Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-03-08


Just before leaving the bridge the
car stops and three men In Mexican
uniform enter. They are the custom
house inspectors. But as all the pas
sengers are minus baggage the car
is not long detained. We are now
under the Red, White and Green"
instead of the Red. White and
Blue" In this respect the sister re-
publlos dress nearly alike. Both wear
stripes and the eagle Is the national
emblem of each
Juarez is not large city but large
enough for one to learn something OF
the country we are about TO visit.
There Is the plaza and tho church n.
Mexico II only needs n church and a
plaza 10 constitute a city. But there
are several streets devoted to busi-
ness which seem to he largely com.
posed OF dealers In Mexican curios
and drawn work. Thousands of visit.
ors stop at III Paso for day and OF
course visit the city across the border
| anu VI Ht'fNHiAN
remembrance. Then there is large
customs buildings. the market, prison,
railroad buildings and headquarters of
the Mexican Central railroad. and.
last but not least, the bull ring where
fights are pulled on every Sunday.
We were handed hand bills deacrIb-
ing the great event that was to taxa
place the following day. The ring Is
said to be among the finest In the re-
public and has n seating capacity OF
about 5000 The plaza here Is a lit
tie one and not very attractive, but
in larger towns great care Is taken to
provide pretty place OF recreation
for the people. The plaza is the prop
erty Of every one; II is about the
only thing that is not walled In. The
church ediflce and the government
building always face on the plaza.
The church building. made OF adobe,
is notable principally for its age. A
mission was founded here In 1862 and
mas been maintained ever since. The
house has few ornaments and gives
evidence Of the poverty OF the parish.
Some ine carving can be seen on the
great beams which hold up the heavy
roof hut the altar and pulpit are se-
verely simple. In 1865 this was the
actual capital OF the republic OF Mex
leo. Wherever Beuito Jnarez, the
president, was, there was the capital.
and he was here for nearly year.
keeping out OF the hands OF the
French At last the foreigners were
beaten and Juarez and his cabinet re-
sumed business In the City OF Mexico.
He was three times elected president
and died In office In 1872. He was
pure Indian and reported AS a grand
specimen of the old Aztec race. He
is spoken of as great man and the
Mexican people honor ils name. In
1883 statue was erected here to
his memory and the name OF Paso del
Norte changed To JuareZ In his honor.
While Juarez is the starting point
and headquarters of the Mexican Cen
tral railroad for the convenience OF
passengers the company backs Its
trains over to the Santa Fe depot In
El Paso an hour before the departure
for Mexico, The afternoon Is now well
spent and we take passage by the
mule car for the other side OF the riv-
er, to sleep another night under til.
Stars and Stripes before extending
our journey Ia to the interior. Befor.
leaving the bridge crossing the Rio
Grande the car stops and United
States custom officers board 1t and
ask the passengers If they have any
> thing dutlable such as blankets.
; drawn work and other curios. We an-
- swer NO" and our word seems To
he good. For all the officials mign.
p know we might have concealed hum
dreds Of dollars worth OF drawn work.
but the Individual who makes the trim
: and lmaglnes he can do so any time
4 and not get caught Is pretty sure to
} get nabbed The United States has
: detectives In Jnarez dressed In plain
clothes and any one discovered max
4 ing extensive purchases are watched
e and reported to the customs officials
9 and If they try to smuggle their pnr-
e chases across are detained and exam
I ined Women are examined by men,
3 hers of their own sex. and when con-
@ traband is discovered 1t means for.
ii feiture in many cases and In some In.
G stances imprisonment. Thus what sp-
r pears an easy matter to smuggle Is
a liable to get one In much trouble.
g Before retiring we endeavored to To-
O cate II. J. Carson. our old-time Bob. 1t
@ who is located here as manager OF
the Mine 4 Smelter company. but the
r. hour Is late. the store closed and va
t. have to forego the pleasure OF renew
l. ing old acquaintance and given the
a glad hand. Now we must retire to
{. take the morning train for the land
n of the Aztecs. q. N. X.