Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-07-13
THE ANCIENT CITY.
SIGHTS AND SCENES IN THE CITY
OF SANTA FE.
The oldest Church on the Continent-otler
buildings OF the Present and Past
A Burro Race.

} special Correspondexce Of tie Gazette.
Santa Fe, \. NJ, July 6.-This j:
certainly quaint old town. Its his
tory is too replete with interest for q
newspaper article, but few sketche.
of ii may not be entirely void ofinterest
TO your readers. 1t claims TO have
been founded by the Sraniards, a. ID.
1850.
The first building erected within its
present limits is still standing and oc-
\ cupied. San Miguel church claims
the honor of being the first house OF
worship dedicated to the service OF
Almighty God on the continent.
Its walls still look like they might
defy the storms and cyclones of several
more centuries. The city is Mexican
I in style, being built mostly of adobe,
with very narrow streets. But modern
civilization is fast changing the APP
pearance OF the old town. 1t can now
/ boast of some buildings that would
| reflect honor upon cities of far greater
pretensions. The Palace Hotel is a
magnificent building of its kind with
II 25 rooms The city hospital,
owned and contr, He'd by
| the Sisters of Charity, the
/ Christian Brothers college, the con-
vent. the archbishop's palace, ST.
| Marv's church. the First and Second
national bank buildings, are al, superb
structures. The Congregational, Pres
byterian, Baptist and Methodist de
nominations all have very nice
churches. The Congregationalists are
building a very nice school building,
with the view OF establishing school
of high grade. The Roman Catholics
are building Il cathedral that is
estimated to cost when COM
pleted, five hundred thousand
dollars. They have been at work ON
it twelve years already, aud it will
take two years more TO complete it.
II is the most massive piece of masonry
ever saw in building. 1t will prob
ably be standing when the next tertio-
millennial rolls around. There are
several very pretty private residences
scattered around in different portions
of the city. About one-fourth of the
present population are Americans and
Europeans, who have settled here for
the purpose Of trafficlling with the ma
tives. These do most of the business
of the city.
The exposition that commenced here
on the I'd inst. and terminates on the
Sd proX., is likely TO prove grand sue
cess; it has so far, TO say the least
Fresh exhibits are coming in every
day. Already the mineral apartment
is enough TO cause Il poor man to drop
his hoe and plow handles and make
break for the mountains.
Tie ancient relic department is re-
plete with interest to the antiquarian
The Indians amused the crowd
Thursday and Friday evenings with
their songs, dances, sham fights, foot
races, etc. This evening Saturday
the races commenced and elected
a great deal of interest.
The finest was running race, one
mile heat, which took three times
around the track. Four horses were
entered, but on the second round one
horse fell, and on the third and last
heat, another horse was distancad o
badly he left the track, so that only
two horses completed the race.
The next thing on the tapis was a
race by twelve burros ridden by as
many little boys. Only those of your
readers who know what Mexican
burro is can imagine the amusement
aud excitement this scene oceasioned
IL was the most amusing thing that
has come up yet. II afforded men like
your correspondent, who know moth
ing OF race stock, an opportunity to
get in their bets.
Burros all look so much alike that it
IS almost impossible to distinguish
'one from tother" in a crowd, so each
was labeled with playing card. The
l.. +. {. won the whole of fifty cents
ON the queen of clubs which has been
duly entered up to its credit on ex-
pense account.
The next thing was n trotting race
between three distinguished trotters.
best three in five. mile heats.
The best time made was 2:46I, but be
lore the race was concluded Il shower
came up which made the track VERY
heavy. In fact the last two heats were
made in the rain.
rms concludes the Tertio- Millennial
OF OLD santa Fe, so far rs your CORES
pohdent Is concerned | have been
mere Just week, aud it has been one
OF the most pleasant and instructive
weeks OF long and eventful life.
me managers OF the exposition are
taxing every pains TO interest
every one who nay honor the
exhibition with his presence, and
we bespeak for the "Old Cityv
one grand and glorious success. Those
OF your readers who have few. dollars
anu a little time to invest in pleasure
seeking would do well to give the
Iertio- Millennial of Santa Fe. n. NJ,
eau, Tor the chances are they may
not i've to see the next, and thus die
without ever having witnessed a burro
race. :"