Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-06-09
FROM NEW MEXICO.
lFrom an Occasional Correspondents

Rocky Mountains do not reach that formi-
dable height for which they are celebrated
in the vicinity of Denver. and to the north
and west of that city. An almost uninter-
rupted chain of hills extends from there in
southwestern direction through the who e
of New Mexico into Chihuahua, and it was
one OF the highest mountains of that re-
giOn which we had to clear, previous to
our arriving in the territory acquired by
the United States, after the termination OF
the last Mexican war. That part which 1
1 refer to, is called the Rartoon mountains
and the ascent commenced almost immedi-
ately after we left the town of Trinidad.
1t was beautiful summer morning when
we started for the summit, and we soon
found ourselves in the midst OF verdant
lawns, shaded by high oak and pine trees,
and surrounded by moss covered oaks, inn
parting to the scenery decidedly ro-
mantle character. Until within a month
from our arrival, it had been a difficult mat
ter for wagons and conveyances of any
kind to cross the mountains without some
wheel or tongue being broken, or a wagon
upset in the numerous ravines formed by
the rapid descent of water during the rainy
season. Atpresent, however, large num-
ber of wooden bridges have been construct
ed to carry the traveller safely across the
distractions which had rendered the cross
ing an unusually difficult one.
Hour after hour thus passed while the
men and animals were slowly vending
their way through the woods and over the
rocks, until we arrived at the toll-gate
situated only about a mile from the top of
the mountain, and established in order to
collect a tax from the traveller to pay for
the mountain road being kept in good Or
der. We made halt at that point for the
night, and heard from the toll-keeper that
only few days previous to our arrival at
that point, an engagement had taken place
between two hostile Indian tribes, result
ing in several Navajo Indians being
scalped and their corpses left on the
ground, exposed to the hot sun, and well
come prey to the voracity of the wolves
At an early hour of the following morn
ing we started for the summit, which we
reached only about an hour after sunrise.
The scenery, which now unfolded itself to
our eyes, is such as will leave an exerlast-
ing impression on the human mind, and
makey you forget all the fatigues which you
may have had to go through with before
reaching them. At the top of that noun
tain is the line between Colorado and New
Mexico, and as you looked back you saw
the neighboring mountains, covered with
high trees of dark green foliage, while the
overhanging huge rocks impaired to the
whole scenery an air of inexpresi-
BILE wildness. There, growing at the
edge of formidable abyss, was tree
from fifty to hundred years old, which
had never yet been profaned by the touch
of human hand and the sharp axe of the
early settler. In front of you the noun
tains of New Mexico extended
themselves as far as the eye
could reach, and apparently encircling
huge plain, upon which the golden beams
of the sun spread hue as is not seen in
more northern climates. We had been
told that New Mexico was a beautiful
country, and / believed it as stood on
that mountain, gazing down on the en-
chanting scenery before me in silent ad-
miration. New. Mexico looked to me much
more beautiful then, however, than have
ever found it to be since then, and the illu-
sion was destroyed, not the same day, but
certainly very soon afterwards. AS we de-
scended the scenery lost nothing of its
charms, for shady lawns, changed with pas
ture grounds, and again with mountain
passes, so narrow as hardly to allow horse
to find its way between the steep rocks on
one side and the rapid brook on the other.
As passed some of those spots, wondered
how all the army wagons would be able to
get over them without some of them up
setting or rolling into the abyss below.
No accident, however, happened, and we
arrived in camp, at the foot of the noun
tain, which it had taken us two days to
cross, rejoiced at the beauty of the coun-
try which we were to inhabit during the
pleasure of the Government. We had
heard great deal of the establishment of
the richest man in New Mexico, Mr.. Max
well, and, as his dwelling house was situ-
ated ten miles from the road which the
regiment had to. take, asked, with another
officer, to be allowed to pay visit at
Maxwell's-a man OF singular habits, but
good-hearted to the extreme, and enjoying
a great reputation all over the territory.
I was allowed to pay visit with my family
to that nabob OF the West. After twelve
miles drive we came in sight of the main
building, surrounded tor mile or so BY
cottages, inhabited by Mexican families,
who owe their whole property to the liber-
ality of Mr.. Maxwell. When a man ap-
plies to him for work, he gives him piece
of ground to cultivate and takes the very
moderate rent in corn after harvest time.
He has built mill which provides the
country within so to 100 miles distance with
mines in the neighboring mountains and is
said to own forty square miles of land in
New Mexico. Stock raising is one of the
most profitable branches of industry in
that part of the country, and Mr.. Maxwell
owns such large herds of cattle, sheep,
horses and mules, that it is impossible tor
him to know his wealth in live stock. In
order to remain in peaceable possession of
his herds, scattered all over the neighbor-
ing mountains, he pursues very wise pol
icy in remaining on friendly terms with
the Indians of that vicinity. We were told
that whenever hostile Indian tribe or
some thievish Mexican drives away some
cattle belonging to him, the Utes pursue
them and bring the cattle back. They
know that once or twice a week head of
cattle is presented to them by Mr.. Maxwell,
and it is curious to witness how, in accord
ance with their savage instincts they hunt
the poor animal to death. They allow the
OK to run and then chase him on their
ponies, wounding him with their spears or
sending an occasional arrow after him un-
til the ami rnal exhausted hv ito wounds