The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-07-19
SKETCHES IN SANTA FE.
That Ancient and Interesting City as
Viewed by an Emporium.
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO,
r.. Z

That Ancient and Interesting City a
Viewed by an EmpOrIan.
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO,
To the Editors of THE NEWs:
Contrary to the expectations of q loi
! of exacting landlords, this old town il
not filed with tourists and sight-seers
but, excepting a number of fire com
panies attracted hither by a grand tour
nament from the neighboring towns OF
the territory and Colorado, a very few
are to be found wandering around ex.
aiming the points of interest coming
down from a civilization of centuries
ago. Santa Fe, like all these Mexican
towns, Is made up of q plaza or public
square, g combination of narrow, crook
ed, irregular passages called streets; q
lot Of one story adobes, with an
occasional building, more pretentious
in It's architecture. The few buildings
of this latter character to be found here
are principally the schools and hospital
building connected with the Catholic
mission, the cathedral in course of con-
struction, which is fine specimen of
architecture, a few business houses and
one good hotel building,
The curiosity OF the sight-seerer is
principally confined to the Governors
Palace and two old churches that claim
to be very ancient. The palace would
not be termed very palatial, even in this
country in this day, but was doubtless,
\ in its time, quite stylish and comforta-
BILE, but when you go inside of these old
mud churches, built two or three hun
dred years ago, and examine the quaint
old carving on the beams, you are con-
strained to admit the possibility OF the
truth of their claims to antiquity.
One of these is now beng enclosed by
the walls of the cathedral to which
have already referred, and although the
walls of the new building are up and
ready to receive the roof, the old still re-
mains intact, except on either side
where the workmen haYe been compell-
cd to cut through the walls to put in
place two massive columns to appertain.
ing to the new building, the old building
being still occupied for service, at least
occasionally. The greatest interest,
however, attaches TO the old San 81 iguel
church pronounced "San Magil'') which
is said to be more than 800 years old,
and which is still in a good state of
preservation inside, although the outer
walls show signs of yielding TO the raw
ages of time. Like the former, this is
still used for service and upon payment
of fee Of 20 cents, visitors are
permitted to go through and examine il
and all OF its belongings. You are
shown the old bell, cast in 1856, and
looking rude enough to have been
evolved from that primitive age; also
an inscription on beam running across
the building and supporting the gal.
lery; and two old paintings of the an
nunciation, the age of which is unknown
but supposed to be much older than the
church, all Of which may or may not be
: true.
Having taken these all in early in the
day, was ready at the hour of open.
ing for the Tertio- Millenial celebration
which, for the benefit of any of your
readers who may not already know,
would say is designed to be the celebra-
ton of the 333d anniversary OF the occu
patton of this place by the Spanish.
The grounds upon which the exposi
ton are being held adjoin the govern.
ment post corral and are well adapted
to the purpose. Upon entering, the frst
thing that attracts the attention ID 6
gambling tent, open to all the world,
where every facility is offered for get.
ting rid Of your surplus wealth. Ad.
joining this and Immediately in the
rear of it are the camps of the Apache
and Zuai Indians, where you can see
Indian camp life, somewhat rose color
ed, l have no doubt, Passing on you
come TO large two-story stone building
about 40x1OO feet, in which are the Off
ces OF the managers of the exposition
and two rooms set apart for antiquities
and here were to be seen variety of
antique and interesting articles-old
books brought from the old Catholic
churches; old hide trunks curiously
constructed, one OF which has been hand
ed down in the same family since 1893; q
sample OF printing said to have been
the first done anywhere west of the Mis-.
sissippi valley; specimen Of gold lace
that has been in the old church at Fl
Riba over two hundred years; rife gun
presented by Kit Carson to Monteznma
Lodge, No. 100, A. F. Sc A. II. years ago
, and great number of old pictures, any,
where from 900 to 500 years old, some
on canvas and some on elk skins, to
gether with a great variety of other rel
les of greater or less interest.
Leaving this We enter the main expo
sitlon building, which is of wood, tenn.
porarily constructed, about 50 feet wide
and some 500 feet long, and we'll adapted
for the purpose. Here are gathered to
gether and arranged by counties splen
did specimens Of all the minerals to b.
found IN the territorY-coal, irsn, cop
per, gold, silver. lead, &C.
Il A huge block of bituminous coal abou
six feet in thickness evidences the rich
ness and abundance of that valuable ~
ticle which will, no doubt, prove {
source Of great wealth TO this part o
} the country. OF the specimens Of gold
silver and copper ore exhibited canno
: say more than that TO me they appeared
be be very superior in quality and al
! most endless in variety, and constituted
very large part Of the display
There were very interesting and beauti
, full collections of natural curiosities II
birds, animals, vegetable collections and
, geological specimens; large collection
, of specimens Of Indian pottery, OF YER
|, quaint designs, but in some instance,
! showing good degree of artistic ski
and marked effort st initiating moderl
styles.
Perhaps no feature of the exhibition
attracted more attention from the lad,
visitors than the display Of elegant Jew
eiry, which was very largely compose,
of specimens Of hlIRree work. made b,
native Mexican workmen in the city Q
Santa Fe. These constituted, in Ii
{ main. the distinctive features of The "a
hiblt in the building, but wee, ofcours.
supplemental by the usus
. display Of textile fabric,
s machinery etc, by the merchants Of u
Il town. 80 that IN general results the1
t was an exhibition highly c.edItabIe Il
II section Of country 50 remote and us
3 ally considered 80 destitute Of evidenc,
8 Of civilization. as we, in the eastern se