MEXICO 211 MEXICO trie, 40; miscellaneous, 2,245. The cap- ital involved was about 240,000,000 pesos and about 35,000 wage earners were em- ployed. Commerce. — Foreign trade with Mexi- co in 1918 amounted to $265,887,744. of which imports were valued at $82,235,019 and exports $183,652,725. By compari- son with the figures of 1913 imports show a loss of about $15,000,000 and ex- ports a gain of about $30,000,000. The most important imports were vegetable products, mineral products, and textiles. The chief exports were mineral products, including petroleum, which amounted in value to $106,966,171; vegetable products, and animal products. In 1919 the ex- port of oil was estimated at about 80,- 000,000 barrels. Transportation and Comiminication. — The constant series of revolutions and other disturbances has resulted in more or less demoralization of the railway sys- tems of Mexico. Many of the railway lines will have to be rebuilt entirely and most of them repaired to a large extent before they reach a condition where transportation will be normal again. Heavy storms in the autumn of 1919 did severe damage to the railway lines. Many large bridges were swept away. The railway between the city of Durango and the port of Matazlan was almost completed at the end of the year 1919. The merchant marine for 1919 had a tonnage of 40,257, and the vessels en- gaged in river trade had a tonnage of 366,726. The total railway mileage is about 16,000. There is a fairly complete system of telegraphs. There are about 50,000 miles of telegraph wires. The wireless system is in operation. Education. — In its educational sys- tem, Mexico is far behind many of the other American countries. The great majority of the people are illiterate, and no serious attempt has been made by any of the rulers of the country to establish a complete estimate of schools. While in theory education is compulsory and free in the lower grades, no serious at- tempt is made to compel the Indian pop- ulation to attend these schools. There are secondary schools, professional schools, and military and naval schools. The Mexican University, which was founded in 1553 and reorganized in 1910, forms the head of the educational sys- tem of the country. There are about 3,000 private and clerical schools. The total number of primer schools supported by the State governments and by munici- palities is about 10,000. in which are about 700,000 pupils. Religion. — The prevailing faith is Ro- man Catholic, which was the State re- ligion till 1857. On Sept. 25, 1873, the government declared that it recognized no State religion. Fi7iances.— The disturbed condition of the country in recent years has pro- duced demoralization in the financial sys- tem. The revenue for 1919 was about 150,000,000 pesos, and for 1920 about 160,000,000 pesos. The foreign debt, ex- clusive of interest, in 1918 amounted to 296,944,251 pesos and the internal debt to 138,795,550 pesos. The interest due on both debts amounted to 103,832,284 pesos, making the total for the entire debt about 530,000,000 pesos. A vast amount of paper money was put into cir- culation. President Carranza attempted to reorganize the finances during his rule and met with considerable success, as far as revenue was concerned. The greater part of the amount produced, however, was dispersed for the payment of the army and other large sums were absorbed by individuals, so that the country at large received small benefit. Government. — The government of Mex- ico is that of a republic. A new consti- tution was promulgated on Feb. 5, 1917. The several States have absolute control of their internal affairs. The President, who is chosen every four years, and is now eligible to consecutive re-elections, is assisted by a cabinet of seven secretaries, viz.: Foreign Affairs; Interior; Justice and Public Instruction; Fomento, Colo- nization and Industry; Communications and Public Works; Finance and Public Credit; and War and Marine. The legis- lative power is vested in a Congress, composed of a Senate and House of Rep- resentatives. Representatives, whose terms are two years, are elected by pop- ular vote on the basis of one representa- tive for every 60,000 population. The Senate consists of 58 members, two from each State, and two from the Federal District, who serve four years, and are elected in the same manner as the rep- resentatives. The justices of the Su- preme Court, which occupies the same position as that of the United States, are chosen by popular suffrage and serve for six years. There is one annual session of Congress. History. — The history of ancient Mex- ico exhibits two distinct and widely dif- fering periods— that of the Toltecs and that of the Aztecs. The 8th century is the traditional date when the Toltecs are related to have come from the N. Their capital was established at Tula, N. of the Mexican valley. Their laws and usages stamp them as a people of mild and peaceful instincts, industrious, active and enterprising. It is related that a severe famine and pestilence all but de-
