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COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
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thriving country. Southward and Westward from Lampazas, on the
Mexican National, are found broken chains of mountain granite and lime-
stone containing silver, copper, lead, tin, zinc and iron, though as yet but
little prospecting has been done over an area of the thousands of square
miles, yet they are known to contain valuable deposits of nearly all the
leading metals, and whole mountains of magnetic iron. Northward from
Lampazas toward the Rio Grande, is the famous silver belt worked by the
Jesuits two hundred years ago. After falling into disuse and remaining
so for generations, these mines are now being re-opened. From
Lampazas to the Rio Grande at the mouth of the Concho river is a belt of coal
which is practically inexhaustable. At Phillipi, on the Sabinos, coal is
found in a vein seven feet thick. The vein varies from three to nine
feet throughout the whole, and is found to be a continuation of that
traced through Missouri and South-eastern Kansas to the Indian Territory
and Texas.
NUEVO LEON AND TAMAULIPAS.
Immediately East and somewhat South-east of Coahuela,lay these two
States, together forming an area of about 39,000 square miles. They are
side by side, the former West, the latter East, and bounded on the North
by Texas, East by Gulf, South by San Louis Potosi and West by Coahuela,
The Southern portions are more immediately tributary to the City of Mexi-
co for supplies, though the Northern part of each is open to San Antonio's
influences. The Northern parts of both States contain a population of 230,-
000, while the entire population is above 280,000. The Western part of
Nuevo Leon is traversed by the Sierra Mountains, extending from North
to South; and in the North-east is almost a continuous table land broken
only by occasional mountain peaks. From the centre of the State to the
Eastern border are extensive plains stretching from the base of the moun-
tains, and traversed by the San Juan river and its tributaries. The valley
lands along the Rio Grande are in the tierra Calientes, or warm zone, and
are very fertile, producing sugar cane, bananas, oranges, figs, grapes
and other fruits. Corn is also cultivated with success; two crops a
year being successfully grown and gathered. Further in the uplands all
the staples of a temperate zone are cultivated and with varied success.

THE PRINCIPAL CITIES
of Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas are New Laredo, Monterey and Matamo-
ras. New Laredo is opposite Laredo, Texas, and contains about 12,000
people, and is rapidly becoming an important railway centre and business
mart. It is already the third city in respect to foreign importations in all
Mexico. Monterey is the Capitol of Nuevo Leon and has 20,000 people. It
is probably more Americanized than any city South of the Rio Grande.
Being of ancient and historic importance probably induced visitors, who
finally made it their home. The city has received new life and vigor since
the advent of railroads, and is led in all commercial enterprises by the