The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-06-20


n hexico, II il divided into twenty
anton Hnd 100 mining districts. Since
| Inc conquest of the country by the
Spanards, 575 mines have been worked
IN this State, and in no case has the
depth Of the shaft exceeded three hun
dred metres, because previous to the adj.
vent OF Americans, no machinery was
IN use for lifting the ores. All the ore
was brought up on the backs of the Ia.
eorers who climbed notchcd poles called
escalaras, a system still pursued in
mines worked by Mexicana.
From parraf my journey in Mexico
really began. Here ! supplied myself
with pack mites, provisions and ser
wants, md
STARTED ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS,
he most rugged, probably, in the Yves
tern world. For several days together
we saw no human habitation, and our
altitude for eighteen days ranged from
1000 10 10000 feet This
GREAT ALTITUDE
made the nights very cool, and some,
times disagreeably 20. The excecdin
rarity Of the atmosphere was occasion
ally oppressive, The roads are only
bride paths, sometimes winding high
M on the mountain sides, then dcsccn-
ling into terrible canons, where the
LIGHT OF rnt srN NEVER ENTERS.
Occasionally for few miles we
would pass over mcsas as level rs the
sea to enter into narrow deflcs, or
wind along the prccipit@us sides e
peaks that seem to
RISE r. THE vERS SKIES.
Seldom is the pathway smoothe, but
is most generally filled with sharp IN.
guar rocks or smooth rocky projections.
The wonder is how any animal can pas,
over such roads without bsing prccipl-
tatcd into
IlTE AGNS, BELOW.
On the third day out from Parral We
stopped on the banks of the Conchd.
river, where a magni iccnt hot spring
discharges about 100 gallons OF water
per minute, having temperature OF
about 9S'. This spring would be worth
millions if accessible. As it is, IT has
4 local reputation among the native,
for curing nlmcst every disease.
On the eight day after leaving Par
Tal we entered the ancient town Of
Guadalupe y Calyo, situated in the
midst of the widest scenery. On some
OF the highest points surrounding the
city, great crosses are erected, to which
The natives bow in humility as they
pas All along our route re
CURIOUS HEAPS CT STONE,
surmountcd by cro5s, each heap iudi-
cating the srot where soma one was
Slllet There is also beautiful prac-
ticc common throughout the portion o.
Mexico where | travelled, that Of little
children kneeling before a stranger and
praying that he may have safe Jour
ney
in descending into the town of Car
alnpe y Ualvo we had to ride down
STEPS CUT IN THE SOLID ROCK
| un the side of the mountain, Two
mines are now worked at he place
10th owned by citizens OF Tennessee,
i'he English company formerly worked
| them, and from 1874 to 1889
TOOK OUT $4,375,0G2.
Failing to get 4 roleasc of the mine,
the company abandoned their works
and the population Of tho town dwin-
died down from 5000 persons TO l,O0l
At present there is but Il small amUuut
of business transacted, but every man
woman and child Is looking forward
with cagerness when the mines will be
in to be worked again. They
TREAT AMERICANS WITH MARKED
RESPECT
and civlty, and look u them to bring
Il renewed prosperity to their town
Our little company was handsomely
entertained by one of the citizens, and
Tor some time native wines, tequilIa
and other drinks flowed freely.
examined the one at this place and
found it very rich, and the prospects
GOOD for a renewal of the splendid day
when millions were sent out on mule
to enrich the owners About forty
miles to the southwest of Guadalupe y
alv0 are
THE POLK MINES
These are situated in the FL Cueryo
mining district, in deep baranca or Y
shaped gorge, 400 feet below the path
, on the mountain top and 1000 feet
!, above the sea. We were three hours II
! descending from the top of the mouu-
tain, and more precipitous road wa
, never travelled by domestic animals
The horizontal distance Travelled Ger
, tainly did not exceed half mile, bu
, the vertical descent made the dillerenc
n Jetwcen the frigid and tropical zones
: On the mountain top the air WAS kce
O., and frosty in the valley below W
4 found the ig, the pomcgranite, the bo
a mana, the orange, the lemon, the oleat
". der and other
/, TROPICAL. FRUITS AND FLOWERS
II in full bloom, and the air was lade
< with the odor Of the rO3e, and the pc
d Tune of the honeysuckle, Parrot
cleayed the air in Hocks, while the he
sun poured down his rays AZ noontld
20 liercely that man and beast woui
y fain SEEK ,helter under the thick btanci
es of tho tropical trees Never W;
81 there a more lovely climate than
q this spot For only three hours Is II
l. heat oppressive, after watch the air b,
:, comes
~ DELICIoUsLY SWEET AND COOL
=, The clear stream which rushes down Il
70 valley, over and around great bowldeT
"a adds its own melody to the place, al
ia one can almost imagine he is living
an enchanted land, so happy are N
lures surroundings.
MEssRs. POLK AND COOPER