Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-04-08
lgTTER FROM MEXICO
A Trip from Memphis to
GaudslOups yCalvO
BY Steamer, Railroad, Stage and
Burr0.
Last Three Days in the Sierra
Kadre Mountains,
Pen Pictures OF Country. People
aud Mexican Life.
GUADAIouPE Y CALvo,
CHIHuARuA, MKXIco
nHL - NC(N

NAaANa - 49,
Ed. LEDeER-Agreeahly to promise,
we send you these lines On The eve
mag Of February eth we took our de-
parture from families and friends for
the Republic Of Mexico. TWAS to US
an unknown land, and We left not
without misgivings as to enjoyableness
Of the long trip. In consequence Of
the high water preventing railroad
communication, Captain Nowland. Of
the good steamer Katie Hooper, took
Us in charge as far as the eastern ter.
minus ofthe railroad, lcsseniug by his
assiduous attentions the WEAKNESS Of
travel and softening the separation
from old associations. Reaching Lit.
tie Rock, we were delayed nearly
twelve hours waiting for the Iron
Mountain train, detained by an OBJ
struction on its track. We sat up all
night awaiting its arrival. At last it
came. and We took 8 sleeper for Ell
Paso, Texas, receiving the most affa.
bic attentions from the conductor,
whose name. we regret to say, we have
forgotten. Nothing of any special in
terest occurred on the way until we
reached Ell Paso. 1t may be we'll,
however, to remark that the eastern
portion Of Texas we found poor, much
washed, and covered with pine timber;
this was after we left Texarkana aud
until we came within a short distance
Of Dallas. From this point west we
passed through a prairie country, in
sections rich, but more or less undu-
lating. This part Of Texas is peopling
rapidly. Little towns springing up
here and there attest the fact that i'm
migration is pouring into the borders Of
the Lone Star Safe. West Of Abilene
the prairie seems not so rich, and in
many portions it looks like rainless
desert. For hundreds Of miles in this
portion Of the State water is hauled
on the railroad to supply its engines.
Across the Staked Plains this must
be done. We were told that the land
here was good for wheat, and prob
ably other cereals, butwe question the
correctness of the statement. There
can be no local traffic here, and
DO freights for the railroad we think
In this section for a generation to
come. The fact is, for hundreds Of
miles along the Texas Pacific we can
see nothing which can pay freight, and
this road must depend upon travel and
through freight for its support. IN
less California contributes largely to
its maintenance from her rich fields
and mines, we believe the stock in the
road can never enhance in intrinsic
value. The great scarcity of water for
such great distances, and in such large
districts, make much against the de-
sirablensss of a location in this section
Of the State. The fact also weighs
heavily against this portion Of the
State becoming great grazing districts,
although grass seems there to have
grown well, if not luxuriantly. But we
cannot draw the most accurate con
illusions from the casual observations
made on flying railway train, and fol
fear We may misjudge, we forbear from
the expression Of opinion on the
subject. In due time we
reached Ell Paso, having seen
for many hours the Rio Grande
winding its serpentins way to the guilt.
We were disappointed in Its size and
appearance. To US it was a historic
river, the boundary line between the
two Republics. and somehow we had
expected TO see a greater volume OIL
water. and flowing onward not in it
sluggish way, but as the poet says
deep and in silent majesty" 1t was
quite low and we saw it under disad
vantages, for we are told that whe1
swollen the Me1icans in their pride
call it Rio Bravo" We saw in
Texas along the route a good many
Mexicans eultivating their little farms
and for the first time witnessed theil
irrigations. Their peculiar dress
broad sembreros and dark color as WI
were drifting away from our land. Ii
III Passo, for the frs: time toe, we saw
the adabe homes. They are one story
built OF sun burnt brick, much large
than ours, and, strange To say, they
seem to resist well the elements. Tb,
walls are very thick and the roofs fat
and covered with sticks laid across
the joints, and there in turn covered
with q thick layer Of mud, probable
twelve inches in depth. At first vi
we're much prejudiced against thi
style Of architecture, hut on reflection
we now think it is much cooler thai
any other kind Of house in this eli
mate. There are few wooden house
In this place, constructed from th
redwood Of California, from whicI
also are made the cross ties Of III
Southern Pacific railroad. II is beau
titul in color but quite soft. III Pas
seems like the picture Of some orieu
tai town when you view it. But itha
} received new lease on III
5 of late. The railroads hay
Q infused in it a fresh vitality
y The stage being crowded, we wef
compelled to remain in FL Paso a fe,
days, in the mean time making plea,
ant acquaintance, and visiting 10,
Bliss, some two miles above towr
U where we saw Colonel Geo r. PheIa
y and his comrade, Mr.. Heine. bot
n Memphians. We went over into I
J, Paso Del Noite, opposite side Of n
IL river, several times, and visited m
n American Consul, Mr. Richardson
4, Mississippian, who has been residir
1t there great number Of years An
e whom We found most agreeable ce,
! tleman. We passed, with cur eouipag
% the customhouse officials. withol
20 difficulty, and the frst night on Ma,
. lean soil slept in a box car Of ii
'. Mexican Central railroad, in charge
1t an ex-Memphian, who gave us Il
D most courteous attentions. His raj
n raoA sa 4 "a.