ZACATECAS  , a

city of Mexico, capital of the state of Zacatecas, 442 M. by the Mexican Central railway N.W. of Mexico city . Pop . (19o0) 39,912 . It is built in a deep, narrow ravine, 8050 ft. above sea-level, with narrow, crooked streets climbing the steep hillsides, and white, flat-roofed houses of four and five storeys overtopping each other . Its streets are well paved, and are lighted with electricity . The city is well drained and has a fine aqueduct for its water supply . The cathedral is an elaborately carved red-stone structure with unfinished towers and richly decorated interior . Several domed churches occupy prominent sites . The National College and the Colegio de Nuesta Senora de Guadalupe with its fine library may be noticed . Overlooking the city from an elevation of 500 ft. is the Bufa Hill, which is crowned by a chapel and is a popular pilgrimage resort . The Guadalupe chapel near the city has elaborate decorations, including frescoes, onyx steps, silver rails and paintings, and a curious tiled dome . The industries comprise carriage building, weaving and the manufacture of coarse pottery .

The

town is an important commercial centre . Zacatecas was founded in 1546 and was built over a rich vein of silver discovered by Juan de Tolosa in the same year . This and other mines in the vicinity attracted a large population, and it soon became one of the chief mining centres of Mexico . It was made a city in 1585 by Philip II .