Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-02-12
THE PEOPLE.

THE
 The citizens of Hermosillo are of a much better class, and possess more in- telligence and refinement than towns further north in Sonora. The Castillian blood flows in the veins of many of the people, and their manners and general bearing plainly indicate that they appre- ciate the line of their ancestry. They are of gentle manners, and pay but little attention to foreigners, except in a busi- ness way, unless they come with letters from well known people of standing and responsibility. They dress well, many of the ladies and gentlemen are fine look ing and freely confess that not a few of the Senoritas are handsome.
 THEIR ctsIOMs.
 The customs of the people are quite different from the people of the north. For instance, visited the plaza on Sat urday night where a band of twenty four peices was discoursing very good music. There found several hundred citizens marching around the plaza, the ladies to themseves and the gentlemen to themselves; occasionally, 1 observed a gentleman - father or brother, or some near relation with a group of la- dies; but the custom of the country on such occasions is, for the sexes to sep arate. They usually walk in adverse directions, which affords the young men the opportunity to tip their sombreros and bow to the young ladies with whom they are acquaintde. I shall return to Arizona with a much higher opinion of the better class of the people of Sonora.
 BUSINESS OF HERMosmLo.
 There are a number of houses in Her mosillo that carry large stocks of goods which indicates an extensive trade. There are a large number of retail stores and shops Of every description through out the town; and contrary to the cus- tom of towns on the American side of the line, there is no special business To- cality where stores are located, but they are here and there, everywhere. The house of Wm. B Hooper & O., which carries a large stock, is two or three blocks from from any other business house, yet the manager says he has good stand and is doing a prosperous business. The enormous duties on cloth ing, boots, shoes, tinware and fnrnl- ture, which amounts to about 600 per cent, as l have been informed, acts as an embargo on such goods. This com pelles the manufacture of such goods at home, hence we find an innumerabie number of shops where such things are manufactured. In travelling about the streets of HermOsillO, it struck me that the number of such shops would reach up into the hundred. A pair of panta- looms that may be bought in Tucson for four or five dollars would cost ten or twelve dollars here, and par of boots that may be bought in Tucson for four dollars would be snatched up in Hermo- sillo for ten. But I must say that in the matter of dress, the citizens of Hermo- sillo succeed in getting much better fits in clothing and shoes, than on our side of the line, as everything is made to or der. With the exception of the house of Wm. B. Hooper & Co, there are no foreigners engaged in business here, even the Israelite, that pioneer trades man of all countries, has been unable to obtain a oot-hold in HermOsillo.
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
 The State House is a neat but not very pretentious building; it contains rooms for the various State officials, and hall where the sessions of the Legislature meet, and fronts on the public plaza. The Cathedral of Hermosillo is on the opposite side ofthe plaza, is large brick building which would look very we'll if finished, but like all such buildings in Sonora, is in an unfinished state, and as the people are slow in contributing mon- ey for church purposes, it may be many years yet before 1t Is completed. One of the hints for Mexico is located here, and occupies a block of ground on Ala meda street, which Is the principal street of the town. It is a one story building with two or three smoke stacks, and makes no preteutions to architecture. At the east end of Alameda street Is a beautiful piece of ground planted in trees and shrubbery, containing about twelve acres of land, which has been purchased for the University of Sonora, aud the Legislature has appropriated S4O0,9OO with which to erect a University building.
 GARDENS.
 There are many beautiful gardens in Hermosillo, which may be seen from the main entrance to the courts during