The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-02-24
The Republican Journal, Thursday February "a, 1893

equally with the country around Colorado
Springs, and never have seen prettier
canon than the Gallnas. The road winds
in and out along the sides Of the mountain
and below you tumble the clear waters of
the river. In places the rocky walls tower
straight up above you, and then more
gentle slope will be covered with fine
growth of pine. The pine laden breezes
are very soothing to the throat and lungs.
At other places the canon broadens out
and you will find quite a large, level
place, thickly overgrown with grass, and
providing an elegant place for picnic.
The wild flowers are exquisite, and this
region is a botanic paradise. The noun
tain streams are full of gamey trout, and
sportsmen will find good shooting in pur-
suing the mountain quail. Larger game
can be found by going into the wilderness,
which is near at hand. The mountain
trails offer numberless excursions, and
each one seems nicer than the previous
trip. Livery is very cheap in the west,
and there is an indescribable delight ia
riding one of these tough little ponies.
They are easy gated, strong animals, and
a brisk canter over the mesa on good
mount will send the blood tingiing through
your veins at lively rate, and send your
spirits up to high water mark. The deep
blue of the skies, which are cloudless for
a greater part Of the time, forms back
| ground for many beautiful scenes, and
ors. The town of Las Vegas has nearly
seven thousand Inhabitants, and is about
midway between Chicago and Los An
gees. Thus travellers will find the Mon
tezuma a very convenient resting point.
The older part of Vegas is as typical a
Mexican town as can be found within our
| borders, and the quaint one story dobe
houses, nearly always with fiat projecting
roofs giving shelter to veranda, are
an odd sight to the eastern tourist. The
outside walls are plastered, and sometimes
are painted white with green trimmings
The better ones are very comfortable and
attractive buildings, constructed around
| an open patio, or courtyard, and having
| broad, covered verandas. 1t was an old
Mexican custom to christen a new house
by having it blessed by the mission priest
| after which cock fights We're held in the
| patio and a feast was given to the guests.
| Though the first part of the programme
may have fallen into disuse of late years
| the other features are adhered to, to this
day. Within mill Of the hotel there is
a ''placita," or square, as we would call
it. There are several quite pretentious
houses belonging to prosperous MeHicans;
an interesting mission, with its quaint and
crude decorations; the usual run of low,
one story houses, and the inevitable bur
ros strolling about. Burros are as much
a feature of the region as the perfect
climate, and you will see these small,
queer beasts harnessed four abreast and
drawing heavy loads, or packed with
goods which seem larger than themselves
However, they are very strong, sure foot
grown person up a mountain trail, where
he would feel insecure to walk Vegas
has good shops, nice opera house, street
cars, and an enjoyable club house, ''The
Montezuma." New Mexico is particularly
prosperous now, and with the good prices
that sheep and cattle bring, and the out
put of its mines, is looking forward to
season of prosperity that may result in
statehood +. +. PAGE, JR.