The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-12-25
COMMUNICATED

especial Corresponuence.1
Ny anticipated two weeks visit to
Las Vegas, N. NJ, did, not material
lie. The train left Colorado Springs
Dec. 18th In a snow storm, which in
creased in violence as we progressed
southwark, until the next evening we
found regular sNorther" raging at
Las Vegas, with nearly eighteen
inches o. snow on the level, and a
cold atmosphere. On thespot. hasty
decision to push on was made, and /
arrived safely at this town night be-
fore last. The snow was present
throughout New Mexico and the
greater part of Arizona. The drifts
were reported as lSfeet deep In places,
and the conductor stated that 1t
was the worst snow storm which he
had seen since he had been on that
run. He added that he had once been
delayed 50 hours by sand storm in
Arizona. Almost the first sight that
met my gaze on the morning of the
18th, was a coyote shiyering in the
snow and wind. Stock were up to
their launches in snow.
The trip to Southern California
cannot be made at this season Of the
year over a more pleasant route than
the Santa Fe. Some splendid scenery
is presented in New Mexico, where the
Spanish Peaks and Ration mountains
are passed, by wonderful feats of en-
gineering. In places the road winds
and twists around and ever upward
until the required elevation is reach
ed. Fine views Of passes and canons
and the heavily wooded mountains
are seen. The plateau is, followed,
over the eastern half of Arizona, and
some of the finest scenery in the world
is passed on the western half. From
the Colorado river nearly to San Ber-
nardino the route lies over the Mo-
jaVe desert-a wild waste of sand and
gravel hills and plains, devoid of veg
citation except numerous species of
cactus, and in summer a broiling
oven, but in winter a decidedly pleas
ant atmosphere. From San Bernar-
dino to this place the road runs
down the beautiful and fruitful val
ley CT San Gabriel, now yellow with
its orange groves, and as sweet scented
as perfume shop.
In New Mexico we passed a lofty
having the flat top so COM
mon in that territory and Arizona.
1t is called Starvation Peak, for there
800 MeXicanS were penned I'D by the
Apaches and were literally starved
to death. Not far away is the Oldest
church in America.
Throughout New Mexico the habi-
tations are mostly composed of adobe
huts, one story high but said to be
clean and an excellent profession
from the hot sun in the daytime and
from the chill damps Of night. But
they give most Wretched appear
ance to,the villages, which are gener-
ally composed Of fre1l two to twenty,
Of these structures. The dark Mexi-
can visage is to be seen. everywhere.
: In Arizona. the villages, generally
of house or two, and often
merely sign board are situated
from 20 to 80 mnesapart, and scarcely
q house is to be- seen between. The
soil is often naturally rich, and would
yield heavily il irrigated In other
places it is a mere gravel waste. The
ground pine predomiDates, and is the
only tree seen on these plains.
Sixty miles west of albuquerque IS
the Pueblo Indian, village OF Laguna4
built of adobe huts, La terraces, On
the side Of a barren h5l near the rail-
road track. Most Of the houses are
by ladders to, the roof, theEa
being only few with doors on the
ground floor. Sixteen miles from
there is Acoma, 2euries2s Indian city
three acres in extent bQils upon an
rock in the valley of deep
canon. Three miles away the original
had their city, with bat
a single approach One day while all
butt three women were In the valley
at work, suddeaeoloud-burst washed
away the approach and the three We
men starved to death in the city,
which has neyeS' since. been entered
by human foot, and stands there M
to this day
The road passes close by the won
derful petrifled forest Forty miles
south is the famous Zssni reservation,
while the NayaIos. and MoQuis ere
cerralled to the n6rth-
We crossed canon Dtabl0, a great It's
sure in the plains, so feet wide and
30 feet deep.
A few miles southeast of Flagstaff
are the famous Cliff dwellings, hol-
lowed out of the picturesque Sides OF
Walnut canoa4 In the volcanic
mountains nina miles northwest are
the celebrated cave dwellings, The
road passes - miles south of the
Grand Canon of the Colorado. At. the
Needles the read crosses the Colorado
river on the longest cantilevea bridge
in America, with the longest single
span in the world. The main. span is
900 feet long, and the total length
from shore t0eshore ITO feet.
Owing TO the strike of the opera
tiyes on the Atlantic s. Pacific road,
and the delay in obtaining orders, the
train was seven hours late. WeaWoke
on the morning of the 18th at The
Needles, where the train was held fOl
several hours, to find a large group OF
MajaVe Indians encamped around q
large fire close by cur sleeper. They
had come over on account OF the deatf
of one OF the tribe, and ii was report,
ed that during the night they hae
cremated the body. At any rate they
were very peaceably as well as c0nl
mercially disposed, and sold consider.
III 4