroad. It was founded in 1586, and incorporated as a city in 1827. The government palace, the Church of Santiago, and the old convent of San Esteban are the chief edifices of interest. The climate is good, the city being a delightful resort at all seasons. The “Coahuila” is one of the most beautiful hotels in the republic and enjoys great popularity. Many of the hostelries in Mexico are old private dwellings or palaces which are to a certain extent picturesque, but this modern hotel offers encouragement to the seeker of health and pleasure.

The Plaza de la Independencia is a modern park, very attractive with its beautiful flowers and ferns. The Cathedral is an imposing structure filled with beautiful paintings and priceless altars. The new penitentiary is one of the finest of its kind in the country. Hospitals, public libraries and the finest normal school in the republic are the results of the enterprise and progress of the State. Some of these educational establishments are noted for their handsome architecture. Special attention is paid to the sanitary conditions of the school houses.

There are many philanthropic societies and charitable institutions; one of the most important is the asylum of the Immaculate Conception.

The many brightly colored serapes, which are hand-woven and form one of the industries of this city, cannot be duplicated, and all the factories of the republic are making strenuous efforts to imitate those made here. The Delft blue shade, which is noted all over the world, is no longer made here as it has become a lost art, but other colors most artistically and intricately woven mark one of the chief features of the native craft.

Some of the finest pleasure resorts on the continent are found here. The famous Hot Springs are at Hermanas. Here are the largest springs of hot mineral water in America, that flowing out of the hillside form a river of hot clear water which passes through a fine grove of trees. The natural temperature of the water is one hundred and ten degrees Fahrenheit. With unexcelled scenery, the climate is invigorating and the splendid conditions make it a great health resort.

The construction of the Mexican International Railroad was a very important event in the State of Coahuila. It penetrated a country rich in resources where splendid inducements to the miner, manufacturer and agriculturist are offered. The prosperous condition of various enterprises situated adjacent to the line of this road testifies beyond question to the practicability of profitable investment.

Ciudad Porfirio Diaz, named in honor of the President of the republic, is one of the most enterprising of the Mexican border-towns. The custom house and post office buildings, including other federal offices are splendid specimens of modern architecture.

Coahuila has attained commendable progress under the able administration of Governor Jesus de Valle. The State has given to the Mexican nation many men distinguished in politics, in war and in science. Some of these were Don Melchor Muzquiz, who became president ad interim and from whom the city of Muzquiz gets its name; General Ignacio Zaragoza, hero of the glorious victory of the national army over the French on the 5th of May, 1862, in Puebla, and from whom the State receives the name of Coahuila de Zaragoza; Don Miguel Ramos Arizpe, statesman, who was a deputy to the Court of Spain in 1812, and on account of his idea in favor of independence was eleven years a prisoner, until the Declaration of Independence; he was one of the deputies to the Constitutional Congress in 1824, and Minister of the State; Don Juan Antonio de la Fuente caused a law to be made for the separation of the church and state in 1858; he was also minister plenipotentiary from Mexico to France and England and figured prominently in France by his indignant protest against the Preradical Interference of Napoleon III., on Mexican Territory. Here was born Manuel Acuña, one of the most notable and sublime writers which Mexico produced in the nineteenth century.