The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-04-22
From the Ne,r York Obserrer.
A New Mexican Rancho.


emigrants west every day, under whose IN
fiuence the country is rapidly losing Its
primitive life The Mexicans and Indians
are becoming Americanized in dress and
manners. and the remains Of more ancient
civilization in the deserted cities of the ciiti
dwellers, their hieroglyphics on the rocks,
the petrifed forests and wonderful geology
cal formation will soon be effaced by the
combined efforts of the miners and the relic
hunters.
For hours after leaving Albuquerque, our
train continued to ascend the Rocky noun
tains. On each side were dreary stretches
of land. scantily covered with bunehes of
sicklv green-sage bush and cactus plants
while in the distance the snow-cOvered
peaks looked cold against the blue sky. A
tree was landmark seldom seen. but oc-
casionally herd of wolves (eoyotes) ran
across the plain. or prairie dogs SAT on their
launches to watch the cans. and turned a
somersault into their holes. Sometimes
the cars ratified over strong bridges, span
ming tiny streams. which become mighty
rivers in the rainy season, or when the
snow melts on the mountains. In some ot
them. the water looked white almost as
milk frnm the salts deposited on the bed;
in Others. dark muddy red-and all had
a disgusting oder This lack of sweet water
has been the great difficulty to wagon trains.
In the dry season the streams become -
strongly impregnated with salts, it i not fit
10 use. Ii does not allay thirst, and causes
painful cramps. The tongue and iips become
swollen. and it burns and cracks the skin
ike water with I've in it. In the rainy sea
son. though the water Is better. the mud Is
81 deep and 80 sticky it + impossible te drive
a heavily-laden wagon over the roads.
The wheels continually sink To the hubs
\ large spring of sweet water Is more
valuable than a silver mine TO the ranche-
men. for irrigation aud moderate labor, IN
the valleys sheltered from the west winds.
will produce good crops of the hie vege'a-
bles. potatoes, cabbage, cauiifower, beans;
immense white onions grow ahundantly,
Wild pluu,s and grapcS flourish. and on the
sheltered mountain slopes the pinon 'Fee !
full If sweet uuts-
We stopped At rancho, IN valley west
II the divide. where . large spring en-
riches she srass. On which immense herds
of sheep pasture. On the sunny slope Of
the mountains are the rancho buildings.
A long. one-ssory house Of gray adobe brick.
with fat rcof, Is comfortable home, and
in the evenings. when W. gather With the
family around the great open fireplace, the
black crane hanging down. the burning
pinon la.s throwing cat a spicy osiur with
the hezt. Il suggests the home life on the
rugged hills of New England. two or thnec
generations aso-'The Hanging II the
Crane. the Snow -boand family--and in
the glowing elnhers we book for pictures Of
great future for Ncw Mexico. Beyond
the hos4se are sheds foT ponies aud milk
cows, and farther away arr the Immense
eorrsals for pcnniRg the sheep al shoaring
and market seaSsns.
No other house in sight, no human
dwelling for miles. exceps miserable -dug
outs IA hole in the ground with some rspugh
r,of over IL. wherr the herClsmen can End
shelter in incieucnf weather, % an equally
furlorn shugan. the winter residence of 4
Navajo Indian. Most Of the hogans are
bull, on hills commanding a view Of the
surrounding country They are made Al
most circular, by placing one end Of the
logs ON the ground, the ether ends meeting
10 form a pointed root Outside a great
bank Of earth Is piled which keeps out the
wind and snow We looked into one. The
opening used a. door had dirty Old
blanket hung arFuSs Above il. in the roof,
was a hole which served as a window and
chimney. The inclOsed space may have
been a. mlch a. ss hye yards bong by three
wards wide, aud the family consisted Of six
adults. four children, aud nnmheF Of dogs
There was no fo0r, and few sticks
slnoaldering on the ground sent cat a blind
ing smoke. and the general oioT was dis
gushing. An old woman was parehing
some coffee in pan over the enibers, while
two others saf on the ground playing cards,
Against the wall was a small frame with a
half-woven sad,lle-hlankei. We wanted TO
see the weaver at work, but the odor and
filth we're too much and we were Obliged
10 come away
We have seen some Of their ark
blankets and cloth-which aFc beautiful
specimens of weaving. and of goed taste in
the arrangement Of eolors.
Two years ago, this rancho was as is,la-
ted and life AZ full Of adyentare as on the
sheep farms in the Bush Of Australia At
one time the householder sen, each month
for the mail by runner, an Indian,
whose work Is 10 run with messages or
orders. They though, thi. one very trust
worthy. but on his last trip he stopped at a
Mexican village and became very drunk.
The next day some travellers saw him "
ing BY the roadside, wrapped in his blanket
a. if asleep He lay ;, still and stiff, they
looked at his face and found that his head
had been crushed with stone, and his
money and the letters stolen. After that
the mail came only with the wagon trains.
4 good runner takes several days to pre-
pare for long journey, and when once
started does not stop till he reaches his
destination. He moves with an even,
steady gait-a kind of .'dog-trut at much
greater speed than one would think from
watching him. This one conld easily 20
the hundred miles in two days and one
night. In preparing for the trip, he slept
at least two days before starting, waking
only to eat, consuming an immense quanti-
ty Of food, but driking very little. Dur
ing his journey he neither ate, slept nor
rested, but when he arrived in the town
and had delivered his messages, he would
lie down anywhere and sleep-waking only
to drink a great deal of water-for night
and day, after which he would get ready
for the return trip by two days sleep and
''stuffng.
The new railroad brings US in four hours
from the town to station twelve miles
from the house A village has rapidly
formed around the station house, with a
population whose roughness, brutality and
disregard of human life and property can
hardly be imagined by people in the more
civilized Eastern cities When the road
was in building here, there was 'spree
every Saturday night or oftener Some
times three or four men would be killed
without creating any surprise or regret in
the community, and the beginning of the
town was in graveyard. Fortunately,
many of the toughest characters have gone
on with the railway as it was completed
westward, keeping to the ''end of the road,
,sbara business and Measure ~ are most