Cañon City record., 1899-03-02
in SOUTH MEXICO.

IN SOUTH MEXICO.
The Land Of the Pure Indians ant
Prs-Hlstoric Ruins Perpetual
Summer Town.
Southeast of the City Of Mexict
$50 miles, though in hours ride al
most as far as from Canon to Kansas
City, is the old city of Oaxaca (O-ah'
hak-a). When Columbus discovered
America there was prominent
Indian village, centuries old, where
Oaxaca now stands, and when the
Starving Time" was playing havoc
with the English settlement at James
town, the Spanish city of Oaxaca wai
100 years old. With the accumula'
ton of centuries it is now rich city
of about 35, 900 people. The railroad
has been in operation here only few
years, SO the city has not beer
modernized by northern enterprise
or spoiled by much tourist travel,
The city is today much the same as
it was in George Washington's time,
and many of the buildings Cortez saw
and had built still stand. If one il
looking for the ancient and crude, No
city in the republic is SO interesting
as 0axaca.
To come to Oexaca take El Ferro-
carril Interoceanico.r from City OF
Mexico to Puebla, and "El Ferrocarril
Mexicano del Sur (Mexican South
ern) from Puebla to 0axaca. The
last 200 miles ride is along clear
crystal rivers and through deep and
interesting cahons. Many parts Of
this ride are similar to the scenery
along the d. & R-G-. between Leadville
and Glenwood Springs, and it viii be
especially enjoyable and suggestive to
the Colorado tourist. 1t is long,
hard ride, and we enjoyed it better
by coming down so miles to Tehuacar
Too-ah-can) one afternoon and
making the balance Of the trip nexl
day.
In many ways Oaxaca is similar te
other Mexican cities, only more an.
cient. and the population is more dis
tinctly Indian. oaxaca has its beau
tiful plaxas, where blooming flowers
and tropical fruits are always seen
II has many very old churches, public
buildings, fortifications and other in.
teresting places to visit. 1t is the
birthplace of the patriots. Hidalgc
and Juarez, of the late Minister
Romero, and of President Diaz and
something concerning each may be
seen here. The old church castle
in which Cortez kept his Indian
wife may be seen and many marks Of
the many wars will be shown the
tourist. All Mexican towns of any
Importance have music by the regi-
mental land from two to four times
a week. Oaxaca has playing in the
plaza seven times q week and it is
good music. If the visitor is like
the writer be will be tempted to tarry
many days in oaxaca quietly enjoying
the delightful climate, beautiful
flowers, excellent music and odd Gus
toms of this very old city.
OF course the tourist who comes tt
SEE must go out to the Ruins Of
Militia. 1t is reached by sort Of
stage coach, drawn by a six-muls
team, and the trip is about the same
as stage ride from Canon to Silvel
Cliff and return perhaps not 81
pleasant. The coach, which will carr,
four or tive, costs only SIG, Mexican
silver, and the trip is made in two days
About nine miles out from the city
on the road to Militia is the big tree o.
Tule. This is in itself worth goins
to see. Its circumference, which il
l54 feet 4 inches, gives one but ;
poor conception of its wonderful mag
nitude.
The ruins of Militia consist of mum
erous walls and massive pillars, beinl
the remains of some ancient tempt,
or palace. The architecture and cut
ting of the stone is similar to the ol,
Egyptian workings, and the story o
the building and the builders is q
much q mystery today Is It was whel
Cortez conquered the country o
when tho Axtecs settled the land.
The labor question is . serions on
down here. Though the poems are .
numerous in the country as grasu
ho2pers in Kansas, miners and agri
culturists fFsqusntly ind thsmsslvs
unable to get any laborcrs. There
4 ornashonnef In the mo,,ntnina an3