The inhabitants are disposed to introduce modern inventions, such as the electric light and telephone. A New York company has erected seventy-five telephones, many of which connect the mines with the houses and offices of the owners.
The greater part of the population of Guanajuato consists of miners, who are an industrious and well-to-do class of people. On Sundays they dress up in their best clothes, and walk on the, plaza and paseo with their families.
The tourist can spend a week in Guanajuato to advantage, during which an excursion may be made to Dolores Hidalgo, about 35 miles northeast of the city. (See p. 263.)
3. From Guanajuato to Lagos, 115 kilometres, or 72 miles.
Leaving Guanajuato, the stage-coach sets out from the door of the hotel, and connects with the train at Marfil, 5 kilometres distant. The track has a downward grade nearly all the way to Silao, 18 kilometres farther. The railroad company has erected a large wooden station and freight-house at the latter point. This branch road carries large quantities of quicksilver, salt, and magistral to Marfil for the silver-reducing works. (See p. 267.)
From Silao the road continues in a northwest course through the fertile plain, passing the station of Trinidad (402 kilometres), and reaches Leon (416 kilometres). The grade ascends slightly to a point just west of Trinidad, having an altitude of 5,963 feet, and then descends toward Leon.
LEON.
Population, about 80,000; elevation, 5,862 feet.
Hotels.—Comercio, de la Luz, Colon.
Tramways run to the city, 1½ mile north of the station; fare, 10 cents for each passenger. The towers of the cathedral and several domes of the churches are visible from the train.
Leon is noted for its manufactories of saddles and leathern goods, and a quarry of building-stone is found near
