The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-03-23
FROM NEW MEXICO

SANTA tE, March :, 1872.
| NeSS1s. Editors Thinking that few words
" 18th regard to the city OF Santa Fe. New Mexi.
co, might be OF interest to you, Will in my
! poor way endeavor to give a little information
with regard TO this quaint old city, for, though
It stands in OF our territories, and is reached
by crossing the plains Of the great west. it Is a
city OF moro than two nun ired years of exist.
, euce, 1t stands at the base of the Santa f.
fourteen hundred feet, and the city itself stands
nearly eight thousand feet above the sea level
1t is built entirely Of sun-dried brick. and tine
houses mostly one story high. The roofs are
hat and covered with earth. One thins "A strau.
ger generally notices on entering these houses
Is, that he steps down instead of up, as we u,u
ally do in the states, the earth floors generally
being six or eight inches lower than the sur
rounding earth. They aye generally built SO as
10 enclose sort OF court yard, which they
call here placeta. The streets are generally
n@rrow-about from twenty to fifty feet in width
and through these streets the water flows in
open bitches, coming from beautiful mountain
stream In the center of the city, as in all Mex
lean towns, is the Plea, corresponding with our
public squares in eastern towns The Santa Fe
Plaza is surrounded by picket fence, planted
with shade trees end Lid off by walks, while in
the center stands fine monument dedicated 10
the memory OF those who Lost their lives in this
territory while lighting for the union during
the late rebellion. To the north of the rnonu.
ment stands a Pagoda, or summer house, where
the brass band of the 18th L. S. Infantry play
almost every evening during the pleasant wealth
er. But what is of most interest 10 stranger
Is the queer sights seen on the streets
Ike principal way of conveying goods of all
kinds short distances, or bringing the various
products OF the country to market, is on the
backs OF buros "a small breed of donkeys.)
on see these patient little brutts loaded with
every thiRg You can think Of. You see them by
hundreds every day loaded with boxes, crates,
barrels, buckets, tin ware; boards, supported ut
one end and the other dragging on the ground
heavy poles FROM the mountains fire wood, cut
stove length hay, corn toder, -four in sack, and
thousand other things which make the mos,
odd looking bundles yoU can ina CINE, the load,
often hiding the whole animal except the more
and ears. These loads sometimes W. Il. three
or tour hundred pouLds- nearly much a. the
eeast Itself They are driven by men and bows,
who guide tt'a and persuade them to move
along ty whaoking them with short clahs
about as thick a- IL mans wrist. Blu, ii e most
amusing Of s!l 'rayeling outii, in New Mexico
j. -,
entirely .eyod OF grease, a sapling with the
bark on ;Jr an axle, the same Cuutrivapuc f,r q
tongue and sort Of wicker work box. They
are generally drawn by about four Wild steers,
the driver riding along on "a mu,,auy The
noise they make rs they move along can lie
IKE Jo!iihcation among flock OF geese. Ii
your vehicle Is light one. they arg about ~
dangerous to meet as n steamer, for when YOU
have decided, after good deal oi guAiety, which
side OF the ROAD they intend to take, and haul
out accordingly on the other, you have a lair |,
chance OF having different parts of the rig go on
both sides OK you. We also zee long trains OF
freight wagons which haul goods iron. the .ail.
roads-Ieriect scLooners--drawn by ten O.
twelve yoke OF oxen, and as the driver, eu,er or
leave town, they crack their huge whips till T.
they sound like the firing of pistols all over
town.
Our medley ofhumanity is still more curious |,
at one glance you can see OF white men, the |
rough mountain miner in his buck skin suit, the !
polite and we'll dressed gambler. the long robed |
lp sod nj ,ba
darker shades OF humanity, we have the PAINTED
and olanketed Indian, hordes Of Mexcans with
comPlexions varying between new leather and
mohSses, while he,e and there, for the sake of
variety, is thrown in fifteenth amendment.
II. T. II.