The Newtown bee., 1904-03-18

member the name, SWam0-nOOG, III
Kilmer's Swamp-Root, and the address.
Binghamton, N. Y, on every bottle.
pleased in the place. OF course we
wanted to know what three things we
could not do, and were told we could
not spit on the sidewalks, must muzzle
the dog, and could not get shave on
Sunday.
At Del Rio, ITO miles west of San
Antonio, we ran along side, a short
distance, of the Rio Grande, which at
that point was in size about like our
Housatonic. From there on to Ell
Paso, $50 miles, we passed through the
barren part of Texas, that indicated
we were drawing near the desert coun.
try. We must not omit to speak of
one extremely interesting and pictur-
esque scene that meets ones eyes as
one is speeding along the banks of
DEVILS river and cross the Pecos river
on the Pecos viaduct bridge, which is
said to be the second highest bridge
in the world. 1t is 321 feet from. the
bottom of the river to the top of rail,
1880 feet long, and cost the Southern
Pacific Company over g., 900, 900. 1t is
a steel bridge from foundation. We
crossed it in the afternoon and when
our train was midway across, we stop
ped long enough to have our nerves
thrilled as we looked down into the
depths of the canyon which the won
derful structure spanned. OF course,
boy like, was on the lower step to see
all that could be seen. So far below
was the water that it seemed to hardly
move, and on the river bank lay the
carcass of a dead steer, that had prob
ably found way down the canyon to
quench its thirst, and could not find
its way out, there to die from starva-
tion, and the buzzards were flying over
head getting ready for an evening
meal. Moving along through an in
teresting country Ell Paso is the next
city of Importance. It is on the banks
of the Rio Grande, which is the divid-
ing line between the Cow Boy and the
Greaser. 1t is quite railroad center
and has many handsome business
blocks. just across the river is the
quaint Mexican town, Juarez, connect
ed with Ell Paso by street cars, and it
is rumored there is some smuggling
done across the river. Our train
was held there quite a while
and the conductor of our car took us
out to do the city. We were much at
ease for we were sure our train would
not leave us If we stuck by our conduc-
tor. Still in the United States, but
only the river dividing US from Next
CO there was much that savored of
Mexican life. It was there we saw
the first alligators. Ell Paso people
are proud of their city and well they
may be, though it was not drawing
card for us. The mountains about
there are supposed to be full of copper
and other minerals and large smelters
and other ponderous machinery are
working night and day to unlock Ma
lures great mineral store houses.
At Ell Paso we crossed the Rio
Grande and entered New Mexico.
Now we make run of 1876 miles along
the southern border Of, as YET, a
sparcely settled territory that is knock
ing persistently at the door of Congress
for admission to statehood. We are
in desert country. Mesquite, prick
tley pear, horned toads, lizards, yucca
and other things abound. Adobe
huts, Mexican corrals, cowboys, bron-
chos and much of primitive interest
helps divide our attention. Occasion
ally we run through section of scant
fertility, when we see few cattle, al
so, small herds of horses, but all look
ing rather gaunt, because Of the much
needed rain. River beds, so far as we
could see were dry and the hot rays of
the sun poured down upon the almost
listless herds. Artesian wells occa-
sionally were seen, while painting
stock stood by to take turn in shaking
parching thirst. Occasionally car
cass would be seen drying up on the
arid desert. Many, many pitiably in
teresting sights along the way riveted
our attention, not the least Of which
were isolated burial places, where
some loved one had been laid to rest,
far from home and kindred, with a
wooden head board, or wooden cross
to mark the spot, as under the stars.
and heavens blue canopy, it awaits
the coming resurrection day.
While we have no ambition to tire
The BEES readers,-it is hard to car
ry out the plan first laid down, that
we would cover the entire distance
from Washington to Redlands, 5000
miles and more, by one letter. We
leave you now mid the desert sands of
New Mexico, from which point to con-
tinue our letter in your next.-[E. L.
johnson.