The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-03-11
LEAVES FROM NEW MEXICAN TRAVEL
SANTA FEE New Mexico
March l, 1880.

LEAVES FROM NEW MEXICAN TRAVEL
SANTA FEE New Mexico, !
March l, 1880.
Correspondents Of TIE JorEsAL.
Leaving Albuquerque Saturday
last about 8 o'clock q. m, after q hard
stage ride, arrived here at o'clock in
the night. and was glad to return
where 1 could hear the locomotive
whistle. The sight Of train of cars
Is still q great curiosity to the Mexi
cans Of Santa Fe, a. many of them
never saw q train before the cars came
Yesterday while taking walk near
the depot, 1 saw near the track crowds
Of Mexicans, male and female, enjoy.
ing the sight Of freight train switch.
ing.
Just three hundred and thirty-nine
years ago the Mexicsns marched up
the Rio Grande River and captured
from the red sons of the forest the
present site of Santa Fe. and their
supremacy they maintained until old
General Harvey marched triumphant
ly and took possession in the name of
the United States, in 1864, and since
it has been q military post. 1t is situ-
ated directly at the foot Of the Santa
Fe mountains. Since my arrival 1
have enjoyed looking up at these ma
jestic mountains whose caps are cover
ed vita snow, whilst down here is
warm and pleasant-almost like sum-
mer. We are about 1000 feet above
sea level. Santa Fee is called the holy
city. 1t is by far the prettiest place 1
have seen in New Mexico. Although
the houses are built mostly Of adobe.
many are very fine and tastefully fixed
up. The streets are wide, and part of
the city well laid out Many large
fine trees adOrn the streets. In the
centre is plaza, in which are plenty
of trees. In the centre Of the plaza is
. monument, about p feet high, dedi.
Gated to our soldiers who fell in our
late trouble with the solid South. San
Ia Fee IL the headquarters Of the U. >
army for this department, and many
soldiers are stationed here.
Also, this Is the headquarters Of the
Catholic church for New Mexico; and
the fine Cathedral. which has been In
course of erection for eight years, with
its fine pillars and beautiful arches,
looks magnificent. They have also
completed Q very fine church and
very large three-story college.
Santa Fee claims to be the Oldest set
tied place in the United States, but l
believe it q mistake, for st. Augustine
should have the honor, and Santa Fe
may take second place. There are two
building in this place which are old
timers: one is called the Governors
Palace; the other il Catholic church.
Both are said to be over 800 years old,
and as q person looks at the old
church he naturally, with q thought
of the last, says "Old walls. how
MANY generations have wOrshipped
within thy inclosure?" According to
the age Of man, nine generations have
answered to the call of your bell. II
must be o sacred spot to many OF the
Mexicans Of Santa Fee. This place il
very lively ut present, as it is the ter
minus of the railroad, and will be for
some time vet. Besides having all the
benefits of terminus of the road, we
have the evils the haunts of sin are
on all sides, and the dance house seems
to be the popular place of resort.
While in Albuquerque, q friend ex-
tended an invitation for me to visit
very rich Mexican, who resided there.
I accepted, and we called OH the old
gentleman. He received US very cor
daily and entertained us royalty. He
il said to be worth about half million
and owns many thousand sheep. He
belongs to the upper ten, in one of the
old Mexican families. Whilst there,
he took pride In showing US his sad
die, which was curiosity, being
mounted almost all over with silver
and finely decorated, and at the sides it
was trimmed with black bear skin
with the hair on, the skin hanging
down about two feet; the silver Is
kept brightly polished, and the saddle
Is valued at 500. The same Is very
highly priced amongst the wealthy
Mexicans, and the old gentleman In
formed US that most Of the Dons OF old
Mexico have such saddles.
Albuquerque is great trading post
for the Indians, and the appearance Of
the dusky red men in great plumbers
in the streets adds to its appearance as
q western town.
I have found out that the Mexican
bake ovens are useful for not only
baking, but when the oven cools OIL
the faithful dog uses 1t as house until
driven out by the cook when 1t Is
again needed. On the road up we saw
q novel sight to q stranger, and that
was in q field in which were about two
hundred Indians blowing with oxen,
using q wooden plow. They assist
each other in that way, and after one
field Is finished they move on to the
next, and 50 on.
I have found q new dish that Is
served up to the weary traveller, which
is priced very highly by the Mexicans,
and, in fact, Is served by hotels and
eating stations along the route, and 1t
il remarkable how soon . person gets
used to It. As probably some OF my
Salina readers may come int New
Mexico, we will, a. near a. possible,
give them the receipt how to make 1t,
and they can practice before they come,
SO they can make out . meal and not
be compelled to 60 hungry. The Mex
leans call Il ''Chila," and Il n made
about ~ follows: Take red pepper
pods, (which Ii great commercial AZ
ticle here for the purpose,) chop up
fine; with this add water enough to
make rather thick gravy; to do this It
has to he cooked; then take cooked
mutton, beef or pork, cut up ~ S6r
hash, have about One-third meat to
two-thirds red pepper gravy; just be.
fore taking up put In the meat and
serve when hot; salt, but no pepper
Is required. I can assure you that ii
il not only hot by artificial means, but
hot BY nature. Now ! am not joking
about this, but II you como here you
either like ''Chila" or you can do with
out meat, and another advantage Of
this dish Is, that you need never lose
any meat In the summer, for II you
have kept your beef or mutton too long
the red pepper will destroy the bad
taste, and It will be - good n III
were fresh.
A person coming here had better
have his pocket book well filled, or
should soon strike gold mine. Trav-