The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-06-20

the North.German Lloyd line of Steam
packets from Sout hampton to Baltimore
Thence by the Baltimore s. Ohio Railroad
to Stauntsn, distance of about 2l0 miles.
Yours truly,
j. LEWIS PEYToN.
From Mexlco-An Interesting Letter.
ACAPULCO, COAST OF MEXICO,
May 18th, 1878.
Messrs. Editors of Virginian:
1.-THE Valley Virginian." is always
welcomed by a Yirginian in this lonely and
half civilized portion of the world. Per-
haps letter from our little neighbcr en-
bryonic republic of Mexico would be OF
some interest to your numerous readers. l
will first give brief account OF our business
on the Mexican Coast. The U. S. Steamer
s.Tuscarora,' the vessel am attached to at
present, was fitted out at the Navy Yard,
Mare Island, CAL, last winter. She is very
pretty vessel. wooden carvette OF about
1000 tonnage. Her battery consists OF
four nine inch Dalgreen and three Parrott
guns, besides number of Gatlin guns and
small arms. Her speed when under full
steam and sail is ten knots per hour. Her
full complement Of Officers and men are Two
hundred. We left San Francisco on the
2sth Of Feb. last, and commenced line OF
deep sea soundings at the harbor OF San
Diego, CAL, and run radial lines from
the coast about $50 miles in distance, eX-
ter ding down the coast until we reached LA
Paz, Lower California. The deepest Wa
ter found at distance of l5Q miles from the
coast was $500 fathoms. The sounding
apparatus we use is the same as that used
by Sir Wymil Thompson, IN his noted sclen-
titic expedition severa! years ago ON the IL.
NJ. S. s'Clallenge." The apparatus merely
consists of large brass wheel upon WI ich
there is wound 5000 or 5000 fathoms OF
fine steel wire. When used for sounding
there is brass cup and ball attached to the
wire. the former is six or eight inches IN
length and two inches in diameter, and so
arranged that upon striking the bottom OF
The ball or shot is spherca! in shape ana
weighs SO lbs 1t has hole through the
centre in order to allow the cup to pass
through. The shot is merely used as a SINK
er to carry the wire down, aud upon touch
ing the bottom is detached from the cup, SO
that every sounding that is taken there Is
one shot ex2euded. The wire is reeled in
by steam very rapidly. the whole time oc-
cupied in taking a sounding OF 1000 faith
oms is about one hour, which is great i'm
proyement over the old mode OF taking the
depth of water with a rope. 5 oundlng tct
with a wire is more accurate than with
rome. The whole Mexican coast is very in
accurately surveyed, and the Navy Depart
ment has fitted out the s'Tuscorora' espe-
cialy for this duty, to make an accurate
and careful survey of the Mexican coast and
the coas tot Central America as far South
as Panama. OF course this will be OF great
benefit to navigation and sea-faring men,
and particularly to the Pacific mail COM
pany. We have just determined the posi-
|
Shoal " here the magnificent steamer. "City
of San Francisco was wrecked about one
wear ago, and numerous other vessels anc
lives have been lost on this coast for thu
want OF accurate data to navigate by. The
coast of Lower Cal. which we have just sur
yeyed is quite barren and mountainous, be-
ing almost entirely devoid OF vegetation
The first town of any importance that w
visited was La Paz, which is situated in thu
Southern portion of Lower Cal. 1t has
very fine harbor and the town is almost sur
rounded By huge 10 liking volcanicl noun
tains. The city is a very old place, havlns
been settled by tn, Spanish several cen
turtles ago. l. has population OF 3,00O t.
1900, and is very neat place, having clear
streets, which are beautifully shaded D.
palm and banana trees. The buildings
though present very ancient and dilapida
ted appearance. having been bnilt withou
much regard for beauty or comfort. The in
habitants are composed almost entirely
Mpxicans whose habits OF life are quite dl
ferent from Americans. Their main objee
in life seems to be to shlrk work OF an
kind. AS race they are entirely deflclen
in business qualifications. Their mode
, living is the same as it was century ag'
No improvements whatever, especially i
the way OF machinery. For instance here in
town Of 1000 or 5000 inhabitants, thel
isn't wheeled vehicle to be found. III
height of their ambition consists in roamln
around on their small shaggy ponies with
large knife belted around them and ready
nick quarrel with any one upon the lea
proyocation. Tho business of La Paz
very limited, in fact, if it was not for Il
, noted silver mines near the place 1T "ou
: be entirely devoid of support. This mine
, run by Mr.. Brooks, an Englishman, W
works 1000 hand and yields slo,0oo
month of bullion, which is shipped to 81
y Francisco by Steamer. The supplies for
$ natives are brought here from San Fra'
o cisco. with the exception OF fruits, whl
: grow to perfection in this climate. The ma
i fruits are Oranges, Lines, bananas, Pea
e MELONS, Mangros, Prunes. Ore thing I'll
Is is always noticed by stranger in SIN
d Mexican town is the large number OF
ID diers they seem to be essential to queil
: numerous riots that occur at tin
d during the year. The present ruler
Il. nr.sident Diaz seems to be pretty firm
ID established, and gives satisfaction genera
of to his people ; there is no guarantee tho,
ee how long the Daz government will be
". mower. for the Mexicans are as rule '
no treacherous and if Lerdo or some other M
". lean Of note would offer the army La
or amount of money, they W ould desert
OF Diaz government Immediately and
H. the richest man. Mexico will never amo
#. to much as an independent republic. U
ID it is better governed, and this will n
occur till it is annexed to some other po,
~. Mexico supports larger army than tn
les S. They have $4,000 regular troops
it'll ale said to be good fighters. Their pay
he is very small, only 80 cts. per per day
let half the time they are not able to get