Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-04-08

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| bic sand hills through which
1.-The road runs. These are
arid wastes. without water and
vegetAtion. The winds here are SC
/ fierce that sand fences are constructed
10 protect the track, without which
| the cross ties would be undermined OF
the road bed covered up so as to i'm.
peSe lecomotion. These hills passed,
! the road then runs down broad val
leys between the mountains. These
valleys are only ht for grazing. Gov.
1araSSas, of this State, is said to own
several hundred leagues of land on
either side of this road extending
probably along it for l5c miles, We
think it doubtful whether this land is
adapted to other purposes than that Of
lherding stock. At San Jose we took
the stage for the city OF chihuahua,
distant more than 200 miles. This
stage is drawn by ten mules, two to
the tongue and eight in front, four
abreast, There are two drivers, each
with a whip and one With a bag OF
stones, with which he belts the dila.
tory "broncho." The mules are placed
in position in the ROAD, heads in the
right direction, held firmly BY attend
ants until the signal is given, and then
the lash is applied and at furious
rate distance is dashed from the heels
Of these flying mules at least at the
rate Of eight miles an hour.
Such is Mexican staging; and We
confess that, when viewed through
this exhilarating atmosphere, one be-
comes almost intoxicated with delight
making considerably more than one
hundred miles in & day.
We reached the old city Of Chihua-
hua on Saturday evening, and put up
at the International Hotel, well kept
house, where we received every atten-
ton. This is a city of much impor-
tance-smaller now than in former
years, but oflate property has greatly
advanced in value, more than one
hundred per cent. 1t contains proba-
bly, fifteen thousand people. Its min
ing interests, once so prosperous, are
now being revived under the auspices
of American enterprise and capital.
1t has a nice plaza and some fine
churches, one Of which was built near.
" one and half centuries ago. 1t
was built out of a very small per
centage taken from ore Of the neigh
boring mines. 1t is piece of impos-
ing architecture, and when its numer-
Gus bells are set to Ginning, such a
decentralization" you never heard
before. Its wooden floors uniuiured
by time, yet are worn away by the
centuried footballs of its null
titudenous worshippers. There are
several banking institutions here,
with abundant capital. Here is
the FIRST place we saw paper money not
unlike our own, and at the bottom of
the bill were secn the words "Ameri-
can Bank Note Company" We found
here quite a number of Americans,
nearly all Of whom we're connected
with some mining interest. The cele-
brated Balipilas mines, under the
management of Governor Sheppard.
are distant about FIVE days from this
place. Distance here is reckoned not
by miles, but by days travel, and it is
said the Mexieans also vary the dis
lance, whether you are going up or
down the mountains. We called to
see Ex-Governor Ochoa in chihuahua
and had a very pleasant interview. He
is about sixty years OF age, and is said
to resemble very much the portraits OF
General r. L. Lee. He has a most
benignaut countenance and carries
with him quiet and transformations
elegance. Has a good law library,
now in fine practice, representing
many mining companies and Ameri.
can capitalists. He was formerly on
the Supreme Bench of the State. The
Mexican law book is not like the
American. bound in calf, but put up
ike the LEDGER Office binds maya.
zines-in tasteful elegance. In this city
is the monument erected to Hidalgo
| the Washington Of Mexico. In coming
to this city we passed by the place
where young Pugh was so mercilessly
mutilated and massacred by the
Apaches. This was in the Candida
bria mountains. But the Apachet
have ceased to modest or make afraid
| Under the vigorous Indian policy o.
this government THE places that once
knew them will soon know them NJ
more" So many dollars a head is thu
Mexican system. When Victoria, thu
daring leader of the Apaches, wal
slain, his head was placed on a pol,
and shown in some of the principa
cities of the State, and then
special assessment was made to defray
the expenses of his taking of. Thu
Mexican soldier is a good marche
and pretty good fighter. Pardon u
for making a few remarks upon hi
personnel. He is unique in appear
ance, dressed in brown linen uniform
with the snow on the ground, and liv
ing on almost nothing few torteia
or thin corn cakes and few Mexican
beans. These constitute his rations
And why shouldn't he march his fife,
miles day, unenoumbered, too, Will
shoes His clothing should keep hin
cool in battle, and bis beans ought L
give him the amplest nutrimeut-
wind, endurance The Mexican
officer is said to be the Veriest mart
net, exacting to the last degree
If he goes on horseback several day.
trip, he will take two or more on foo
as bis body-guard. So much for thes
military patriots they gil their ap
J pointed place, and it is well.
. From chihuahua We staged to Para
D two days journey. This is quite
. large town, and Of considerable bust
5 ness importance. II is a CROWN
} place, and here, too, one found tn
e Americans engaged in opening an
prosecuting mining interests Her
G we saw the first stamp mill and vii