Morning journal and courier., 1884-11-01

other country The sight of tree is re l lief to our eyes A mile or so further ant l we make halt at a place known as the Hote Gonzales, delightful spot situated on tn edge of the prairie, which breaks off as sud denly as the front of East Rock. Stone 1 adobe and logs entered into the construction of this fine @ hotel, consisting of two snal bedrooms and room for the general accom- ] mediation of dirt, we should say. We pass on and commence the winding descent after taking in view of unrivaled grandeur and beauty. Fifteen hundred feet below us we look out through horseshoe-shaped canyon filled with huge masses of broken rocks evi- dently hurled from the mountain above by some violent agitation of the earth, on to 8 beautiful valley below, spreading out into the distance beyond the reach of our eyes. The roughness of the road and in order to make quick descent leads us to take a short cut down the mountain on foot. We stop for a breathing spell when part way down and gaze at the view before and around us; a bank sloping off at an angle of forty-fve de grees for perhaps three hundred feet, covered with green pinon, a species of small pine tree, then taking leap of fifty feet or more straight down, revealing the bare face of the rock in columns and many regular shapes, as if hewn by the hands of some giant men, then continuing for five hundred feet more in mass of trees, vines, cactus and tumbled rocks to the sloping grazing lands below, forms picture once seen never to be forgot ten. We are familiar with Dore's illustra- tions of Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno, but nothing in human imagination can sur pass this picture of reality We realize that the prairie lands that we have just come over are but a continuation of the grand Rocky Mountains, which in this way gracefully let themselves down to the level of common earth The meadows in front are simply an other table land another step down from the Rockies, and constitute the great Montoya grant now in the possession of our host, MT. Waddingham, and known the Bell ranch.
 Before crossing the line to the Bell ranch we camp for the night. Water is abun- dant, but what waterl Stir up one of our North Haven clay pits and you have it. We don't mind little things, however, and are getting used to the necessities of camp life. Ex-Senator Mills wields dishcloth with the grace of some of our most competent house. keepers, Colonel Bradley makes @ camp bed like an old soldier and keeps us all in good nature by his vast stock of Sunday school stories, Commodore Scranton can bring out wonderful things from the supply wagon, orr host and yot1r st,>-.,1e-t j,1e+ica to making them disappear. Bush, ah, Bush Is a sportsman and is generally looking tor game So we get along admirably together
 The prairie lands passed yesterday belong to the government and are to be had by loca-
 
 mind to make it a permanent residence can obtain 160 acres. If O system Of irrigation is ever introduced the lands will doubtless be all taken up. We notice an irrigation ditch, an acequios as they are called here, running for many miles, A stream is tapped in an elevated part of the country. The water IS measured and sold at so much per inch. Re- sUning our tourney we are much relieved and interested by the general change of country. While the plains and grazing lands are lm- mense, there are many variations ID the gen. eral formation of the land. At the line ot the ranch two cone-like peaks rise like pyra- mids from the ground, with chiseled-ike walls running entirely around them about half way down. They also have the appear ance of extinct volcanoes, as perhaps they are.
 An advance of some sixteen miles brings us to the Canadian river, an eyer-how1ng stream of sweet water. Before ford1ng we stop at a Mexican adobe and are surprised at it's cleanliness. The ceiling consisted of white cotton cloth and the side walls were whitened and decorated with many scriptu- ral pictures. the Pope the Virgin and the sacred heart of Christ being the most conspic- uous Our host holds a conversation Tn Spanish with the sonora, ahd before parting the senorita makes her appearance from side hut with ornaments and her face daubed with white powder. We are not particularly fascinated, however.
 Once across the river our progress is very slow, passing over hills, through canyons, ra- I vines. etc. from one valley to another or from one mesa to another. The mesas, as they are called, are simply the tops of what we would call mountains. They are fiat, broad fields covered with grass and are usu- ally fine grazing lands. During the great heat of the day the cattle seek their shady sides and are securely sheltered from storms and winds, which at times very severe. T o1NorS of oaft valleys and on the hillsides. They seem to roam in families, fifteen to thirty in bunch and sometimes more. The Bell brand is con spicuous and not infrequently that of the Fort Bascom Cattle company is seen. We have seen many fine specimens of cattle in New England, but comparison with the general run of those on eastern farms would be decidedly unfavorable to the latter The splendid condition of these cattle, young and old surprises us. We are prepared to see many frameworks covered with hides and are agreeably disappointed at the absence of skeletons, as we have often heard present No, the cattle of this section short, thick-necked, short-horned, round and fat ones are all that we see. When it is considered that they are allowed to run win ter and summer without any protection ex- cept that afforded by nature alone, it must be admitted that sucFa country is admirably
  ton with MT. Michael Slattery, Q gentleman who has had many years of experience in the cattle business and several as the manager of the Bell ranch, we learn that during his ex- perience there has been a fourteen months drought, but that during that time the stock did not suffer, there being plenty of water in the river and plenty of grass. There is something in the short gramma grass, as it is called, which is particularly attractive to the bovines We notice this from the fact that where the grass is growing several inches in height and looking like that of our New England pastures, it is absolutely free from them, but where the gramma grass is grow ing perhaps in little short curly tufts, six inches apart and on hard red ground, they may be seen in great numbers The grass cures itself and makes fine winter feed.
 The Bell ranch comprises six hundred and ifty-fve thousand acres, and there are fifty thousand head of cattle having the right to graze upon it, to say nothing of the thou sands of roamers which seek it's shelter and during the winter season. At night we rest at what is known as the upper camp for the cowboys and a general head quarters of the ranch. We are supplied with quail and cotton-tail by our sportsman, who has wasted some shot and powder, but has scared up many a specimen for our observa- tion. The next night after continued ride through the day brings us to Fort Bascom, the headquarters of Judge l.. B. Booth, of West Haven, and of the Fort Bascom Cat tie Raising company. Fort Bascom boasts of dilapidated and abandoned fort or barracks, which was erected by the gov ernment during the time of the Indian troubles in this section, cemetery where rest the bones of some departed heroes, and dwelling composed of adobe and gen uine red brick. The quarters are comfort able and the judge is to be congratulated upon finding them so in this country. The country and grazing is similar to that of the Bell ranch and the river runs within stone's throw of the camp. Evidences of where the soldiers had a garden and raised vegetables are still apparent. There is no telling what comfort can be had in this country free from inquisitive neighbors until one tries, and in contradiction of re- ports of poor living we annex the menu a dinner which our host gave. in his private apartments in honor of our safe arrival.
 FoRT BAscoM, New Mexico, Oct. 19, 'S4.
 DINNER. Soup Printanier Montilado Sherry
 Fish. Canadian River Catfish. Potatoes Boiled.
 Claret P. & T.
 Roast Chicken. French Peas. French Beans. Green Corn