The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-09-28
on mnxioO
~ Pas" 90 ohihuabvs THE Paradise Of tho
Cattiemen- Tho 0rsat Fiesta, Ete.

~ Pas. 20 ChihuahpR -rhe Paradise 81 the
Cattlemon- Tho 0reat Fiesta, Etc.
sneoial Correspondence Of the Herald
CmnUAnuA, MIX, September 10, 1889. -
At 10 o'clock on the morning Of the nth
inst, we found ourselves safely aboard the
special train of the Mexican Central rail-
road at Paso del Norte, Mexico, on route 10
the cty of chihuahua, to witness the grand
fiesta being held In that city.
A few miles from Paso del Norte, the
road, leaving the Rio Grande, bore oil be.
tween two mountain ranges and entered
the most beautiful valley In the state. On
either side of these vest mountains, raising
their rugged heads ON high, seemingly nod
welcome to the iron horse, whose shiill
snort awakes their echoes and rouses them
from their ages of slumber. As we press
| onward the valley widens until we reach
| La Gouna-the paradise OF live stock-the
ideal OF the stockman's heaven. Here, va
Yying in width from one-half to one mile,
for fifteen miles, Lake La Gouna spreads
| its waters upon the bosom OF the valley.
Vast herds and flocks may be seen brows
| ing upon the luxuriant grass, the properly
of John Mullen, Governor Ferrazos and
| other wealthy Mexicans. or the governor
! II is said that one OF his first
official acts was to donate TO himself the
major portion of this beautiful valley, com,
prising some $4,000 acres. We, cannot
vouch, however, Tor the assertioii, puV sNo
it as we heard it.
There is but little change, II any, IN the
tonography of the country between this
point and The city of Chihuahua-the same
b Dad acres of waving grass, with now ana
then field OF corn upon the banks OF some
narrow stream the same bold mountain
ranges, grown somewhat higher ana more
rue ged since we started, and the innumer-
ab1e herds of cattle, who toss their heads
ard scamper away as our locomotive sounds
its warning note.
Al 7:3O d. m. we might have been seen
vainIv strug2liug to free ourselves and bag
gage from the clutches OF dozen or more
Mexican hackmen, each OF whom, with
yolley Of choice Mexican oaths, seemed de-
termined to bear as away After
our stock of Greek, Latin, French and
English. we surrendered uncondltion-
aIlv to the most viliainous looking
n,rate we ever beheld, who, much to
our establishment instead of bearing us on
to execution deposited us at the casa del
Ohio.
and cinders gathered en- route, we donned a
wnite neck-tie and plunged into the streets,
crowded with, not only their own 10000 in
hah;tants. Int also with those from every
reiphbo1inp hamlet and village; one seeth-
in- mass Of chattering, laughing humanity,
all bound to the same destlhatlon-the
main plaza of the city. Arriving at that
noint a scene of beauty burst upon our
vision that rlvalled the iar-ianieo "ohoeis
of Fairy -land.
The grand old cathedral, whose turrets
extend some go feet on high, was blaze
of light: the plaza, most beautifully laid off
into walks and drives, between whlch peas
of choice shrubs and flowers emitted their
fragrance upon the air; rows OF eYergreensi
from whose boughs thousands OF colored
Lanterns swung; the elegant fountain
in the center: the innumerable jets
of gas that flashed like diamonds
through the trees; the bands dlscourslng
sweet music. the soldiers in their brilliant
uniforms, the thousands OF people IN their
yariegated costumes, caused us TO pause
and wonder if it were reality or II II were
a view into the tabled lands, of the
~enii For getting up a first-class
Exhibition the Mexican is the boss"
Al II u. ~. those who were SO fortunate
nc 10 secure invitations TO the grand ball
began their preparations land be 1t known
that none but the elite OF the state ana OF
the visitors were invited) and by II O'Clock
midnight the opera house was nileu Win
as fair, elegant and refined people. as could
he gathered in any city or state OF our own
republic. The house was beautifully dec
GRATED with evergreen wreaths, wi lie upon
the center of the stage were blended the
t,i-colored banners OF Mexico, WIN tne
stars and stripes OF our own native lana;
On either side of the stage were suspended
two immense stars OF light, emplenatic Oh
the Lone Star state. The gentlemen were
clothed in our own regulation dress suit
black pants, vest and pin tail coat and
white gloves, while the ladies in costumes
If SILK satin and diamonds, which were
riyalled in their brightness only by the
dark, flashing eyes of the falr oen0rltas'
As to their dancing we can only say that 10
have seen them here, with grace lhimita-
Bile, gliding through the may figures
IF fine dance, and then TO
have viewed our -, own fair
dauSbters hopping around like frogs at q
TroJic clean DAFT on the Racket" would
he a comparison too odious tc mention.
The ball lasted until the stars were losing
their brightness" and then we sought our
couch to catch a few moments OF slumoer
before the dawning of another day.
To those contemplating visit into this
country we would give word OF warning
buy nothing at first, look at everythingan and
pass on. The impression prevails tnat none
but the wealthiest u Americans can afford
TO travel, and when One enters shop prices
on every article he examines or iancies al
vance some lnfee luuuiSu PSi SNh'' N"i-S
your time and you will save money.
There are some immense business houses
here that run their sales way up TO the
millions, their purchases being prlnclpally
in Europe, though some goods are handled
from New York and San FRANCISCO. On
hardware the import duty IS 80 per cent:
Everything, even boots and shoes, Is rated
Der pound. y druggist from Fort Worth
cold a bill to firm here to-day. one article
was valued at $50. a pound IN Fort worm;
the duty on il was four dollars per pound.
Were il not for these heavy custom dues,
n trade could be opened up 10 Texas aggre-
eating millions Of dollars per annum IL
Is to be hoped that congress may induce
the Mexican government TO make reduc-
ton of the tariff. As II now stands 1t
amounts almost to prohibition.
To describe the CITY, with It's gardens,
plazas, drives ana grand old caihedrals IS
too great an undertaking at one sitting, 10
obtain a correct idea Of the cathedrals alone
would REQUIRE weeks Of observation. sui
fee IL to say that nowhere in America are
found their equal in either grandeur or
beauty. II you are fond OF the ancient-oi
rare and priceless decorations, statuary
and carvings. Of Studying the character OF
a people seemingly cent uries behind the pal
ance of the world In some things, yet sur
rounded with gems that would grace the
halls and courts Of any nation on earth
come down into the central cities Of Mex
leo and Won will find so great field Tor ~
Election that one lifetime would be found
too short space in which 70 complete the