Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-09
NEW MExlcQ,s CAPITAL
Santa re Correspondence Denver Tribune.

St. Augustine, Florida, every man here is
convinced ; and the records bear them out.
These records are not numerous, but they
are reliable and can be seen at the office of
the territorial secretary BY those who may
be inclined to doubt. / cannot go into the
research to any great extent. According to
these papers, the Npaniards came into this
section from the south during the early
part Ct the sixteenth century. Toe name Of
D,n Joseph de Basemzelus appears inscribed
on . rock in the northwestern part Of the
territory, nesr Zuni, the Pueplo Indian vii
lage, in 1896, only five years after Cortez
captured the city Of Mexico. From this
circumstance the rock has been named EN-
scription Rock" The inscription is still to
be seen. Between 1920 and 1886 Alvs
Nunez Cabeza de Vaca made q Journey
through New Mexico. Bascmzelus was fol-
lowed in 1889 in his visit to Zuna, which,
as it is now, seems then to have been an
Indian center. Then in 1910 came the ex-
petition of Coronado to Zana and to the
Grand Quivera, and in the same year Fer
nando Alarcon visited the Grand Canon of
the Colorado, which is only now beginning !
to attract the attention it deserves from the
outside world.
Conquest wasthe principal aim of the
Spaniards.. They were also led to the
northward through their inclinations for
rowing, and by the reports which reached
their ears, through the Indians, of marvel
Gus mines of precious gems and gold and
silver. The priests were among the first
visitors, their aim being to convert the
natives to the religion of the Spaniards, and
thus render s%ubjugation more easy. The
Pueblo Indians were at last won over, and
there can be no doubt that to the influence
thus attained, the settlement by Spaniards
was rendered much more easy than it could
otherwise have been. One Of the frat re-
cords is that, of priest, Able Domeneb, who
states that as early as 1912 the Spaniards
had possession of most Of the towns in the
districts Cevola, (now Zuni) Tuscayan,
Acuco, Tiquex (now Santa Fe), Cutabaco,
Quivix, Sierra Blanco, Ximena, Cicuye,
Ojo Caliente, Yuque, CHA. Thus it may be
seen the Spaniards were early scattered
over the country. Most of those who came
to this country we're soldiers. They mar
ried or lived with the natives and from this
combination has sprung the present Mexi-
can population.
Seint Augustine was first settled in 1865,
fifteen years after the Spaniards took pos
session of Santa Fe. How long this place
was q town before the Spanish came in
cannot be told. 1t was then an old Pueblo
town, and a very large one, extending up
and down Santa Fe creek for over six
miles. There is now but one of the many
old houses occupied by the Pueblos stand
ing. This stands alongside of San Miguel
church, the Oldest sacred ediice& in "the city
of the holy faith"
The old house is now occupied by Mexi-
cans, and presents a tumble down appear
ance. When it was built tradition pretends
not to say. The church is doubtless about
al old as the Puebelo house, and the records
which are kept as accurately
as possible BY the church
and adobe structure and presents no features
of special interest beyond its antiquity. 1,
is etill occupied as . church.
But the most interesting Of all the old
buildings is the one known as "the Palace
running along the entire length of the north
side of the plaza or public square. This is
a one story adobe, and while it does not an
swer ones elevated ideas of a palace it has
answered the purpose inasmuch as it was
the seat of government while New Mexico
was a Spanish and Mexican province
Whether belonging to Spain, Mexico, or The
United States Santa Fe has always been the
capital Of New Mexico, and the palace has
been occupied as a dwelling and for Official
purposes. When it was built no one seem,
to know, but that it is very, very ancienl
every evidence attests. 1t is known that the
governors and captain generals under Spain
the Mexican governors and appointecs o.
the United States since the session made al
Guadalupe, have made this their h~eadquar.
tiers. Here have originated all the state
documents and here have been kept all The
state papers since at least the close of the
seventeenth century. If the old adobe WALL
could surrender the stories they contain
much valuable history, many tales of the
origin of Indian wars and instructions and
civil %strifes, of the ambition of Spanish
blood and the woes Of prisoners, would be
revealed. Here the viceroys and governors
Of the old regimes lived and ruled like kings,
which indeed they were, being so far remov.
ed from the appointing Rowers-there being
no telegraphic commandments their
transactions we're never known to out
siders. The building runs the whole length
Of the square. 1t belongs now to the gov.
eminent and is occupied by Gov. Axtell and
state officers, and bv the legislature which i,
now in session. The administration differs
now from that previous to 1916 /; but the
legislature, judging from the legislation, has
changed or improved very little.
The building was also occupied as a pris'
on. Here, among others, Zebulon NJ. Pike
was incarcerated. 1t was carly in the pres.
ent century that Pike, who was a lieuten-
ant in the army, came to this country at the
head of an exploring party. He CHANGED Ia
&c. over into Mexican territory, and being
found here wastaken in charge by the Mex.
lean authorities, marched all the way
through New Mexico from the Arkansa,
river to Santa Fe, there pronounced upor