The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-25


of Day-Suddem Climatic Changer
Interesting IchIteeture-FrivoItI
of the Rio Grande-Improvident
Mexicans.
The following letter to New Haven
gentleman from New Havener stop
ping in the south will undoubtedly be
of much interest to many of our read
ers:
Ell Paso, Tex, Dec. 19.-Upon sign
on the side of the Southern Pacific de-
pot the traveller is Informed that Ell
Paso is 1191 80 miles from New Or
leans and 1894 4-1O miles from San
Francisco. 1t is situated on the north
side of the Rio Grande river. Before
Texas became one of the United States
both sides of the river were called FL
Paso, and it was the gateway from
which the trails from Old Mexico went
out into the country now occupied by
New Mexico, Arizona and Southern
California.
The Mexican side of the river is now
called Cindad Jaurez in honor OF one
of their presidents. Jaurez is typical
Mexican city, with queer adobe and
white washed-stucci buildings. Its
senors wear large hats and Mexican
blankets-its senoras and senoritas are
hatless, the shawl performing the
function of chapeau and top coat or
Jacket. The postoffice and barracks are
most interesting. It's church, over
three hundred years old, is a white
building and stands on ground little
higher than the center of the town and
has a tower and belfry. AS we enter
we notice that the vegas, or overhead
beams, are hewn and even carved by
hand as are also some of the upright
posts, and when we consider that 1t
was built by priests, Mexicans and In
dams, about century ago and that
the wood had to be brought from a
long distance we realize that we are in
the presence of one of the many m0nu-
rnerts of those good men who toiled
and suffered that the Christian religion
might be implanted in this desert and
savage land.
Ell Paso is 1920 feet high and has an
almost arid climate. In fact, it is on
the eastern edge of the desert which
extends nearly to the Pecos river. 1t
is said that but ~ to 10 inches of rain
fall annually At this time of the year
the air is very dry and bracing while
the temperature changes quickly from
mild to freezing. The nights are cool
and in the middle of the day, in the
sun, 1t is quite hot. The temperature
between sunshine and shade is also
marked. There is no twilight to speak
of and an hour or so after shutdown it
is quite dark.
From about the first of February to
the middle of April the region is fire.
quentiy visited by winds from the
north which envelope the city with a
fine dust. In summer the temperature
often reaches 100 degrees-heat that
stays night and day for long time.
One is able to endure it on account of
the dryness and it is said that no sun
strokes occur.
The Rio Grande river flows on the
south of the town in a southeasterly di-
rection. The banks are wide apart but
the river itself Is not more than rs or 80
feet wide at the present time and is
crossed by the Mexicans on stepping
stones.
To the west of the city mountain
range runs north and south from
New Mexico into Old Mexico and is the
connection between the Rockies and the
Sierra Madra.
To the north of the city are high
plateaus called mesas and from these
mountain peaks can be seen farther
north.
The city itself is quite level and the
center is about half way between the
river and the mesas. The little public
square is bounded on the north by the
railroad tracks, east by Ovendorff no.
tel, south by the postoffice and the
Sheldon House, and east a row of brick
buildings. The business portion lies
to the south of the square and the
residential portion to the north.
Ell Paso has a population of
25,000 and seems to. be about the
size of New Britain. The population is
made up of Americans from the eastern
and central states, Mexicans, some Chi
nese and negroes. There are also
great many invalids, mostly sufferers
from lung and pulmonary troubles
The Chinese conduct the laundries and
restaurants.
The Mexicans are the laborers and
do the work that is done by the italians
in the east. They are an improvident
lot, much taken to gambling, and if
they have accumulated little money,
as likely as not they will take a vaca-
tion until it is gone.
The servant girl question is trying
one. Mexican girls are about the only
ones to be had. Wages are exceedingly
high and as many saint and fast days
occur in their calendar, days off are of
frequent occurrence. In fact, the mis-
tress does not know until the girl
makes her appearance whether she is
to have her that day or not. One
would maturity inquire if you can de-
duct from their wages for this. oh,
no. certainly not the pay must go on
lust the same. The holiday is likely to
occur at the most announcement time i'm
aginable.
From the top of the hills to the north
the city is very pretty to look upon.
Most of the residences are new and are
one story high, with slanting roofs.
Here and there one sees sto story
dwelling which is a quite rare struc-
ture.
They are all built of brick. What we
call red pressed brick is most generally
used, and with shingled roofs stained