The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1905-12-15
A Visit to Old Santa Fe
Sbecial correspondepce.

the capital of new state. is an 10.
teresting city. The Southwest ha.
macy Meccas. but among them non,
stands out more cOnspicuOusly as
afferding interest to tourists thar
does this little city of the Holy Faith
Astounding as 1t does with some OF
oldest relics Of European colonization
10 America and presenting repres-
entation of each succeeding period OF
architectural progress up to the pre-
sent day, the modern Santa Fe afford,
opportunities for study equalled by ne
other city In the United States.
When Coronado, In 1910, with hi
proud band of Castillan knights,
penetrating the Then unexporei
Southwest of new America on hi,
frultless hunt for the seven tabled
cities Of Cibola. he found where today
stand Santa Fe an Indian pueblo.
containing what he estimated to b.
fifteen murdered souls. 1t was the first
time white men had even looked upon
that valley. In about the same year
however, or probably year later,
Catholic missionaries began the cree
lion of schurch at this place for
Indian converts. On this account
there are some who argue that Santa
Fe Is entitled to precedence in point
Of priority as an European settlement
over st. Augustine. Our historians,
tail to recognize this claim, and in
consequence 1892, the year in which
it was permanently founded by the
Spaniards, is given as the date of the
birth of the real Santa Fe. The
name then given 1t was "La Cindad
Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco"
meaning the "The Royal City OF the
Holy Faith of St Francis" which
name has been reduced In the LAPSE OF
time to the present lower terms.
immediately after it was founded ii
became The seat Of government for
The part of New Spain which was
coded to the United States 10 1913.
The traveller on nearing Santa Fe
oeholds nestled on plain within the
emb ace of encilcling mountains whoes
peaks tower TO the heights of 10000
md 10 600 feet, busy little city Of
700 nhabltants-the Oldest capita
city in the United States and still Of
only a territory. Above the many
shade and fruit trees peep the spires
If churches of nearly every denomina-
lion, and Of schools aud colleges; the
Iomes OF the capitol aud other pub lie
buildings, and the chimneYs Of hand
'ome residences Around the ciJy,scat-
Tered over the hills and plains, are
productive mines of many valuable
minerals and we'll irrigated fields Of
grain; and entering the city from :
many different directions are three
railroads, each accompanied by its
telegraph liues.
As the traveller draws nearer he
earns that his distant view has not
1een misleading but that here is
mo1el little chy. 1t has telephone,
''lectric light aud wateT-work systems
tnd all other modern improvements
But the view now is not only of The
modern. Side by side with these
modern structures and Improvements
nc finds struggling groups of low
idohe huts, amongst which wine
narrow, unsidewalkOd lanes. Tumbled
Town houses, occasionly au old church
md may be The crumbllng ruins of a
sali5a, or fort also help make up the
iew.al Of which are monuments 10 ;
laSt age and the stories that cling tt
t csc relics are Of more than passing
interest.
Here one also finds assOcia ed with
0be city's busy Americanlzed citizens
lud its visiting cosmopolitan tourists
people that well match these anti
quated Surroundings, as interesting il
appearances ana customs as would be
[ imagine, avitisc0pic portrayal Of tht
inhabitants of Santa Re of two aud
lalr ceut1ries ago. In the shadow .
heir onC &c $ lmetimes two try hut
often builJ as many as two nundreC
Years ago of sun-dried brick, or within
oofs on the earthen floor, sit wrinkleo
'aced old men and women III apparen
dleaesS, while before their door
Il, epy- locking burrus loaded with fir
Wool or Ia de- ruck pass lazi y Q
fro at the admonition of "A Mex CT
'nerder." There are also groups q,
shatJering'g girls TO be met now aut
Cnen. and should he ask a question o
5hem the visitor may expect nouhin,
more in reply, 10 spite OF the clo,el.
drawn rapalO, than glimpse of in
terrOgating eyes ana saucy face
Occasioniy, however, word or two in
spanish may accompany the elquir