Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-21

this place, to the south, is seen Starva-
ton Point" The Hot Springs are located
six miles from here, are supplied with good
hotels and are visited by many.
Sixty-five miles more of rough country
brings one to Lamy Junction, where we
left the main line, and one hours ride by
rail brought us to the old town Of
SANTA FE.
This place disputes age with st. Angus
tine, Florida, and claims it is older 1t is
located on the north end of a sandy plateau
Tor valley as they call it here) that extends
from the south nearly up to a
bare mountain range that bounds
it on the east, north and northwest.
A small stream wanders out from the
mountains and makes across the PLAIN,
and it would seem as though the early
Spaniards had tramped the sandy plains
from Mexico northward until they had
found a fiat tract of land with a refreshing
stream Of water. They, being too much
exhausted to attempt any further passage
of these barren peaks, thought this suit
sable place to build a one-story adobe town
in which to die. We, however, found our
time well occupied in visiting the quaint
old streets and buildings of this town. We
called at the Governors Palace,
where we found Governor Lew Wal
lace the military headquarters
the old chapels and their venerable paint.
ings; Archbishop Lamy's house and
grounds ian oasis in DESERT the "Acad;,
emy," under the charge Of the Sisters OF
Loretto also the "filigree jewelry fac
tory lMexican) of Messrs S. H. Lucas &
Co. They are now building many frame
houses. One, the palace Hotel, is well
along and will be ample, and is quite
necessary addition to the features of the
place. Seventy miles southwest of Lamy
is another frame and adobe town called
Albuquerque ('Alberkerkie y, the juno.
Santa Fe and the Atlantic and
Pacific roads. The latter is now COM
pleted It's miles west towards California,
aud is being pushed vigorously. From the
junction we pass along
THE RIO GRANDE,
About Us miles through wide, noun.
tain, sandy pass, with now and then an
adobe village of the Pueblos, then leave
the river, and run of fifty miles south
west brings us to Deming, where we take
the palace car of the Southern Pacific
road. Knowing that the last portion OF
the Atchison road was hurriedly built, we
found it much smoother than we expected.
They are putting in new iron Bird ges
for some of their wooden make
shifts, and it looks as if they would soon
have first-rate road. Deming is model
railroad town. The "eating house, ticket
and telegraph offices and Wells, Fargo 4
Co office are all on cars and on tracks,
ready to go at a few moments notice.
Alongside the town, under canvas, are the
livery stables, hotels and lemonade stands.
The town site is under fence, to keep the
people off the cactus. 1t is said their
burying- ground is twenty-five miles dis
tant, under the shadow of the first hill.
We were told that to-day May Sthl the
iron was being laid on the bridge that
| crosses the Rio Grande at Ell Paso. When
this road 1.-THE Southern Pacifc) is com.
pleted it will be the road by which to reach
New Orleans and take trip East through
the South" which no one East-bound
should fail to do. From Deming to Ben
son, on
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC
Is It's miles, through alternate plains OF
sand, and pebbled sand and clay, with
acarce break. Looking ahead one would
expect to run into mountainous country,
but as you advance the elevations seem to
fall back from FIVE to thirty miles distant.
1t is, however, quite evident that the road
is bdilt to stay there, and also that your
chances for getting even with the accident
policy man are somewhat slim. When
they have the Fontaine engine on this
road, and get over this country about
hundred miles an hour, it will be happy
day. for the beauties of this country will
stand the speed of an arrow.
From Benson, via Tucson, to Yuma, 300
miles, is little more broken in places,
with an occasional oasis, but it is the same
Africa and has the same curse-a sandy
upland, where little grass is seen and cac-
tus rules as king
SUCH CACTUS!
Such varieties of kinds, shapes and colors
is really wonderful. Yuma is another
frame and adobe town, and has stood the
blasts frem the desert long time. We
note that many of the people had their
beds placed out in the dooryards under an
open canvas, which, at o'clock in the
morning, gave the town comfortable and
quiet appearance, you see. From Yuma
to Banning, l60 miles, is first over PLAN
of sand that seems crusted with alkal,
and then one comes to section OF coun.
try where at times the sand blows and
drifts fearfuliy. For ninety miles of the
way one is at and below the sea level-at
one place 264 feet below /; and along here a
certain style of people become devilish, and
seem to enjoy the surrounding desolation.
They have gone some l 400 feet at one
point for water, and getting nothing bat
sea water at some 500 feet, have given it up.
For many miles back. at most any time,
one can see beautiful looking lakes filed
with islands of green and pebbled beach
again, woods and castles of wondrous
shapes At times the waters reflect the
distant mountains as distinctly as does
Lake Tahoe-and yet it is all mirage.
We found it little warm, but really not
more oppressive than we found it one day
in Kansas.
After leaving Banning we soon got into
the promised land, and it is not merely
fancy when we insist that the air is more
buoyant and free from sultry drowsiness
that the country takes on more life, and
the people show more decided improve
ment. We do not find the fields looking |
quite as well as we would like. All along |
the road towards Stockton there can be |
seen mere or less "tares among the grain.
The stock looks well. As the gilded dome
at Sacramento begins to show, the fields
look better. We are
NEARING HOME,
Not an occurrence, but by busting 1T we
could not, on some part of it, lind the
color-no, not in the whole l2,O0O miles,
nor a place that with its surround
ings and people we liked better than
Sacramento. All persons travelling
should have handy book for NOTES"
not for the purpose OF using them
in an attempt to strangle the exist
ence of daily newspaper. but to
engage the mind during the mo.