Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-02
THE AGE Of SANTA f
Seventy Five Years Older
Than the Ruins of jamestown.
COLLECTING RECORDS
VALUABLE HISTORIC RELICS
AND DOCUMENTS.
Papers Preserved by the Vigil Family
Gen. Kearney's Proclamation As
Stunning Control Of the Territory.
BY WILLIAM z. CURTIS

Snecai CORRESPONDENCE of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald
SANTA FEE, N. NJ, July 80. 1905.
Santa Fe is fascinating old town. sew
enty-fve years older than the ruins OF
jamestown and eighty years older than
Plymouth, and there Is more history hang
ing around it than appertains to any other
capital in the United States except Boston
and Washington. Nowhere has SO much
of the ancient atmosphere and so many OF
the original buildings been preserved. 1t
IL said that Santa Fe never changes. That
is not strictly true. 1t has changed great
deal; I can see many Improvements which
were not here seven years ago; but the
sanctity of age is respected here more than
is customary in this generation OF icono-
clasts. There Is a certain reverence when
protects the ancient of days.
The Spanish came to explore here In
1880: their first invasion was 1910. when
they baptized the Indians, established mis-
sions and built church-old San Miguel
which Is still standing. its decrepit walls
being carefully supported by stone but
tresses The timbers of the roof and gal
lery. carefully carved. and with designs
burned In them with hot irons. will always
have an interest which can be found in no
other church in the United States Across
the street from San Miguel is an adobe
house in which, It is said. Coronado was
lodged when in 1910 he visited the Indian
pueblo called Tequayo, that stood on the
site of Santa Fe. and 1t Is the only rem
nant Of the ancient pueblo still standing;
but 1t Is by no means the oldest house In
America. as the people here would like to
have US believe. There are a dozen Indian
villages in the valley Of the Rio Grande
made up Of similar houses. and every one
of them Is as old. If not older.
Capitol Displaces the Palace.
AS Judge Prince says in the little guide
book to Santa Fe: THE ancient palace
surpasses. In historic interest and value.
any other object or place in the United
States" 1t was built in 1e0s. and through
all that long period. until recently. when
the new capital was inaugurated, under
Spanish. Pueblo, Mexican or American con-
troll. 1t has been the seat of rower and au-
thority. Whether the ruler was called vice.
roy. captain-general. political chief. de-
partment commander or governor; and
whether he presided over a kingdom. a
province or territory, 1t has been his
official residence" The palace has been
occupied by fifty Spanish fifteen Mexican
and fifteen American governors. Governor
Otero was the first to leave 1t. He now
full new building which was erected few
years ago.
The new capitol Is a credit to the terri
tory. 1t was built Of cream-eolored brick
upon foundation of granite cruciform In
shape and crowned with a graceful dome.
1t is the second building from the same de-
signs that has been built upon the same
foundations The first was completed in
1890 at cost of $3.50 600 and was burned
a short time after. The official reports
stated that the fire was accidental. and 1t
was said to have originated from Cigarette
carelessly thrown aside: but many people
believe that 1t was the work of an incen-
diary, who was Influenced by a hope that
the destruction of the building might be
followed by the removal of the seat Of
territorial government to Albuquerque. But
Ii there wa anything In that story the
sacrifice was in vain Another building
rose slowly upon the old foundations at
cost of 500. GOO and was completed and In
augurated In June, 1900 Forty dollars of
the appropriation remained unexpendsd NJ
the end. but the commissioners who had