Subjects: Yucatán (Mexico : State) -- Description and travel; Campeche (Mexico : State) -- Description and travel; Quintana Roo (Mexico : State) -- Description and travel

Text shown on page 12: "Another very noticeable peculiarity to be seen here, is the prevalence of the Decauville narrow gauge light railway system, which forms a vast net-work throughout the city (of Progreso). In one year alone, one hundred and forty five kilometres of this track, were imported into Progreso. In fact portable railways are to be seen continually throughout the many plantations of the State, a feature not to be found to such an extent, in any other part of the country. In this connection the most important detail is very peculiar, although it may escape the notice of the casual visitor, if he is hurried or worried, it is that every pound of these rails, and attending light freight platform cars, are plainly of French or Belgian origin, which incongruity, considering the close proximity of the United States, is difficult to understand. It is certainly true that the Progreso Street Cars are of American manufacture, and the cor- responding rails, but still, why all of the Decauville type, should be monopolised, seems peculiar to say the least of it, and is certainly too important an item, not to be thoroughly investigated."