New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-22
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE MONDAY, AUGUST % 1891

rushing messenger that has et the field Of his sly
Termination. Bai there 1 are towE and and fpms and
thefe IS nothing that would so astonish the old
santa re trader as these TSey and their people
upon nope, bat likely to stay. Even that which
USED TO b. the first glimpse % Mexican life q mis-
erahle adobe hamlet in the Arkansas sands called
lneplo Is now with all its tofrid heats aud flying
slh9, completely changed and become bnstiin-.
tHsOie5s American town 1t IS clear hat he de'no
.i, tiiu TcvoisJfHcuon nave begun rms lnrtnes6
northern settlement OF the Spaniard indicates the
speedy tate of most of his old dominion. When at
ils0 re City OF the Holy Faith IS reached,
u again with surprise not unlninglcd with regret
II was old, even ten years ago the most ancient and
sleepy burgb IN America quaint and primitive in
al lis ways, redoent of tradition and gray with its
centuries of changelessness and peace. And now
adlos! They building red brick stores ON the
plaza, and noislly clustering upon the steps oil new
hotsis' and looking sharp and talking fast. They
will live more in Sante Fe in one day now than they
have ever before in good year with ali It's siesfq
some OF the silent and swarthy look as though
ancient society is aghast, and the padre catre with
all his startled flock behind him. holds up suppli-
eating hands.
THE IhIMUTABLE GREAsERn
But it is an interesting old town-for dav. II
is so far inland, and nclosed in mountains so bare
and brown and over it hangs Sky SO Llue and fair
forever 1t has been for ages a capital without
ever beng proud of it, and almost without knowing
IT, ana has kept the even tenor of its sleepy life so
very long. once knew very we'll the New Next
cans mode OF thought, and what bis general notions
WAS
ordinary themes and topics to which he was accus-
toned The railroad is considerably beyond any of
his miracles. | do not know what he thinks of IL
Ills answer TO the question is very non-committal.
oelh9 a slight elevation of the shoulders and ont
ward turning OF the pa ms. 1t means that he gives
it mp. But he will not change greatly. He ia one
VINO has an immense number of rclativesall OF cor
Servative family tendencies, who are gathered in
sheltered hooks over the rugged region where rail
hbre VIII receive support For this lnonntaincer
whom IT pleases to designate n prcaser - il still
principally a Spaniard, and one who has steadily
hecined to change his religion his language or his
never adopt the railroad and it will not beneHt
nm. tie does not wish TO he improved The conf
uencc, fellowship and mutual understanding visit
ing time immcmorial between the donkey and him
VIII not be so easily severed.
FUTURE EMPIRE.
Nevertheless that long and mosquito. haunted
valley oil the Rio Grande which is almost continu
Gus adobe village from end to end is already ruined
They have spoiled.bls accqulas and cut his little
fields IN twain, and awakened the sedgy siepces
with nnearthy noises. There will hereafter be more
wealth there and less peace. 1t is rich valley
because 1t is almost entirely irrigated and has al
ways laughed uproariously even for the inadeouote
tickling of an Egypto-Mcxican plough But now
there Will be heard there the chatter of patent farm
ing machinery. There will be, on yellow autnrn
where once was the circle of poles aud raw hide and
that mad dance of exasperated donkeys upon the
gathered shea Tes. The Pueblo the best of ALI who
bear the name OF Indian, WILL after his contest of
a thousand years with the Comanchc, find himself
vanquished by an enemy he cannot fight and does
not understand. 1t was u bad day for all these
when my friend began to think about his railroad
upon the Santa Fe trail. ''
But, returning thence it is impossible to avoid A
curious reflection. The plains-kansas now-were
once the dlihculty aud danger 1t was like the sea
that must be crossed. 1t has to be the hope of
daily bread for alI who shall people this vast corner
OF an empire. The only agricultural hor e of n vast
region is the valley OF the Rio Grande. Those VINO
come luther are not pioughmen, but such rs hone
ior proht IN the feverish life of n mining country
they are traders miners frcightcrs and of that still
larger class who are anything and look for chances
MI these must be fed, and and more largely ms
time passes. and the wheat and potato fields thot
lie beside the long and lonesome trail of the obi
times Will furnish bread. When again meet with
gray and wrnkied veteran of The Santa Fe trail
VIII invite hun 10 share with mo in renewed won,
der at the proverbiG shOrUness of human foresight
aud mt the miracle that has made his camping
place corplield, and ancient, mountain walled
Santa Ec a railroad town.