Guadalajara claims to have the cheapest electrical power on the continent (six cents the kilowatt hour), and in consequence it is an important manufacturing town, having cotton mills, flour mills, two or three foundries, soap factory, a smelter, sugar refineries, three breweries, whisky distillery, and other industries. The schools also are good, and it has an engineering and medical college and two industrial schools, one for boys and one for girls. The city was founded in 1541 by Nuño de Guzman. It has a climate far surpassing that of Los Angeles, and, if it were only known, it would become a great centre of tourist travel. Now that the line is built to Manzanillo on the Pacific coast, it is easy to reach Guadalajara from any of the Pacific coast ports in the United States or Canada. Close to Guadalajara are the falls of Juanacatlan, called the Niagara of Mexico (575 feet long and 400 feet high). Within twenty miles is Lake Chapala, about fifty miles long and five to ten broad, which affords good duck, goose, and snipe shooting, though practically no fishing, as the only fish are German carp and catfish, neither of which are game fish. There are also a few deer, bear, and mountain lion to be had, if one has time and patience and is a good climber. The quail have been practically exterminated, as have also the rabbits. The government of the country has been a benevolent despotism; and as this was the method of the Federal Government while in the hands of General Diaz, so also it was that of each governor in his particular state. It has not as yet had time to change much under Madero, but I think it will do so gradually, as the people get accustomed to their civic rights and demand them. They have a congress, it is true, both in the States and the Federal one, but these are more for show than anything else. The Mexicans have a story they are fond of telling in regard to this. A woman once went to see the governor to get an appointment for her son. The governor said, “I will put him in as a clerk.” “But,” said the woman, “he cannot read or write.” The governor then said he would make him a captain of police. Said the woman, “He cannot ride, and the truth is he is a little feeble-minded.” “Then,” asked the governor, “what do you want me to make him, and what is he fitted for?” The woman replied, “I thought he would make a good congressman!”