Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-03-23
NEW M ExuCO.
rho mogotton Prospecting and
Mining Association.

In my two previous letters the name OF
this ancient aud Interesting Pueblo village
is improperly sielled-it should have
been written San Felipe.
Having been reinforced with additional
wagons aud requisite attachments, por.
tion Of our heretofore heavy loads was
transferred to the same. and "folding orr
tents, like the Arab, we silently stole
away" with naught but pleasant memories
OF our visit with the friendly Indians.
As the dry advanced myriads OF wild
geese and brNnt made their appearance in
the river, along the shore, and ofientimes
for some distance inland where they were
feeling upon something peculiar 10 what
seemed barren sandy waste, destitute of
all vegitniion. A venerable Patriarch who
essayed the role Of Nimrod for the whole
party, rallied forth to bag nm uncertain
number while watering months and Wis
ions Of BAKED goose awaited his return.
His efforts, however, were only rewarded
with the wonnding Of II single sand-hill
crane, which was afterwards whipped dead
with "mule skinner" in the hands of one
OF the boys, but which was found impossi-
BILE TO cook 10 n sufficient degree of tender.
ness to eat. At night we made our camp
on the bank of the Rio Grande near Ia
Bosque Ia small piece of wood land) where
wood and water were abundant, and the
following day AT noon reached The city Of
Albuquerque pronounced Al.boo. ker.ka.)
This place, which is second in size and
Importance in the Territory, is situated on
the east side OF the Rio Grnnde and has
population Of about five thousand, large
majority OF whom are Mexicans. Like
all Mexican towns il is built OF adobe and
has the characteristic plaza. The earliest
recorded knowledge Of the first settlement
OF the place by the Spaniards. wonlh seem
TO fix the date about the year 1910, though
tradition places it number of years earli.
er. The recorded history dates from the
reign OF King Ferdinand VII, Of Spain
Prior 10 this time there was town of evil
dent Importance on the opposite side of
the river, as the ruins can yet lie readily
traced for the distance of mile or more,
and would indicate n population OF several
thousand souls. The present city OF Al
buqnerque was established by Don Juan
de Urrate, the first governor of the prov
Post Presideo de Albuquerque Subse-
quently 1t was called San Felipe de A lbu.
qnerqne, and not until the year 1G60 did 1t
take its present name without the pretixes
in honor of Francisco Fernandez de In
Cneva, Duke OF Albuquerque, who came
to Mexico as viceroy of the king of Spain
in the year 1659 and this was done by an
edict OF the King, and at the same time i,
was declared city. Here in the plaza
was erected church of quite considerable
dimensions by Gov. Urrate, who gave it the
name OF Saint Francis Xavier. He also
! caused to be constructed n wooden statue
OF the patron saint and presented il to the
church. This ancient piece of stn,uary il
not less than 325 years old and is said tC
be now in the possession of citizen Of til,
town. The original church was occupied
as such 24O years when il was razed to the
, ground and reconstructed on the sam,
foundation in 1894 by one Andreas Garcia
, a Franciscan Father and probably th
| founder of the present extensive family o
I that name now in this Territory, notwilh
, standing our preconceived notions of tn
celibacy of the priesthood. To the recon
struc'ed church was given the name O
S San Felipe de Mere, a name il still retains
e Onr time being limited did not go int
& the church, consequently can say no,hin
of lis internal arrangement or decoration.
e number Of Sisters of Charily-nobl
n women-were seen upon the plaza an
G streets intent upon their missions of mer
, cy, their lives dedicated TO the alleviatio
. OF the distress and misfortanes of others
y and by all their acts commanding respec
Tor their religion. They also conduct
q school in bpilling adjacent 10 tn
church, of quite high order of excellence
Albuquerque is unusually well laid on
for Mexican town, the streets convergin
Mt the fonr corners of the plaza, aroun
'' which the business houses are built nm
ss where nearly the entire business of the cit
n is transacted, giving compactness to I'll
place certainly desirable. While there
'e a sameness in the buildings, owing to Il
: material OF which they are constructe,
e. there is also noticeable effort Mt arch
:. teciural design tending to convenience nm
comfort as well as beauty seen in some
'e the residences.
IS In the early evening we moved to Il
v outer limits Of the city and made camp q
i an old threshing floor, which is Mat ,
" ground circular in form, made smooth an
'e hard on which the grain TO be threshed
ct placed and over which and round an
n. round are driven several score of goats
=, sheep until the grain becomes separate
= from the lIusk. To winnow the graz
n from The chaff the straw is removed frol
E the floor; space made clear upon whic
el blankets are spread then placing Il
y, grain in shallow, oblong willow basket
'e or pans, these vessels are held ms high &
le The arms will reach and slowly emptied
II their contents. A favorable breeze driv,
,e he chafi away and the berry drops upo
~ the blankets from whence il is taken an
~ stored for future use. And thus it is,
l. every move and turn one sees sometliir
es new, though old in the centuries, and wor
rs ders why It is that so many go abroad
% search of the antique when at the We,
" threshold Of their homes, made 80 by I'll
s. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ruiiroa
y there is so much TO interest and pleas
.e and to give faod for thought and invest
10 CATION. Here are grand mountain range
wild and picturesque canons, noble river
~ ruins oil unknown ages strange people M
,e customs, and n country Of which Baro
a Alexander Won Humboldt made the pr
= diction, "The wealth of the world will
~ found in New Mexice and Arizona"
'e prediction which is being rapidly verife,
Al With a climate unsurpassed on the col
g tinent, healthy and invigoraling, with RI
jnvenaling waters from mountain ar
'e mineral springs, varied scenery, qnai
n. customs, rich mines and virgin soil n
rs more profitable trip could be mapped OF
Va for summer vacation by the tourist, III
artist, the speculator or tine invalid tha
'e one into this wonderful country. Don.
jf >.-s.-e---
o There are GIG children in the Soldier
&, Orphan Home al Xenia.