The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-03-12
FROM SANTA FL.
THE PECULlARlTlES OF THE TERRITORY
OF NEW MEXICO.
The Rio Grande Valley, and the Towns Along
the Line Of the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Re Railroad.
Editor San Antonio Light.

SANTA FE, n. NJ, March @, 1Ssi.-As
we glide along the beautiful and fertile
Rio Grande valley, we notice nearly all
the dwellings and stores are built of
adobe, many of which have no floors,
and window is luxury. The cheering
notes of a piano are sometimes heard
within these mud walls, which is about
the only relieffrom the dreary monotony
of mud. There are miles of mud fences,
in fact it seems everything is made of
mud Except the depot buildings), and
when we hear the comparison "as
homely as mud fence" we shall always
know just what folks mean. Though
this territory has been settled long
time the one-story, squally structures,
the improvements and general style and
habits of the natives differ but little
from those in old Mexico. The Atchson,
Topeka and Santa Fe traverses
the Rio Grande valley for long
distance and has rather heavy mountain
ranges on either side, nearly all the way.
1t flows rather promiscuously through
the valley, and 1t is so near level with
1t as to be seen at some distance, APP
pearing as thin sheet of silver water,
winding its way through this fertile
region, and on downward through Texas
prairies, watering an immense stock
country, until it reaches the Gulf. We
pass through Rincon, San Marcial and
several small towns, stopping at Socorro
and Albuquerque. All of these save the
latter are strictly mud towns, and do
not look the least inviting. We feel
each time as we alight from the train as
if we had struck the wrong town.
so desolate, antediluvian and grave yard
like they seem. Nothing breaks the
quiet monotony save an occasional in
toXicated person and the noise in
the numerous gambling rooms, of
which Socorro leads them all.
Albuquerque had ''boom' year ago,
but is on the wane now. 1t is neat
little town of 5000, with nearly all mod
ern improvements. Here we saw quite
a number of the "noble red men of the
forest" most of them living in the
mountains on the west. Through this
locality there are several Indian settle
ments, and every day Poor Lo," with
not few comrades, comes to town to see
the iron horse make its appearance, and
seem to gaze in establishment. Their
style of dress dates long time back, but
they 'bang their hair" just like the ladies
Of to-day; or, perhaps we should put it,
the ladies bang their hair like the In
dams, as the style must have originated
with the latter. On the east of the town
and some 10 miles away the mountains
rise in stately grandeur to the height of
5000 feet, bathing their lusty sides
in the storm cloud that floats
beneath their topmost heights. The
long lines of angry clouds are rolling
in tortuous array, until the storm bursts
forth. We see the rain pouring down
from below the highest peaks, while the
sun fairly radates II dazzling height as
it shines on their banks of pure white
snow. The valley below has all the
loneliness and verdure of spring time.
Such is the variety to be seen at single
look. Bowling on northward through
the valley for 70 miles we reach Lenny,
the junction of the Santa Fe. branch,
where, after waiting hours for late
train, at a. III. we are on the Santa Fe,
and in an hour the lusty voice of the
brakeman calls out Santa Fe. We alight
in the midst of binding snow storm,
| land it still continues). After driving us
all over the town, to the content of the
driver, we were let out at the Palace
hotel, and in few minutes were snugly
domiciled in that beautiful structure.
Santa Fe claims to be the Oldest city
in the United States and, doubtless, has
some ruins or antiquities. We will hunt
them up if we get time, and will write
again, but now must go to breakfast
For this time, adios. BERT.