upon a large bracket the Mexican eagle, wrought in stucco, and in the middle of a large window covered with frosted glass. Sixteen statues of 2.60 meters high, placed upon tall pedestals complete the adornment of the hall. These represent Walmiky, Confucius, Isais, Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Virgil, St. Paul, Origen, Dante, Alarcon, Copernicus, Descartes, Cuvier, and Humboldt. The two side naves are formed into galleries divided into eight departments. The antechamber through which the hall is entered is paved with colored marble, while the vaulted roof is supported on each side by ten columns of cut stone. The building has on its north and south sides a garden which contains a railing supported by columns, on the tops of which are the busts of the following famous men of Mexico: Netzahualcopotl, poet; D. Manuel Carpio, poet; D. Francisco Sanchez Tagle, poet; Fr. Manuel Navarrete, poet; D. Jose Joaquin Pesado, poet; D. Manuel Eduardo Gorostiza, dramatic author; D. Francisco Javier Clavijero, historian; D. Fernando A. Tazozomoc, historian; D. Fernando A. Ixtlilxochitl, historian; D. Lucas Alaman, historian; D. Manuel Veytia, historian.; D. Fernando Ramirez, antiquarian; Fr. Manuel Nájera, philologer; D. José Bernardo Couto, publisher; D. Manuel de la Peña y Peña, jurisconsult; D. Carlos de Siguenza y Góngora, humanity; D. José A. Alzate, naturalist; Don Leopoldo Rio de la Loza, chemist; Don Joaquin Cordero, man of letters; Don José M. Lafragua, man of letters. The National Library, which began existence with 100,000 volumes, has now on its shelves more than 159,000. In addition to the National there are also the following libraries in the capital: The Lawyers' School Library, with 14,000 volumes; the Preparatory School Library, which has 10,000; that of the general record, containing 8,000; the Engineers' School Library, having 7,000; that of the School of Agriculture, with 4,000; the Geographical and Statistical Society's Library, having also 4,000, and those of the Schools of Commerce, Fine Arts, Medicine, the Training School for Men, and the Training School for Women, the School of Arts and Professions for Men, that of the National Conservatory of Music, the Museum Library on the History of Mexico and that of the Judicial Record, which contain 14,538 volumes, making altogether 220,538 volumes contained in the libraries of the City of Mexico which are supported by the Federal Government. MEXICAN FRUIT INDUSTRY. A correspondent of the Two Republics, published in the City of Mexico, gives the following interesting statement of fruit growing in that Republic: Very singular ideas for the most part prevail in foreign countries with reference to Mexico. It is thought to be a country of mines and revolutions, of the beautiful and the bizarre. True it is that the thousand hills of this splendidly endowed country contain minerals of some kind or other, and that, with one insignificant exception, every kind of mineral known to science has already been found here. True it is that Mexico years and years ago had revolutions as thick as blackberries, but for something like a score of years Mexico has been as peaceful as a country could possibly be. The old idea that a man could best exhibit his patriotism by slaughtering his fellowcountrymen may be still in vogue in other Spanish-American countries, but it has long been abandoned here. The white wings of peace are over the land. That Mexico has much of the beautiful and of the bizarre there is no denying. To an American, even, the sights and scenes of Mexico are stranger, more interesting, than those of Europe. Visitors from all countries should come here in shoals, and I believe the day is not far distant when they will come. Year after year the accommodations for travelers have improved and they will continue to improve. The only drawback so far as this city is concerned is the fact that there is no good hotel on the English or American plan here. But that, too, will come. Mexico is moving. The above is a rather lengthy preface to what my present main object is to accomplish. I wish to forcibly call attention to the fruitgrowing capacity of Mexico. How is it that with every possible kind of climate and with soil capable of yielding every known agricultural product to the greatest advantage Mexico exports practically nothing in, say, the way of fruit? The fruit growers of California and Florida have made fortunes by fruit. Mexico could produce, and to greater advantage, all that those States yield and yet only a few thousand dollars' worth of fruit is exported! Mexico's oranges could be taken into United States markets several weeks ahead of even the Florida. This is an immense advantage in itself—but only some few fruit growers avail themselves of it. Lemons by the thousands of tons are allowed yearly to fall from the trees and rot on the ground, and yet the United States would be a ready market for all that Mexico could produce. Bananas grow in most of the Mexican States in the greatest profusion. Indeed in some places the difficulty is to prevent their growing. The United States imports yearly some $5,000,000 worth of bananas, but none of them come from Mexico. Foreigners who visit the country and see tons of fine fruit of almost every description lying rotting on the ground wonder why something is not