New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-05
LIFE IN NEW-MEXICO,
4 CITY OF LIE OLnEN TINE.

or MODERN IMPROVEMENTS.
lFE0M A STAFF CORRESPONDENT or rHg rEiBUNE.l
SANTA FL. y. NJ, Aug 29.-The capital Of New
Mexico is in a transition state. For two hundred
years The changes that occurred here were no greater
than those which take place IL a quiet New
England town Of the same size III single
decade, although in the meantime Tue uue
Of its commerce was turned back upon Itself ana
made TO flow to the north and cast instead Oh 10
the SOUTH to old Mexico and revolution IN lHe
form and character Of its government followed INC
American conquest OF the country when was ~
complete as that which made the thirteen coohie'
independent Of England n century ago. Bat since
the opening Of the present year, American enter
Prise in its rcsstcss march has reached and swept
by this sleepy old town. and the scream Of che
locomotive whistle and the rumble OF heaY
railway trains are becoming tamiliar
sounds. where eight months ago that modern
giant. steam. had never been harnessed Even now
and this single fact alone Will convey to many
more vivid idea of the medieval air which has per-
vailed the place until within the past few months
there il In the city of Santa Te, with It's seven
thousand inhabitants, its thriving commerce ana
Its growing wealth, not a single steamenglne' gIeAC
OF small except the locomotives upon the railway
PRIMITIVE TYPES OF ARCHITECTURE.
The first thing that imprcsses a visitor to TINS
CITY upon his arriv val here is the quaintness OF Us
architecture Most of the houses which do not
front upon the plaza, or upon one or two streets
which lead from 1t. are no more imposing III APP
pearauce than the dug-outs IN which new settlers
sometimes spend their first winter on the western
pans "ucre Il'nDeI Is s1''0'' i-.' I.,t roo-
Mics C"y' Id No'1n"o '. .,.--i.,i, +to norm
-li''' - - .'o I'D ne ,you.d IN
INK ''''i'P'' .''' 49,. -, +I,, hood. ont of
49,. loo. -, .... ,,-a,t
mon -t
cau-'u '', '''''-' C..,-,l ro1 -o1o
$500 ~ ,-r,.i + have yi.i..n. ars
'.-- ~ color ,r. bni,r with sI.p-
-. ,~l r.,. ,lortr of v,iodows-in short.
49, 80 ,+.-,...I M, rba American plar-lnd
.l,-,,.,t.,.,s,. q. they generally are.
IL - ti.,r-h tbe, had been built for civilized
-. - ny. I'm rb. adobe, of N-y,-lI .co ar.
-, A. f..r.,+ in aopearance. Tie suu-Ircd
mol. ,,bcl +.o- are truc. ed ICE made OF tie
| ,...:.i. tr..l- soil rio rr,irie mixed I'D with
| anil --r.,,.- c.t INFO small pieces. and whom
5oJ AVID fiI nm IN tine walls are simply mud color.
c-or,-l rbe out..ie OF the wall is plastered over
,rtb r,d r,,yod ND ab9u. al, tlick IS musA and plt
! m ,i+l, rfo hand IFS color like chat of tle bricks,
is almost black and after 10 las been on -40r.
t,o o,,c.. I'm fla. srl9 like tie mud In tbe bottom
I .f e q To
,,,a,1l measure about seven feet from foundation
TO top The roofs are perfectly da-, aud axe formed
bv laying poles ACROSS che TOPS Of tho walls and COW
er,ng them over with zoos or eighteen
inches OK mud. Sometimes Che ends OF the
poles where they project beyond the SIDE
of the house. are sawed of, buo there arr
. many houses In tie back streets of santa Ee Oh
-4icb tI,.. has not been done. and Jae root-Do.e.
| rrof.ct In all lengths from few inches -O two OF
three feet giving 90 The houses aL uLudy, neg ecteo
and ui finished app aralce III some cases "oodeE
spours ere placed ~ -he mud es II Tie houses aa'
| project over tie walls lIot OF esA-een h'Les
Tlcs, conduct OF some ot .-a water wien collect
on the roofs during rains.
Except about thc pHl, and m two OF three shor
s+reets which are inhabited by Americans and very
..f,h, lfavicars the houses stand close I'D To th
.,,.r.r vvbicb il INST abour wide enough to driv
t.r,g, r.r,pgb. but LOT wide enough To- urn
.or,,, around IN. with 40 'front.' yards or sidewalk
i,..-,e,iur The houses oil the poorest classes %
800, ,-. f-.,r rot NOR, trap ten OF twelve fee
sor,.e. confirming only O. sI1 gle room. and lave
d..o~,1d o,a or perlap. two small windows. dcsti
+r..of ola i1 front. The floors are of mud, 81
bod and smooth q, though mad, OF cement. an,
very little furniture Is used. have been into th
houses of some Of the poor people, and found De the
-. ,,hIos nor badsreai,. On the floors wer
.,,,.+,r,e, .nread TWO or three sheer sIus, ver
80, Navaio blanket or a piece OF hand-w0veu RAJ
$3.50. mo r,er,bers of tae family generally ar
80 - ,-..s eIo1t ia. room in a squitttni
- si--i,,, q, tina calves of their legs. Will
I.,7,, oo,in.- fl. wall. and all smok
- .,,---.o. TINS - +te fav,r.e position of
- -. o.. re.+ oven tDonrl he has no wal
-i'>'0'-- 49,. h,..l, ,-,i,,.. ami -, steady him
~ - +I,,,, ont I'm fine country when calppe
nav ''-'''u go. -, 49,. tt,i b,,,,cbo. Ink
lot u''i'0'' t,,1t.- i,.t -, tia n.ipt o
50 H""' .-,,a,ri, o,y,v Drrin,
-. or ,l,ttr.sses are folded am
''-' '-'', ami -Ie banLsts and other beddn
11.,,.a--,,,,,.,l mon them. few cooking uten
49, u. ,9,n,,..te f,e sock of furniture.