HIDALGO  , an inland

state of Mexico, bounded N. by San Luis Potosi and Vera Cruz,E.by Vera Cruz and Puebla,S.by Tlaxcala and Mexico (state), and W. by Queretaro . Pop . (1895) 551,817, (1900) 605,051 . Area, 8917 sq. m . The northern and eastern parts are elevated and mountainous, culminating in the Cerro de Navajas (10,528 ft.) . A considerable area of this region on the eastern side of the state is arid and semi-barren, being part of the elevated tableland of Apam where the maguey (American aloe) has been grown for centuries . The southern and western parts of the state consist of rolling plains, in the midst of which is the large lake of Metztitlan . Hidalgo produces cereals in the more elevated districts, sugar, maguey, coffee, beans, cotton and tobacco . Maguey is cultivated for the production of pulque, the national drink . The chief industry, however, is mining, the mineral districts of Pachuca, El Chico, Real del Monte, San Jose del Oro, and Zimapan being among the richest in Mexico . The mineral products include silver, gold, mercury, copper, iron, lead, zinc, antimony, manganese and plumbago . Coal, marble and opals are also found .

Rail-way facilities are afforded by a branch of the Vera Cruz and Mexico line, which runs from Ometusco to Pachuca, the capital of the state, and by the Mexican Central . Among the principal towns are Tulancingo (pop . 9037), a rich mining centre 24 M . E. of Pachuca, Ixmiquilpan (about 9000) with silver mines 8o m . N. by W. of the Federal Capital, and Actopan (2666), the chief town of the district N.N.W. of Pachuca, inhabited principally by Indians of the Othumies nation .