done to utilize such valuable products. Then take this very valley of Mexico. It is probable that not one-tenth part of it is under decent cultivation-and yet the City of Mexico has a population of at least 329,000, some say 400,000. Many spots in the valley are admirably adapted for growing certain kinds of fruit and especially for market gardening. In spite of all these facts there is not a fruit grower or market gardener worthy of the name in the whole valley. It follows that fruit, and often vege. tables, has largely to be brought here from distant places. Of course, some fruit, such as oranges, bananas, etc., will not readily grow here, if at all, but I am speaking now of such fruit and vegetables as will grow here readily enough. Apples, for instance, although perhaps not of the very best quality, might be produced in the valley to a much greater extent and of a much higher grade than those found here now. In proof of this, I may say that I have myself picked very fair apples off trees in Mixcoac and San Angel, and at the same time gathered delicious figs from adjoining trees. The reasons why fruit has not hitherto been grown in this country to anything like a satisfactory extent seem simple enough. Mexicans have never given any attention to the matter, and they have seldom introduced good fruit trees from those foreign countries in which the best kinds may be found. Even when they have introduced somegrapes, for instance-not unfrequently the trees are not even pruned afterward. They are allowed to grow wild. Then, when good fruit happens to grow in a particular spot, there is often a lack of means of transportation. For instance, a farmer may have a considerable. quantity of good bananas on his plantation near Tuxpan or some other port. He has not enough fruit, however, nor anything like enough to warrant him in chartering a fruit vessel for the purpose of conveying the product to New Orleans, Galveston, or some other good market. He never thinks of associating with his neighbor in the matter, who, with himself, might furnish enough fruit to make a good cargo. In fact, the farmers of the country possess no power of association whatever. Already some fruit growers This state of things will not last long. are making shipments of first-class oranges. bananas on a grand scale near Tuxpan is now being vigorously taken in hand. A few object lessons are needed to show how the thing can be done. These are being supplied, and Mexican fruit growing must gradually come to the front On the 11th of March, 1842, Santa Aña, President of the Republic, acting upon the authority of the Government then existing, issued a decree prohibiting foreigners from acquiring lands within five leagues of the coast. This decree was, in April, 1853, reaffirmed by the Gov ernment. On the 1st of February, 1856, Comonfort, Provisional President, made the following decree : "No foreigner can, without the permission of the Supreme Government, acquire real estate in the frontier States or Territories except it be twenty leagues distant from the line of the frontier." Since the promulgation of the two decrees above mentioned some of the most prominent lawyers of the Republic have contended that the respective Presidents issuing said decrees were not sufficiently empowered for the purpose; but admitting their authority to do so, that the decrees were annulled by the constitution of February 5, 1857, on the broad ground and principle of the "rights of man." Therefore it is argued that foreigners have the same right to purchase and hold lands within the proscribed territory as elsewhere. These contentions have, however, never been formally raised in the courts of the country and the legality of the decrees is tacitly accepted. The new law, "Terrenos Baldios" (national lands), seems to have given increased force to the action of Presidents Santa Aña and Comonfort. Article 6 of the law says: "Every inhabitant of the Republic, of full age and with capacity to contract, has the right to denounce Government lands,' but adds "the privilege conferred by the present Article shall not annul the limitations established or which may be established by the laws in force in connection with the acquisition by foreigners of real estate in this Republic." There being in the Constitution no other limitations than those referred to in the decrees of 1842 and 1856 it would seem that the new law is a direct confirmation of the old ones, bearing upon this subject. Foreigners are therefore reminded that it is important, indeed necessary, that before undertaking to acquire lands within the limits defined, they must in the case of frontier lands obtain permission of the proper government officials, and in the case of coast lands procure the necessary concessions from Congress. It may be remarked, however, that these concessions are readily obtained when the application is properly presented. 3, It may be well to add in conclusion that Article of Section 30, the Constitution says: "Strangers who acquire real estate in the Republic, or who have children born in Mexico, provided they do not manifest the resolution to conserve their nationality," are considered Mexicans. In other words, the mere purchase of real estate renders the purchaser a citizen of Mexico unless the reservation of his citizenship is made in the act of purchase. |