The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-08-05
NEW ME XICO.
Something About Climate, Products, Mexi-
can Habits, Etc.
Las VEGAS, July %, 1888.

LAS VEGAS, July 23, 1885.
By way of diversion, I'll employ
leisure hour for the benefit Of the read
ers of the DEMOCRAT, presuming that l
can interest them In what have to
communicate In reference to this Sec
tiOn of our country. The domain of
Uncle Sam covers large extent of ter
ritory, differing materially In climate
and productions, as we'll as In the habits
and customs of Its people.
The trip over the plains, especially
after leaving Kansas, Is rather mOnot-
o. Ous. For miles aud miles there ls
nothing to be seen, but desert waste,
unbrOken by single tree or shrub, save
an occasional cactus. Nothing to divert
you, except the saucy prairie dogs, who,
perched on the summit of their habita-
tiOn, often three and four together,
salute you with a bark. P ssengers
amuse themselves by shooting at them,
but usually without effect. Occasion
ally you see jack-rabbit, or So ante
l0pe, as they scu1 across the country.
You wonder whether this Vsst region of
barren lands will ever be utilized. A
sunset on the prairie, Is Q beautiful
sight, gorgeous, unrlValled except on the
ocean. The ladies' In the car went into
ecstacies over 1t. "Aint that just love-
ly," as young miss remarked within
my hearing. "I would remark" said
another, which expression, by the way,
is taking the place of Il would smiles"
about as appropriate as Saw my leg
of" q common exclamation when was
a boy.
At La Junts pronounced La Hunts)
on the A.. T. & 5t. E. Railroad, 555 miles
west of Kansas City, 1t Is announced
through the cars that passengers for
Arizona, California and the City of Mex
leo, will remain; those for Pueblo and
Denver, will take the other train" /
remained, and as we approached Trini-
dad, an important town In Southern
Colorado, the Mexican on his native
heath Is first seen. There little adobe
h0uses-men and women sitting on the
ground before the door, and the half
clad children playing In the dirt, Is the
rule; anything better is the exception.
The wheat had been cut, and some were
threshing. Tramping 1t out with goats
and Winn0wing It with sheet. saw
them cutting oats with small scythe,
and Dl0ughing corn with q crooked
stick, though there may have been an
iron. or steel shovel attached. The mo-
tive power was oxen or COWS.
The first week after my arrival In this
place, l suffersd from the heat. The
elevation above the level Of the sea is
near 1000 feet, the atmosphere 80 dry
and light that, In walking, had to keep
my mouth open to get breath sufficient.
Then my tongue would become parched
and dry gs q chip. / was constantly
thirsty, and as the water was too warm
without Ice, the more drank the more
l wanted. This was the case from about
8 In the morning until In the after
noon. The balance Of the day is pleasant
and the nights cool. In fact, the same
clothing Is worn the year round. Three
days ago the rainy season set In, and /
am no longer thirsty. II has rained
every aftern0on-sometimes coming
down In torrents, continuing for sew.
ersl hours. The balance of the time
the sky gives no indication Of hot
weBther.
The average humidity here is 38 per
cent, while In Ohio 1t Is 70 per cent, q
good county for asthmatics and those
predisposed TO pulmonary disase.
This town has population of 5000.
Tie old town, what was here before the
completion Of the railroad, amounted to
about 5000. The railroad is about
mile from the Plaza (Which corresponds
to our SQusre), and from the railroad
In the direction of the old town, has
been the chief improvements, built up
by emigrants from the States. They
claim an increase of 5000 In population.
The towns are united bys steel railway
They have water works and gas, and
churches Of all the principal denomina-
ti0ns. The Catholics predominate, aS 1t
Is the religion of Mexico. They have
just completed new Court House, built
Of chocolate colored stone. Over the
main entrance Is cut In stone, "Cas1 De
C0rtes," which In our language means
Court House, or literally, the House OF
the Court.
You see some odd sights In this coun-
try, odd at least to @ resident Of Canton.
The burro, q species Of jack about the
size OF four months calf, Is the anil
NAL In common use among the natives
for riding and carrying loads. Coming
great distance for merchandise they
use oxen and wagons. You frequently