The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-07-14

tlrnr n f. IT," CITY u Mexico. T!a Al
lulucruu".
trinidad. thrifty little city i'll
Southeastern Colorado. was reached
.r}nu, 1870 y. III. Here we were IN
the midst OF mountains and snow.
On one peak at an altitude OF nearly
10000 feet the snow lay i'll great banks
and the wind coming direct from this
mad" the atmosphere decidedly chilly,
30 much 50 that | had to put my over
coat on when | cot of TO walk around
on the station platform. 1t appeared
to be oll few miles from Us and
one Of the passengers was quite sure
he could run to the foot OF 1t without
.topping. But lie changed his mind
when informed that it was eighteen
miles away. We BERN the ascent OF
this range Of mountains. the Ration,
pronounced Ratto0n) at Trinidad.
eleven miles from the summit. The
Grade 81 the road averages $50 feet TO
the mile. and two massive locomotives
were required to pull our train up. In
the West they put both engines IN
front instead Of putting one behind as
| have seen done Oh the Western North
Carolina Railroad It's safer they say
and the engineers can work more III
unison this way. This range which
extends North and South into Colorado
and New Mexico. is an OtlshoOt OF the
Rocky Mountains proper which We get
into further on.
Passing Starkville and Morley we
cross the state line, COLORADO and
New McXico,) at an altitude OF 1922
feet, and pass through a tunnel more
than thrce-Quarters Of mile III length.
We are well up into the mountains
now and begin the herculean task ot
crossing the great Rockies. For wild
and romantic scenery this is surpass-
ING. 1t is weird and awe-inspiring and
fills and thrills one with wonder and
admiration as the cars dash around a
sharp curve or swing across deep
GORGE Or yawning chasm, while huge
bouldcrs weighing thousands OF tons
hang overhead high up the mountain
side and only need to be dislod9ed to
come crashing down and hurl our train
hundreds Of feet below and its load OF
human freight into eternity.
Crossing these mountains the air is
50 rariiicd that people troubled with
lung or throat diseases experience great
difficulty in breathing and individuals
on our train were scnsibly affected.
| was told thatsome times blood gushes
from the cars and nose of such persons
and their su1lerings are intense. To
me the atmosphere appeared very light
and dry. but | was too much occupied
in seeing things around me to take note
of any unusual effect upon my breath
not afford to shut off my wind or any
part Of it when there was so much
worth holding on to it for. | have
seen many fine pieces Of civil engineer
ing and difficult railroad construction,
but this takes precedence Of anything
! had seen up to date. 1t is simply
magnificent III conception, bold in
undertaking, daring in execution,
triumphant in achievement. When
we think OF a railroad penetrating the
very heart of the Rocky Mountains
and going over and around and through
the centre OF massive peaks, at a cost
Of millions Of dollars and the united
labor of thousands Of men for months
and years. some idea may be had of
what an outlay Of money and work
and time the building of such road
meant. 1t was an undertaking of
great magnitude and shows that there
is nothing in the industrial and pro-
grcssivc world that brains and money
and American enterprise can not accom-
plIsh.
We pass quite number of quaint
looking places and Las Vegas is reached.
This town has mixed population OF
Americans, MeXicans and Indians and
IS an important trading centre. The
surrounding country is noted for its
fine pasture lands and large herds OF
cattle. sheep and horses are seen along
the line. 1t is excellent farming lanC
in the valleys and small grains ant
grasses are cultivated to advantage.
| have been much Interested during
the day IN the quaint looking little dirt
houses or "dobies" in this country
They are built of mud or clay, whicl
i'll Spanish is adobe" made into
| blocks about q inches wide, inche:
thick and 10 inches long and dried il
| the sun. These are placed one on tol
| OF the other somewhat after the fashion
of laying our brick and form the walls
| Of the house which ordinarily is no
more than ) feet high, with dirt floor
Then poles are put on the roof close
! together and covered over with CLAW
The sun dries it cut and fiat as TIL,
tops arc they are impcrvicuS to rain
| Some times grass or straw is miXeC
with the clay in making the blocks 70
the walls. and is thrown loosely on to-
! before the dirt is put on, but this i
not necessary to cause them to last O.
| stand the action Of the weather. Man
white people, herderS and others, live
in these funny looking little habitations
but they are occupied chiefly by Mcxi
cans and Indians. | saw many larc,
tWO-.tOry residences built of adobe
and it is astonishing how long hous
OF this kind Will last. At Santa Fe
some distance OFT from the main line
and which has the distinction of bein.
the second oldest town settled by whit
people on this continent. st. Angus
tine. Fla, holding first honor.O I wa
told there are buildings constructed O
this material now standing in GOO
state Of preservation which date bac
more than three hundred years. On
house is known to have been occupie
continuously since l545 and how niue
longer my informant was unable t
say. But You must remember it dos
not rain i'll this country as it does wit
us and that accounts III measure 70
the lasting qualities Of these "adobe
houses.
Night having ovcrtaken us an
darkness falling upon the scene an
shutting out from view the panoram
OF mountain and valley and streal
spread out Ill natures great theatre a
about us. we retired early to get II
next morning refreshed for the ia