West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-03-04
DOWN IN OLD MEXICO.
SNAP SHOTS AND FIRST IMPRES.
SIONS OF TRAVEL AAONG
TIE GREASERS.
The Editor Has Now Broken Into
Diaz's Domain and Is Still
st Large.
HOTEL INTERNACTONAL. J
CD. PoRFIRIO DIAZ. MEXICO, :
February 81, 1897.

the stars and stripes. The Mexican
flag is composed Of the three colors.
Il blue square next to the staff,
white in the center and red at The
end, but no stars or stripes.
We left San Antonio last night
at II o'clock and arrived mere this
morning about eight o'clock. We
crossed the Rio Grande Dol Norte
at Eagle Pass, only a short dis
lance from here. We could have
arrived here sooner, but no trains
are allowed to enter Mexico at
night and We had to wait till day
light before crossing over. Three
Mexican officials came through our
train on nominal inspection, bat
examined no baggage nor bothered
any one. They were very polite
and are anxious to have tourists,
and especially newspaper men, visit
the country and write it up. AS
we have a large party, over three
hundred, from almost every State
and Territory, and all newspaper
people, they are very polite and
nice TO us. Our special train is
scheduled ahead, and the officials
meet us at every stopping point.
This town is named in honor Of
the President of Mexico, Porfrio
Diaz, and the Cd. stands for
Cindad, the Mexican for city, and
IS prcGxed to "a good many of the
larger towns and cities. | was
awakened this morning by full
brass band Of about twenty pieces
playing the Mexican National Air.
| at once arose and descended both.
Being in an upper berth, as are ali
the single men, while the ladies
and married people occupy all the
beds on the first floor, | succeeded
in occupying my boomers, after
standing Oh my head, tying my
self in double bow knot and
''skinning cat" az We used to
call 1t many years ago, when ! went
barefoot and slept in the trundle-
bed. came eff the perch aud was
soon ready to set feet on Mexican
sand. / use the term sand advised
ly, Us | have discovered 70 soil as
yet, the whole country being dead
level Of sandy, barren waste. With
irrigation and cultivation, however,
this desert could be made to blos-
som like the rose and produce al
most anything, although it look
too poor now to raise an umbrella
on.
l experimental in a little irriga-
ton on my own account and broke
the drouth considerably what it
is IN the States. l asked some of
the officials about it and how free
silver worked down here, and they
said If it were not for it,, the great
majority of the poor people would
never have any money AZ all, and
they would not abolish it for any
thing. The same thing applies at
home. If we had no silver, how
many Of our people would be able
TO get hold Of any gold, or even
greenback Bat more Of this ell
yer question. ! have not been here
long enough to pretend to give re h.
liable Information yet on the sub
ject. We got very good breakfast
at this hotel for a Mexican dollar.
but it was fun TO see the walters
how badly ratified they we're at
such large crowd Of Americans.
The poPulace turned out in full
force TO see us, and the costumes
and types are very interesting. You
will see cowboy or horseman with |
a $50 saddle and $40 pair Of spurs
and 81 horse, for they are very
cueap here. Then again, their hat
is a curiosity and turns mp TO 70
point. They arc well made aud .
viii almost last for a lifetime. Some |
are made Of straw, plated IN ropes
thicker than your thumb and with |
cord around them several times. /
heavy and strong enough for horse .
haIfers The hats are some times .
Two feet high and will weigh sey /
eraI pounds, and The best grade Of .
them cost as high as 825. IL 30 I
sight to sec Mexican I
dandy with s25 hat on and /
$3.50 suit OF clothes They take 1
great pride ia their saddles. spurs
and hats The band which be-
longs 10 The city hero has been