St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-11-05
Letter from the West.

in the Caledonian, as 1 have but little
to say and that of not very great inter-
est, 1 presume, to your readers. But L
thought that perhaps few words in re-
gard to this very ancient city and some
other points along our route might be
interesting to some. This city of San
ia Fe whioh5we used to study about in
our geography years ago, was old when
Columbus discoverd America. tits sit
uated on vast plain between two lofty
ranges of the Rocky Mountains, which
are covered with eternal snow while
the climate and pure air and bright
sunshine in and around the city cannot
be surpassed for health and comfort,
anywhere in this country. The city is
built, with the exception of the great
cathedral and two very large Catholic
institutions, of mud or adobe brick,
SxI6 inches, made of mud and straw as
in ancient Bible times and dried in the
sun anywhere along the road side.
These soon become very hard and dry
in the clear sun and air of this climate.
The houses are only one story high,
built around an open court in which the
family, including children, dogs, goats
and many burros or small donkeys,
their beasts of burden, all live and
sleep together in the open air, and
sometimes on the top of their houses
which are always fiat as in ancient Pal
estine 1000 years ago. These Mexicans
have not changed their manners and
customs of living at all for the last 300
years. Here is the Oldest church on the
continent, built in 1880. We saw many
very ancient pictures here belonging of
course to the Catholic church. The
Sunday we we're here was great day
throughout the city celebrating their
great patron.saint,' San Francisco. The
great cathedral and all the city was il
Illuminated most brilliantly, while fire.
: works and cannon did their part in the
, great display. The next day, Monday,
was their great feast day, all of which
WOulO uuNC UCCu tCly 5tidbSC oiSut
to have witnessed in quiet st. Johns
: bury.
At the military post here we found
our friend Capt. Cbas. A. Woodruff,
son of the late Erastus Woodruff OF
t Burke, in command, and very gentle
+ manly and efficient officer he is. You
will remember him as student of St
Johnsbury Academy who went from
there to West Point, and afterwards did
p valiant service in the field, especially
a among the Indians on our frontier
Success to him.
One word about the Atchison, Tope.
: ka and Santa Fe Railroad, the Longest
road already, in the United States
5 running from Kansas City to the city o
- Mexico in Old Mexico, and on to Quay
y mas on the Pacific coast, thence to Sar
Francisco. We rode 1900 miles from
Kansas City on this road. The road
q is built and being built to completion
. by New England brains and capital
The very able and efficient Chief Civi
Engineer of the entire road being Mr.
d Albert A. Robinson, young Vermontel
s from Reading, Windsor county, wht
e has shown his great ability in very
n many places, as the road passes through
= the awful canons and chasms and tun
8 nellngs of the Rocky Mountains. Thi
It road is being pushed forward very ra
o pidly and is expected to reach the Pa
n n cifc by the first of February, 1881
y So much for New England enterprise.
We visited the famous hot minera
springs in Mexico, S miles from the cit,
of Los Vagus. Very many wonderful
cures are performed here, people com
" ing here from all parts of the world
,d ri the two large hotels will not accommo
as date all the crowds that come. !
4 company of monied men in Massachu
is is sets, of whom Hon. Alden Speare @
i'd Newton is president, are now building
very large and elegant hotel which
:! think will cost some $l50,000. Their
are here the finest and most extensiv
be he bath houses including hot mud baths fo
rheumatic patients especially, that | ev
er saw. 1t is a most charming countr
It. and climate for poor invalids to visi
and be cured.
We also visited Pueblo, Col, whic
en . city lies at the bases of Pixies Peak an
"Old Baldy" of the Rocky Mountains
whose SUBMITS are covered now wit
everlasting SHOWS. This is a strang
looking city, so very unlike any tow
N we see north or east. There are yer
in large smelling works of metal brougl
:. 5, down from the mountains via Lead
at vile & Denver Railroad. Many east
Or ern people troubled with lung disease
come here to be helped or cured in tbi
:, wonderful, clear and health giving eli
ad mate. Among those here / saw Nj
Geo. Olcott and wife of st. Johnsbury
- n Mr.. o. is much improved in healtt
y; y; We stopped day at Ellenwood, Kan
sas, with Lewis s. Clark, formerly {
or st. Johnsbury, who is station agent an
i'd telegraphic operator here. We foun
is +; many Vermonters in our long journe
i west, and can say of truth in regar
to them all, that they are occupyin
places of influence and trust, in ever