The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-04-12

| Construction and it, Analooies Tnl
Churches-7ne Population and Bushes.
Of Santa F-The Last Season. Bishor
Lama's Reform in tie Catholic PriestAood
Gen. Ortegg- The Nonroe Doctrins-
ISante Fs and its Morals.
Correspondence Of the Missouri pemocrat]
SANTA FE, N. NJ, March 8, 1865.
I The town, or city which rose on the ruins
Of Queen Isabella's pavilion before Grena-
da, when the Spanish beseigcd that capital,
is doubtless the nominal progenitor Of this
place. 1t was not long after that siege
less, perhaps, than century and half
that missionaries of the order of San Fran.
cisco reached this section; and influenced
by the same religious fervor as that which
directed the mind Of the Queen, as we'll as
by the objectiye features Of the surround.
ing country, which resemble in some de-.
gree the mountain range and vegas along
the Xenil, they changed the Indian name
(whatever that may have been) and sub.
stituted the one by which the capital of
New Mexico is now known-Santa Fe, or
Holy Faith. 1t is improbable, besides,
that the swarthy complexion Of the Indians
reminded the good monks Of the Moors
and their superstitions of the intidel rites
of the mosques, and these rendering the
similarity still greater, decided the matter.
At the time of the visit Of the Span
ish priests, some three or four pueb
los were established here. The Indi.
ans defended themselves with no little skill
and bravey, and for good period disputed
the possession Of the country against the
invaders. They finally succumbed. and
outwardly, at least, embraced the Catholic
form of religion, The oldest church edifice
is that Of Guadaloupe, which dates back
to 1640, or in that neighborhood of years,
showing with what rapidity the San Fran.
ciscoans performed their work. 1t is built
Of adobe, and having been recently repaired
by the application Of little fresh mud to
the cracks and indentations. and filing up
of the loop or port holes, with which the
walls were pierced for the defense of the
city against the Americans in 1s47, looks
strong enough to withstand the wear and
tear of two more centuries.
It is not always the case that the strong.
est material make the most lasting houses.
These adobes prove that fact. They are
formed Of common mud, moulded in q
common oblong box, about eighteen inches
by twelve, and five or six thick, with
little straw mixed in, and then sun dried
One is placed on another, breaking the
joints, of course, and cemented by the same
mixture. Now, in St. Louis, or sny where
else, can you show an erection, composed
Of pressed and burned brick, glued as they
may be by the strongest mortar, that have
stood, or can likely stand for two hundred
years, and at the end of that time exhibit
strength sufficient for an equal time
This has its analogy in the human consti.
tuition. A man who has always been in the
full flush of health and strength, with not
an organ impaired, is not entitled by all
the laws Of chances, to as low q rate, by a
| life insurance company, as fellow who is
subjected to occasional spells, and even to
an old ccmplaint-prov;ded, the fellow ab.
stains from patent medicines. And soin
another class of cases: The politician,
preacher, officer, OF any one else in any
other profession, who has won high repu-
tation for all the virtues that adorn his DO
sition, is more liable to censure and remov-
al for real or supposed indiscrction, than
one who is openly inefficient and dishonor-
able. 1t seems tha. nature is so kind and
gentle nurse, and takes such pleasures
absorption, that she keeps invalids (parti-
cularly the wealthy ones) to good old
age; and that an unblemished character is
only another foolish towtr, intended to
reach Heaven, and deserves, to some extent
at least, to be demolished. There are three
other churches of this same denomination,
all built of the same material, but Of more
recent dates, the Oldest Of these, the paro-
CHA, having been constructed about one
year ago. 1t is in contemplation at this
time BY the Bishop, to erect larger cathe
dral in Santa Fe as the seat of his diocese
Only one Protestant church is to be
found In the placs-indeed, in the whole
Territory, as far as my knowledge extends.
1t is also built Of sun dried brick, and is
really very pretty little edifice, symmetri-
cal and well finished. Mr.. Kennett, a
minister of the Baptist denomination, (of
which branch cannot say,) presides. His
sermons are excellent, we'll written and i'm
bued with truly christian power and
spirit. The congregation is small, how.
ever, not exceeding 25 to 80 persons as an
average. do not know the sum Of the
American population; but it is large enough
to fill the seats twice over. Still, this se.f
sacrificing preacher appears to be pleased
with field Of labor, and willing to combat
all the Disadvantages that surround him. I
admire such spirit, and sincerely CON-
mend to others so true an example Of chris.
tian fidelity; but IL it were my lot to "stand
on Zion's hill" to watch over the hocks
and pastures Of the valleys, should
choose, did no imperative superior obtrude
himself, less exposed situation.
The native population, incluling tn,
semi civilized Puebla Indians are all Roman
Catholics; the Jews constitute three fourths
of tie business community, and the Amer
leans fill up the civil and military Offices,
the professions Of law and medicine, and
a very limited 6eld Of artisan enterprise
The entire population Of the city is estimat.
ed at something over five thousand. Not
less than Ave or six million Of dollars are
distributed by the civil and military de-
par:ments--much the greater po, ton by
the former. Contracts are now out for a
million pounds Of corn at $l3 per bushel,
all of which will be hauled from the
States. This grain is intended for the Ma,
vsjoes, now under military surveillance, and |
will amount to over $3.50, 900. These
heavy disbursements disseminate among
the masses q sufficient amount Of money |
to admit the purchase Of the comforts Of
life, and large quantities Of dry goods, boots.
shoes, hats and groceries find ready sale at
prices generally double the original cost
and transportation. Thus: If coffee brings
forty cents in St. Louis, the fright to this
point being twenty cents. we pay the mer.
chant 1925 FER pound--and so with other
articles. Wholesale prices rule from TWEEN.
ty to thirty per cent over cost and carriage.
Lent has just conmcnccd; everybody,
nearly. will be obliged to keep it-Catholic,
Protestant and infdelu-not from any reli.
gious impulse Of duty. but from dire ne