The Phoenix herald., 1879-06-25
SANTA FEE.
Elevation, Population, Age and
 General Appearance.

Governor Arney of New Mexico
 thus discusses Santa Fe 10 St Louis reporter.
 ''The City of Sata Fe stands upon
 both sides of Santa Fe creek, a small
 river heading in the lake on tine top Of the mountain twelve miles to the cast and running westerly into the Rio Grande del Norte fourteen miles from the city. From it the fields and gardens in the valley are irri- gated for cultivation, the whole vol ume of water being usually during the irrigating season, diverted into the branching acequias or irrigating canals. The city residences and Oth- CT buildings are almost universally of the Mexican style, built of adobeS or sun dried brick, one story high, are warm in winter and cool in sum- mer, and are withal quiet comfort able. It has been aptly said that the | city, when viewed from either of the | fine natural eminenccs overlooking | it, presents the appearance of a large collection of brick kilns. Hugh spurs of the Rock Mountains rise in the immediate vicinity of the north east, the east and the southeast, and loom in the distance to the northwest, the west and the southwest, a series of low tablelands lying to the north, the whole presenting an interesting landscape. Situated at an elevation of 6,S62 feet above the sea level, the climate is very agreeable, the atmOs- phere very rare and pu:e, and the salubrity of the place unsurpassed. It enjoys, on this account, a wide spread and very enviable reputation.
 THE POPULATION
 is now not less than 6,5OO Of these fully $500 are persons of Spanish or Mexican descent, speaking the Span ish language, the balance being who'll ly Americans and Europeans-the whole population being convention ally divided into two classes, the Mexican, or Spanish speaking and American" or English speaking peO- pie, the latter class being composed really of a majority of foreign born persons, among them large propor- tion of Jews.
 THE PLAZA
 or public square in this city, north of the river, comprising an area of about two and half acres, contains, enclosed with palings inside the streets, beautiful park of trees, GOV ering on area of about an acre aSd 8 quarter. The trees are mainly cot tonwood-the eight large ones tOrm- ing the entire north tier having been set out in the spring of 1S44 by Mar iano Martinez, the Governor of New Mexico, and others in 1863 at the pri- vate expense of the citizens The plaza is surrounded on the east, south and west sides with good adobe build ings, the principal mercantile and other business houses of the city, and on the other side stands the old Pal ace containing now the Governors m ansion, the United States Designa- ted depository, the United States and Territorial Court rooms, the Legisla- tive hall, the Territorial library and the Territorial Attorney General of flee.
 THE OLDEST CITY IN THE UNITED
 STATES.
 It is contended that Santa Fe is really the oldest-settled town upon the whole territory of the United States. As the city of Mexico of to day is but the old Aztec pueblo of Tencch- titlan of Montezuma, so is Santa Fe but the old pueblo of Ciedye of Coro- nado. Santa Augustine, in the State of Florida, settled in 1555, was con ceded the distinction of being the old est until the acquisition of New Mex leo and its capital, Santa Fe, by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1S4S, when the latter of right assumed that rank, by virtue of being, when the Spaniards first visited it.. in or about he year 1542, populous regulated Indian pueblo or town, one that had been in existence there is no knowing now many decades or how many