The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1884-03-22
LETTER FROM NEW MEXICO.
BOLIVAR tNoJ Free Press.l

As you are coming every week
to see me in this far off land of
wonders and rel cs ofancient cities,
that have been IN ruins for many
long centuries, and as | know you
are making weekly visits all over
Polk county, the home of many
loved ones, and of many kind
friends who might be interested In
n brief description Of some parts
of New Mexico, l thought l would
send you a brief letter.
The traveller in coming to the
territory by the A, T. & S. F.
railroad, gets his first sight of New
Mexico as he energies from the
Ration tunnel. Just before enter.
ing this tunnel, while going down
Devils Canon" from Trinidad,
you must look for a view OF the
celebrated Spanish peaks.
The tain moves slowly with
two engines, on and up grade Of
1856 feet to the mile. From the
rear platform you have for a few
moments this beautiful view Of the
snow-clad peaks over 100 miles
away. The view is too grand to
be lost. The Ration tunnel is 7,6SS
feet high, and at that elevation you
emerge INTO the pure air a,ad see
the Italian sky Of New Mexico.
Ration is the first town reached and
is situated at the southerly base
of the mountains. 1t is a fustling
business town of 2, 500 inhabitants.
1t has been built up since 1880 and
is now one 0fthe most enterprising
places in the territory, and has a
future that will rival many eastern
towns
Bituminous coal is abundant
about five miles distant at Bless
burg. where they have a branch
railroad, with iron mines
in the ame vicinity. The
road now goes almost directly
south through Noltax county, and
directly through the celebrated
Maxwell grant. This great tract
of land was given by the Mexican
Gen raj, Armingo, to Messrs Rou-
bin e. Miranda, about 40 years ago,
and contains 1 1900, 900 acres, con
.eituting a prinicpality of itself.
The next is Springer. Al miles
sOnth of Ration and TIC miles south
of Kansas City, and is the county
seat of Colfax county.
l will now pass over q number of
beautiful and furnishing towns UNI
til we reach Wallace. This is the
first town on the railroad where
we have a view OF the kiO Grande.
There is the Pueblo of San Denim
go. Pueblo is the name of all
those ancient cities Of the Aztecs
and decend6nts of Nontazuma,
which are found all owe New Mex
leo and Arizona. Those cities
were built and inhabited long be-
fore CABRERA de Baca, the first Eu-
ropean that ever wandered over
the plains of New Mexico, which
was in the year 1888. Those pu-
eblos are built OF adobe, or rock,
with entrances at the top tor pro-
lection against other tribes. From
here the road follows the Rio
irande valley for about $50 miles.
Nothing could be more beautiful
or fertile. -Grain and vegetables
Of all kinds grow luxuriantly all
he way to- II Paso.
We will now leave the railrc ad
It San Antonio, and fee to the
Mountains, parks and valleys
90 miles to the east. IT'S here
he works of the Almighty hand
re written on the everlasting
'ocks. Go with me to the top OF
he Captain, from whose dizzy
heights you can "view the land
cape o'er"t tor two hundred miles,
md as you gaze in every direction,
,ou will see, mountains, valleys,
nd streams of water, hocks and
,erds on avery hand ; yop csn e