The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1881-03-26
Correspondence.
AMONG THE AZTECS.
Curious Modes OF Agriculture.
Mines and Mining.
MHSll NAsas. Nla.a..9,..

." "I"A1ssHS NEW VlENlCCs
March 7, 1851.
The denizens OF this strange city and the
country arc curious study.
This letter will be devoted to giving your
readers some idea Of their habits cf life aud
their modes Of agriculture. The Mesilla
valley from which this city takes its name
is one Of the most famous in New Mexico
tor its agricultural products. 1t extends
along the the Rio Grande for seventy five
miles and having an elevation Of near 4,os>o
feet the air is pcrmeated with electricity
and ozone making it a sanitarium which is
visited BY thousands affected with asthma
bronchial and pulmonary diseases. The
Climate is superb, the thermometer never
never reaching zero. Snow rarely whit
ems the earth, and not and suitv nights
are unknown. 10 an Eastern traveller tn.
novel sights and experiences he encounters
are 80 full oi interest that he is 10th tn dc.
part from this land OF The Aztecs. | came
here "in the full Of harvest tir." when
this beautiful valley along the Rio Grandc
was yellow as gold witt; its carpet Of ri,en.
cd cereals. Since then | have learned
much by being brought into contact with
the people Of this foreign country vino un.
til within few months have been SD iso.
lated and shut out from the outside world
as to know nothing of its modes. styles and
tNNSNtlt.r,, r,f..:i;.,ts,,s
readers picture OF this valley. On either
side grand old mountains rear their peaks
nigh ur into heavens pure ether. Cours.
ing along at our feet in sluggish quiet rolls
the Historic Rio Grandc which rises in
in Colorado. runs into New Mexico be.
tween the two chains OF the Rockies, and
continues southwark through the whole
length OF the territory. Just there ON its
bank is gathered large number Of Mex.
leans tsdccSed in gay and bright array
llillarity and mirth rule queen Of tho hour
Men and woman join in dances and strange
sports. A little distance away gay fan.
dan 20 is going ON to the time of monoto.
nous music. We approach and in our
ult:grown Spanish" ask why this merry.
making, and are told that it is "thc harvest
festival" The God Of the Axtecs has
smiled upon the cereals and the harvest has
been abundant. At a little distance to the
left the process Of threshing is going on
Shades OF Coronado! How antiquated! A
circular enclosure is made by driving poles
side by site close together into the earth
The hard ground has been swept clean and
the wheat to be threshed is spread upon it.
Within are dozen goats and as many
children who are shouting and laughing
and driving the frightened animals round
and round tt,: arena, while now and then
halt is made to allow the master Of the
harvest to turn over the straw, when Off
again scamper the goats and children.
This is KEEP. UP ior several days when the
straw is removed and the plump grain
gathered into bowl shape grass baskets, to
be picked over, winnowcd and cleaned BY
the women. The harvest time is always
a gay season, and all the young people join
in the festivities. Now let me show you
one Of their agricultural implements. You
will, | fear, laugh but you must not let
them see you ior these are Il sensitive and
untorgviny people.
Here is p!ow, long beam, to one end
Of which is hitcI,ed single steer or ON,
while the other end is smoothel off for a
handle. Fastened to it about midway in a
sloping. position, is stick pointed at the
lower end, which scratches up the fertile
and mellow soil. This is the chief imple.
ment OF Mexican agriculture. Imagine it,
you farmers ON the prairies who ride upon
your sulky plows and SOW your wheat with
drills. This condition Of things, however,
is soon likely to change, to be superseded
by American implements. The fertility
and magnificent climate OF the Rio Gra,n:e
valley, the great demand for agricultural
products, owing to- the advent Of the A. I.
g. $. +. X. X. Is settling this valley with
better class OF farmers who will not only
open the eyes of the Mexicans but make
fortunes for themselves. had sooner
own a good farm (and they can be had tor a
song) in this valley than any place l have
visited in the west. The vast mineral in.
tcrests and the mining camps are creating
a great demand for cereals and We, stables.
Fruit grows here luxuriant'y and is found
in great ablundance. Apples, pears,
pla'ns, apricots. quinces, figs, ponac gran.
atrs and all small fruits are grown in
great perfection. The grape was intro.
duced BY the Span;ards long years ago.
never tasted such luscious fruit ard
the clusters rivaled those OF Eschol in size
and beauty. This surely is the garden
spot Of the southwest. Mines in this re.
gion IRE being rapidly developed and the
wealth Of yield found is wonderful. The
excitement is likc the furor over the early