Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-01-12
CORRESPONDENCE
LETTER FROM MEXICO.
efulgence.

SALT1LLo, MEXICO, Nov. o6 1888.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
Left Monterey this morning at eight
o'clock, and as "got left in trying to
catch the train for Laredo and am
compelled to stop over at this place
tonight, | will write you concerning
the trip between Monterey and Sal
tillo, and also give you as good de-
scriptions as | can of what | have OBJ
served since leaving Monterey.
The road winds around the base of
mountains for some distance, taking
the same course that Taylor's army
pursued on deciding to assault the
Bishops Palace, which stands on a
high eminence to the left, then makes
right into the heart of the range,
through which it winds its way tor
tuously over trestles; through deep
cuts; now hugging close to the solid
rock of which all these mountains are
com posed on the brink of some high
precipice, anon bounding along
through fertile valleys, where the corn,
wheat, and sugar-cane are growing III
gre at abundance. Everything is yet
fresh and green some of the fields OF
com and small grain are only half
grown, while others are almost ready
for harvesting.
At Leona station there is Il cotton
factory; the raw material which it
uses is brought from other points, none
being grown in this section. A few
miles further on is u sugar refinery,
where the best sugar in Mexico is
made. | notice all the way here that
the mountains, although nothing but
rock, are covered, with a few except
ions, with some hardy heritage, not
enough. however, to be Of much bene-
fit except for the great number Of
goats which are the only animals that
are able to get at it. In some places
there are openings in the mountains,
running in for distances and large
enough for a man and horse to ride
through. One of these | observed
near the summit of high peak,
through which tho light comes from
the other side. resembling very much
the embrasure of fortress, through
which the cannon is thrust but was
told that it is large enough for train
of cars to pass through.
Santa Catarina is the next station
and is quite u large town: the tall
spire of It's cathedral rises high above
us and is about all we can see of the
place, as it is some distance back from
the road. The land here being easily
irrigated from the streams which flow
out of the mountains, fine crops are
made. The bayonet trees here are
three and four feet in thickness and
are used in some instances to enclose
large fields. From Santa Catarina the
road follows the course of what would
be fine stream did not the people
utilize its waters in irrigation, and at
some points it seems almost impossible
to get any further, the valley or canon
appearing to end in an abrupt, high
wall, but quick turn and all is clear
again. Although there are nothing
but mountains all the way not one
tunnel occurs. which in my humble
Judgment is very creditable to the en-
gineers who ran its course.
At Gariva learn from fellow pas
senger there are very extensive caverns
equaling in grandeur the Mammoth
Cave of Kentucky, but as had not
time to visit them | will leave what |
have to say Of their beauty and extent
until | can, which will be ri the very
first opportunity.
At Arispe, where there are more
adobe walls than | ever saw before,
the iXtlic. Ga species Of cactus some
times called beef tongue whose leaves
come right ont of the ground. grows
i'll great abundance. some of the
leaves reaching q height Of six feet.
This is the plant from which Mexico
gets its material for making rope. and
if machinery adapted to its manufac-
ture is perfected it is destined to dis
place manila on account of its pos
essing far superior qualities. Apropos,
| saw rope-maker at work to-day
making long rope from the fibre of
this plant. His machinery, however,
was extremely primitive. 1t consisted
of dozen pegs about three feet high
three wheels, over which q small boy
pulled the straws, gradually working
them into the rope.
AS at Monterey the road enters the
town through an avenue of trees. ex-
cept that the trees are much better. The
high dome of the great Cathedral can
be seen long distance from the place,
put a. .CN Ahl hScPo inc IiouSeS lIOlil
being seen until You are at the depot.
Satillo is a very old town, as is evil
denced at every turn one makes on go
ing through. The houses are all like
prisons the windows, which are never
glazed, are always protected by wood
en- or iron bars. The oldest are wood,
and paint not being easy to get, they
look "moi mali very bad.) | have
read somewhere that the poor Spanish
boys and girls we're not allowed to be
together and find the statement correct.
If a Senior fancies Senorita he makes it
known walking by the window where
she sits for several evenings. If his
actions excite similar feelings in the
breast of the lady, after he has walked
by that window five or six times every
evening for week, she smiles upon
him, which, of course, encourages him,
and he keeps on walking, some times
for six long, weary months, when the