The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-06-27
From the Mines.
Head quarters in the saddle.
New Mexico June 7th 1871.

NcW NleAlCO % uut I Ill o i.
EDITOR OF REGISTER A few days
since We mounted fiery steed headed to
the east in which course we continued to
travel until we reached the largest river
in New Mexico generally considered the
great Oasis, and agricultural paradise, of
the territory. The Rio Grande is quite
a rapid stream and noted for its treacher-
Gus and turbid waters, for its extensive
and fertile bottom lands for the ignorance.
Incidence and religious bigotry of the in
habitants living in the numerous little
towns along its shores; and for its rare
and beautiful birds. The cottonwood
trees skirting the stream are alive with
an endless variety Of the feathery tribe,
whose downy plumage is of every shade
and hue, comprehended in the catalogue
Of coors. Blue, green, crimson, and gold,
so artistically blended and tinted that they
appear like animate jewels, baptised in a
heavenly fount of prismatic colors, and
dried in the splendor of a golden sunset
Their music is as sweet and enchanting as
their dazzling dress is charmiugly beauti-
full. In morning the air is an echoing
sea of musical notes, seemingly in perfect
accord with the spirit Of Beethoven. To
the weary traveller who has passed the
night beneath the hospitable branches Of
cotton wood these inimitable songs are
most pleasing and welcome, causing him
to wake with thoughts heaven and home
Pity it is that the little birds are all that
he does see or hear to remind him Of
celestial purity and hallowed associations
The moral and intellectual condition Of
the people is at such a low ebb, that the
modern improvements naturally expect to
be met with in so fine a valley as this
are wholly lacking, and natural scenery
susceptible Of such vast improvements, i;
painfully defective and behind the times
The valley varies in width from 4 to lC
miles and is owned mostly by Mexicans
Ell Passo to Santa Fe. The soil is very
rich and easily titled, but for this fact
little would be raised because the land il
all titled with hoe weighing about ter
lbs. and wooden poughs which are very
simple in construction. A pole ten fee
long with short stick passing through
one end nearly at right angles which
answers for the handle and point constitu
ties the implement complete. With thii
rude, cheap and almost useless apology
for plough hitched to yoke of oxer
with a raw hide rope, and straight sticl
tied to their horns which answers for ,
yoke, they scratch over their fields il
spring before sowing and planting. Whel
the seed is once in the ground the lane
irrigated with water taken from the river
this is continued until July when tn
rains come and relieves them. All tn
crops including hay are cut with a com
mon sickle.
Corn and wheat are the principle crop
raised. Apples, pears, and the smalle
fruits are grown to some extent, Will
the grape is quite extensively cultivated
FL Passo wine is celebrated for its supe
rior flavor. The fences surrounding tn
vineyards, are decorated with little eros
ses placed 10 or Is feet apart; the de
, sign of which is to prevent fruit bein
stolen during the ripening season. TIL
, stupid Mexicans believe that the Virgi
Mary and her most worthy son woul
regard them with very great disfavo
: should they appropriate what belongs t
another, in the presence of the "Hol
, Cross" Los Cruces and La Mesill
, (Mes-e-a) are the only towns we hav
| yet visited. They are built up with littl
exception, without regard to taste or reg
ularity. The material used is adoJ
: which always presents dingy, dirty ap
, pearance. Of the two, La Mesilla j
? much the prettiest place, on account of
/ profusion Of shade trees surrounding tn
= public square and bordering all the street
and avenues, forming beautiful colon
: nades, as we'll as dense and coolin
s shade always so agreeable in a warm eli
Z mate. These places contain about on
. thousand inhabitants each; formerly the
4. were on opposite sides Of the river, bu
one night seven years ago the streal