The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-08-19
NEW MEXICO.
An ex-Pulaskian Draws a Pen Pic
ture Of that Queer Territory. "A
Fine Field for Miners, But a
Poor Location for Farmers.
Albuquerque, N. NJ, Aug. 10.

times to write you something about
this lar off section OF the United
States; but the suggestion re
NAMED Enacted upon, until | no
ticed in a late issue of the CIP-
zen, a rather amusing chronicle of
my supposed good fortune, AID it
struck me that it would De we'll for
the sake of my native county TO
give a more accurate impression OF
the chances in life New Mexico Of
iers, or | might have an inconvenl-
emily large number of friends flock
ing, under the stimulus of my exam
pl to this land OF promise. In
fact, Land of Promise y is yet the
truest description that can be given
to New Mexico. | find, rom eXpe-
rience and observation, that, per
haps. more mistaken ideas are en-
tertained about New Mexico than
about any other territory. Until
last year no railroad had entered
the territory, and it was completely
isolated from the world, although
tue first European settlement with
10 the present territory OF the Uni
TED States had been made at Santa
Fe, IN the year 1885. | am aware
that St Augustine, Florida, is said
TO be the oldest settlement, but it
was settled in 1865, while Santa Fe
was settled in 1886, and Tucson,
Arizona, in 1912. Tucson and San
ia Fe were built OF adubes, or sun
dried brick, and so substantial was
the masonry that the Old public
buildings are still in fair state Of
preservation, The Palace" once
the abode of the representatives of
the Spanish kings, Is now used as
the Capitol of the Territory. A
great deal of interest might be said
about the antiquities Of New Next
co, but | have no idea of exhaust
ing your patience or space with the
subject just now. What | have al
ready said is by way of aggression.
The population, until now, has
been largely MeXicans, ignorant. of
the nature and capability of the re-
sources around them. They have
past, utterly unconscious of the ex-
istence Of anything better. Their
reliance has been upon tie cultiva-
ton, in a rude way, of the land on
the water courses, where irrigation
could be easily accomplished, and
upon pasturage The agricultural
would not sustain population of
equal number in any other part of
the country; but Mexican lives
upon almost as little as q China
man. Sheep and cattle have fur
nished the chief source of wealth,
and from it a great many of the
dominant class of MeXicans have
always had wealth, and until the
interference of congress in 1867.
the mass of the Mexicans here, as
they now are in old Mexico, were
no better than slaves. The system
is called peOaage, and the people
poems, and was based upon indebt
edness. Ii one became indebted to
another he could be compelled to
render service to his creditor, and
the condition of things was such,
that it amounted to involuntary
service for life, the master exercis-
ing all the rights of a southern
slave owner, except that of sale.
The children of peon did not in
herit the parents status, but igno-
rance and poverty fol babe their es-
cape from it. I he master was pop
ularly known as padrone, the Span
ish for master. The sway of this
class has never been very greatly
weakened. They dictate through
the influence of wealth, prestige,
race, antipathy and priestcraft, al
most as eHectually as ever. They
recognize the fact that their control
of affairs will soon pass away for
ever, through the increase of the
American element, and they ordi
nary offer cordial treatment to the
Americans, but the deep feeling of
hatred that underlies this exterior
is easily discernible. The Mexicans
are excessively polite, as all the ra-
ces OF southern Europe are, and use
their politeness to cover the same
dark passions and prejudices. The
vices of the lower classes are those
common to slaves or freedmen the
world over. They lack honesty,
truthfulness and virtue. The vi
ces of the wealthier classes, the
most OF whom claim to trace their
lineage in its purity to old Spain,
are in the main those of eX-slave
owners. They are intolerant. die
tatorial and progressive, and bent
on ruling at all hazards, regardless
of cost or means. The Americans,
who for years came into the terri
tory were the worst representatives.
of the pioneer class. Many Of
them filled government positions
with the sole object OF ehriching
themselves at the expense of the
government, or the people to whom
they were to dispense government
bounty. Others pandered to the
worst prejudices of Mexican lead
ers, or abused their confidence, or
used official influence to Cypress,
tor the sake of the acquisition of
wealth or self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Public opinion or public press to
scourge them, there was none.
Such were the social and political
phases of New Mexico. 1t can
never be great agricultural cOun
try, for crops can never be raised
without the aid of irrigation, and
the streams only afford means for
irrigating a very small portion of
the country. 1t produces, however,
abundantly, all kinds OF fruits,
wheat and alfalfa. Alfalfa makes
very fine hay. 1t is said that corn
is raised easily and abundantly, bat
l am not yet satisfied that this is
true. The finest grapes are raised,
and am told very good domestic
wine is made. 1t can be had in
abundance and very cheap. When
improved methods of culture and
manufacture are introduced, l am
satisfied that it will become great
industry. Sheep and cattle have
been the great sources of wealth,
but a protracted drouth of several
years has entailed very great loss
When the seasons are at ali good
IL -. ,,,.i,.d 4. apI Maine ara cnv.