The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-11-05


with improved farm implements, were
rearing others, regardless of the Sabbath
day. Numerous herds of cattle, mules
and sheep, were grazing on the green vel
! vet, as fat and sleek as the native grass
! could make them.
When we approached the southeastern
border Of this land of unbroken scenes of
interest. new and more amazing beauties
| appeared in view When the sun was get
ting low in the western heavens, re-
fected wonders began to smile before cur
/, face. The rays Of the sun created reaec-
tion or mirage on a large sea Of sand be-
tween us and Red river in the far distance.
All eyes being turned on the wide expanse
of sand. row TRANSPORTED through decep-
1 tive rays of light into pavement Of ice,
covered over with a sparkling fleece of
hoar frost. Magnificent, tumultuous
cloadsfwere rallying up, white and dap
pied in gorgeous hues, rising yet higher
and higher that all aboard might see their.
glory. Nature could not have given us a
more majestic and impressive ereaiag fare
areN than thesone presented JUS by this land
of the Red man. This curious deceptive
appearance of the atmosphere known as
mirage, of course drove us to the laws Of
refraction Of light for an explanation, while
our train was moving out of It's borders.
Texas, the lone star of the American
/ Union. astate among states, large enough
and good enough for a large kingdom of
itself, has had SO much said and written
about it that nothing remains to begin
with. Itssusface consists chiefly of rolling
prairies, and is part ofs the high plains
that extend west to the Rocky mountains.
Along the line Of the Southern Pacific
Railway, large bodies Of land are yet lying
idle. The land is red, showing fewwhit
gravel, and. to allappearanceisp productive.
Heavy lieldsssof corn, cotton, tobacco and
grass, gave us evidence of this. Corn and
grass being yellow as autumn leaves, must
have been brought to this by heat and
drought. Clusters. off knuckleburs, tall
enough to reach mans hair if riding on
a horse, is surely no evidence Of poor land.
West of Colorado City. rocky ridges bound
the view, but the intervening ground was
literally covered with sheep. Passing
these barriers the view again becomes
boundless and interesting, with many
small lakes and ponds. White cranes and
| prairie dogs become fatal targets for
Texian marksmen, even from the windows
of the fast running train. The heavy
loaded belts of cowboys, often sparkle
with the highly wrought finish of silver
and pearl on the hilt of their weapons.
German and Irish emigration seems to
be as far as Colorado City, and thence
southwark, but west of that point but
light. Quiet and sagacious Quakers are
even among the throng coming to this
land of corn, cotton, cattle and sheep.
The Rio Grande seems to form the
boundary between what Nature de-
signed for man and beast to suhsist upon,
and also the wonders Nature has furnished
for the admiration of men. What con-
trast Eastward, we have world Of
grain, fruits and vegetation, to sustain the
perishing nature Of animal life West
ward, we find great belt of territory
overshadowed by a cloudlesss sky, which
like unto burning brass is whitening and
blighting many of the herbs that dare APP
pear on the surface. Millions of acres of
earth, covered and surrounded by tall
mountains which are tied and cross-tied
by shorter ones through the centre, peak
after peak, rising higher and higher, with
their SUBMITS splintered by the lightnings
of heaven, leaving their black shafts
standing, grand, huge, majestic, to roll
great thoughts of 6 cd in reverentiaI gran
deur over the human soul.
\ Dennison, Dallas, Fort Worth and Ell
Paso, are four large and important. railway
stations. These places contain many
!, large well constructed buildings, with
good broad streets where life and bust
ness seem to pervade. Ell Paso is situated
on the Rio Grande. the disputed boundary
between the Republic of Mexico and that
of Texas, in the days of babyhood. The
river is the western boundary of Texas,
the town has 5000 inhabitants, and is To-
Gated 3,7l3 feet above sea-leyel, 1858 miles
from st. Louis, and little more than mid
way between the two extremes Of the
road From this point we will have diff
erent scenes to offer as two dry and arid
territories are before us.
New Mexico is the first OF this hot and
arid region and is classed in the Rocky
Mount Division of the United States,
and is therefore on that high ridge known
/ ho NJ of
lea. The place where the railroad crosses
IS nearly 1880 feet above sea level. On
this elevated 1idge is Deming. with l, 200
inhabitants. 1t is very important rail
way Station, as the .hlchison. Topeka and
Santa Fe railway forms a junction here
with the s. p. r. r., at a distance of
/ ,447 miles from st. Louis. The place is
Mexican as to its buildings which are
; chiefly small, but neat. A Catholic style
seems to pervade in all things. 1t is a
: place noted for numerous windmills fol-
l raising water for the various needs of the
people. The green things of the earth dc
not venture to take up their abode here
Thousands of barren acres with occasional
, clumps of sage or cactus, on which rain
: seldom ever falls. but leaves them to main
; tain q stunted life under the pitless rays
OF burning sun.
Arizona is classed with the Basin Di
vision of the United States, and is truly
a strange and dreary region. This high
; dry, hot and treeless plain is surrounded
by mountains still higher, and the en-
closed ground being poor, dry, hard ant
: sandy, few plants can live. Few inhabi
! tants can live here, and hence it is the
least developed of all the Territories. But
as everything in the world is said to have
: its present and its future, these poor inhab
tants have a right to hope for theirs
Wealth may lie buried in enormous mines
of gold, silver, copper and coal.
Benson, ON the South branch of Gil;
river, with 700 inhabitants aud 5000 feet
: above sea level, is an important railwa,
$ station. A junction is formed here by th
!, Sonora railroad, which connects the Gul
: of California at (Iuaunoar II, Movion