The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-05-31
CONQUEST OF MEXICO.

The Railroad Invaders on Their Forward
March Over Historic Fields.
From 40, 900 to $4,000 souls dwell in Mon
terey (says correspondent of the Philadel-
phia Press), and they are pleasantly
located. The city is built in basin formed
by the great mountains that surround it.
Splendid springs flow through it in oeveral
directions, pouring out streams of pure and
healthy water, large enough to run mill
or irrigate all the country around it, Its
streets are well paved and are kept almost
as clean as kitchen floor. Consequently
the place is very healthy. So pure are the
air and water, and so clean the streets, that
yellow fever will not live there. When this
pestilence was epidemic at Matamoras'
| many cases were brought, but the disease
would never spread and the majority OF
those who were ill with it recovered. 1t is
some 1000 feet above the level of the sea,
and, those who have had experience say
that it never grows warm enough to be OPP
pressive. l find it pretty hot in the sun,
but cool in the shade, ana the evenings are
perfect. Its climate, curious features, ira
ditions and future are going to make an at
tractive point for visitors. 1t is quaint
old place, perfect type of an old Mexican
town. A look over many of its avenues
and byways recalls the pictures of old
Moorish scenes that the ancient masters
have preserved. Any of its streets gave a
counterpart of a strip in Jerusalem as the
pictures have shown it to me. Even the
hand maiden at the we'll, with her earthen
vessels on her head and in her hand is
there, and the OK team with the yokes
strapped to the horns, and the donkey wi h
his pack, after the custom of five hundred
years ago.
A glance at almost any section of the city
l0 mo n n
the Mexican war. Saddle Mountain, that
is fashioned exactly like the old-style Nc
Clellan saddles, rises more than five thou
sand feet above the town. Almost any one
you meet will remind you that General
Zach Taylor planted the American flag be-
| tween the two peaks during the war be-
tween this country and the United States.
| 1t took two weeks to get it up to the giddy
height. ana the Mexicans could never get il
down. 1t stood there fourteen years to re.
call to them what they had lost in the haz,
ards of war. The elements alone wore ii
away. The bishops palace still stands on
the great hill which the American forces
assaulted and captured before the town fell
The spiked guns left by the Mexicans are
still there as monuments of their defeat
Three miles away to. the east are the Won
derful hot springs that every twenty.four
hours discharge good-sized stream of wa
ter, LOG degrees Fahrenheit. In extent and
in most curative properties the hot springs
of Arkansas bears no comparison to them.
Saltillo is sixty odd miles nearer the city
| of Mexico than Monterey, and the railroad
| will reach it some time in July. You have
| to take clumsy stage-coach TO get to this
place and you climb the mountains almost
all the way. 1t is situated on the summit
of the Sierras, some 5000 feet above the
evel of the sea. 1t is destined to be favor.
lite place for pleasure-seekers, and they
have even now named 1t the Saratoga of
Mexico. All Mexican towns look alike ex-
cept in their location. and, therefore, what
[ have said of Monterey will very readily
apply to this place, except that it is not
lite as large. 1t is the capital OF Coahuila,
one of the best agricultural and mineral
states of the Mexican republic. The rail-
road officials look upon it as one of the i'm
portant places upon the line of the Mexican
National, and many spectators have their
eye upon it also. The whole state is well
watered and very rich. The climate is de-
ightful, and it is the intention to build
large hotel here for the accommodation OF
American winter travel. The railroad from
Monterey to this point runs through some
magnificent scenery, and many people,
even now, go by stage to get view of it. 1t
is hard jaunt, but soon will be as easy as
going to Niagara falls.