The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-12-30
INTERESTING LETTER
LEO, AN OLD KENOSHA CITIZEN,
WRITES TO FRIENDS.
GIVES VIEWS OF THE BURRo.
Santa Fe and It's surroundings Are
Discussed The Prison and
Government Indian
School.

to take a second winter excursion to
California. Let us hear from you,
repeated a group of half dozen
friends at another time when hearing
the same announcement with a side
trip into northern Mexico, and return
ing from California via Victoria, Van
Couver, the Canadian Pacific and st.
Paul, &C., to starting point.
Any one knows the impractical ability
of writing so many personal letters
when on journey, and it is with no
small degree OF reluctance that their
request is complied with, to write for
the press.
1t is not practicable for every one to
travel who has taste for it, but If
those who do travel can interest their
friends at home, it might be considered
duty to do so speciallyit solicited
hence these scribblings.
The California travel, since the first
of December, has been very large, so
much so that trains have been very
much crowded, and in many cases have
been divided and run in two sections.
It is natural for the curiously in
clined to want to know something of
the cost of excursions. From Missouri
river cities st. Joseph, Omaha, Kan
sas City and other river townsville
expense is about the same. A round
trip ticket, good for nine months, with
full stop over privileges, via Southern
Pacific, Santa Fe or other routes, to
Southern California, returning by
either of the central routes, will cost
5000 higher than three or foury years
ago. From Chicago the cost would be
few dollars additional, Returning
via Tacoma, Victoria, Vancouver,
Canadian. Pacific, st. Paul, &C., to
starting point willssadd about $50 to
the cost of the ticket. Incidental ex-
penses may be varied according to the
wants of the excursionist.
Starting from Kansas City-a ride of
twenty-four hours on the Santa Fe
route-brings the traveller to Trinidad,
Colorado. The tourist should never
be in a hurry, but take time leisurely,
and, if practicable, he will find it much
more satisfactory to ride ABOUT twenty
four hours, and then lay over about the
same time, and by selecting stop over
points in advance he may usually Sc
cure a good nights rest, with regular
meals. at cost no greater than the
expense of asleeping car, besides en-
abling him to see many interesting
towns en- route. t-.
The tourist is frequently entitled toa
side trip, with no additional expense,
and Santa Fe is one of them. Santa
Fe (Holy Faith) is 1927 miles from
Chicago and eighteen miles from the
main line on branch, and in due time
the traveller is landed there in the
dark, but hack conveys him direct to
a hotel. 1t is the site of an old Span
ish Jesuit mission, which, as nearly as
can be ascertained, was first visited by
the Holy Fathers about 1913 -83 years
before the landing of the Pilgrims at
Plymouth Rock but did not receive it's
present name till 1898. Dates may be
a little uncertain, and thereis some
rivalry between Santa Fe and ST.
Augustine, Florida, as to their priority
of settlement, but the old Spanish
buildings of both towns proclaim their
national origin, and although Santa
Fe has been under the United States
nearly fifty years, it is still Mexican,
with three-fourths the people speaking
the Spanish language. The style of its
buildings and manners and customs of
the people are Mexican.
The streets are narrow and unpaVed
with but few sidewalks worthy the
name, and, with but few exceptions,
the buildings are low one story adobes,
square as a dry goods box and with
the same amount of ornament, a
double door admitting into the interior
court. The same capital and COVER
nor's palace suficed for three govern
ments for many years, Spanish, Mex
lean and American. The capital was
burned a few years since, and a new
one is in process of being built. The
territorial prison is located here with
200 prisoners.
A government Indian school is also
located here, and it would be a novelty
to Kenosha scholars to see 300 dusky
children going through the usual
school exercises, with as much dignity
and precision as themselves, in all de-
partments, from the kindergarten to
the high school, but such is the case.
It seemed a necessary part OF my
program, to renew an acquaintance
with an old time friend, the burro, and
ride out among the mountains. He is
a little fellow less than four feet'high,
usually very patient, and driven or
ridden without a bride -only whacked
one side or the other as you would
have him go to the right or the left.
But when in a thinking mood. he has
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