National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-05-23
NEW MEXICO.


Especial correspondence of National Republican,
OTERo, New MEXICO, May Is, 1870
It is astonishing how the sensation of dis
tance from old scenes is lost in the presence of
the astounding scenery of the country which
to-day surrounds us, and through whose
Devils Gaps" dark dells, and wild, beetling
cliffs, peaks, aud castleated wonders the loco
motive sends forth its shrill screams and whose
echoes and reyerberations where silence has
forever brooded now come like voices from
PleutOnian realms. Homesickness seems i'm
possible to one who can stand lin awe and bow
in alteration at sublimity in nature. These
scenes begin Mt Trinidad, on the Sante Fe road,
which, standing like
Zion with hills surrounded"
built on one, with very little of Zion itself
noticeable though it has three churches.
These are Methodist, Catholic, and Presby-
terian, with small congregations, except the
Catholic which is chiefly Mexican, aud these
drink and dance in tho baguios every night in
the week, and bow to the cross an hour ON Sun
day. The town is fast growing, and now has
| 1000 population. Shops of all kinds, two fine
small daily papers, two banks, ono three
stories, built on a corner, of a beautiful native
sandstone, very white, aud of Il superior archi-
lecture, bank that would shame Riggs or the
old Bank of Washington, four hotels, the
United States and Central being the principal,
aud at the first of which we caught sight of
Paymaster Eaton, of Washington. Its faro
banks and rum-holes are large and thrive to an
alarming degree. A man was shot in one of
these the night VIC laid over. Mexican dance
houses are an institution. We were invited,
but "forewarned, forearmed." One-third of
the town is Mexican. Shops and large stores
| are numerous
| Three of the finest coal mines in the world
are worked here; three four-mills-two run
by water-planing-m &c. Several three
story buildings are under way, built as hand
somely as iron and stone can make them, be-
| sides number of small cottages, which nestle
snugly at the foot of surrounding hills. Every
body seemed busy, work plenty, and the eli
mate fine. a circus left the day we went in.
1t was crowded at 81 a head. Strangers are
greeted kindly aud courtcously. Jews are the
largest traders. Prices are reasonable for every
thing. The railroad enters the town in long
curved line Of forty miles from La Junta, one
train day, and this carries freight and pas
sengers together. Nearing Trinidad the fine
mountain scenery begins, and just south Of it
looms up the Ration Range. One tall rock looks
like the broken walls of a baronial castle, and
towers 10 height Of 900 feet on which
snow yet lingers in the blaze OF splendid sun.
1t is called Fishers Peak, and as we looked
heecy clouds passed from a sky of blue over its
age-stained brow like the sailing spirits of Os-
sian. "Pickot Run" flows over rocky bed ut
its base, supplies the town, and irrigates the
fertile valley through which it flows.
Splendid quarries Of white sand stone
abounds, clay for brick is abundant, and houses
are numerous, built of each, The fair sex are
not numerous, but those we saw were banged"
and pulled back" just like Washington bellies,
and showed as handsome forms, but not such
winsome features nor coquettish airs.
Coal is mined at fifty cents per ton, and
miners earn $3.50 per day. One of these miners
we talked with Just down from Leadvile-
said he left on account OF his health-too much
cold and fover there. He said friend of his,
employed by gentleman east to open a mne
had written to him, II have, mt last, struck it,
and, impatiently, the man wrote back, "Struck
what 2" "Give particulars )" and the miner
wrote back, "Struck the earth, after tunneing
twenty feet of snow; !" and this in April.
At Trinidad, below the snow range, pine
timber grows large enough for lumber, and on
the streams the ever ubiquitous cottonwood.
Riding from the hotel TO the depot in an omni.
bus good as '"The Ebbitt," we felt pleased with
the sights above us, and the town and neat,
nesting villa sites around us, aud can safely
predict prosperous future for Trinidad, around
which lies exhaustless wealth in minerals, and
a grazing region, where one man herds 100000
sheep and CATTLE and others of smaller mum
bers but still great. 1t invites enterprise to its
borders.
The road leaves Trinidad and penetrates, on
a remarkable grade, u pass of the mountains,
and finally, by remarkable engineering, reaches
the summit of the Ration Mountains. The
ascent by the main track is 1876 feet TO the mile
and on what is called the "switchback," )" 3ld
feet to the mile, and the perilous journey up
this ascent is made by succession Of VS., with
the side or bottom prolonged, out over which
prOlongation the train is moved far enough 10
shoot ii of on series OF up-and.down grades.
| When this summit is reached, away of, aud