Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-09-13

such an institution. Many fail to
come until it is too late, and die
among strangers and alone. l could
write many things about this, and see
many errors that might have Teen
rectified, but space forbids so will
speak now Of Cloudcroft.
1t is on the mountain top II miles
straight east but 25 by rail. 1 visited
it recently, and the wonders and
beauty of nature are grand at Cloud
croft {meauing the city above the
cloudS). This beautiful summer re.
sort nestles among the widest mount
ain settings, at an elevation of 9, 900 tt.
1t is here that the brain weary of the
hot city can come for rest. Cloud.
croft is a meeting place of a New
Mexico Chautauqua. The beautiful
scenery as you stand on the summit OF
that lofty peak of the Sacramento and
view the white sands in the desert,
tossed like ocean waves to and fro; the
beautiful foliage in the mountains and
lofty pine trees, is some thing grand.
The little city is entirely on the rustic
plan Of architecture. The Cloudcroft
Lodge has 200 guests rooms, and it is
fnished,-the interior-in natural
wood with the bark upon it; two large
mantles in the reception hall,
furnishes heat,-for it is always cool
there-and there are 1000 entertained
there from ali parts Of N. a. and
Europe in the summer months. Many
have their own cottages, while others
dwell in tents, of which there is a
small city.
The assent to the mountain by rail
was something I thought remarkable.
At times we we're upon the edge of a
prespice and at other times it looked
equally as dangerous. We passed on
the rout an old grist mill that the
Spanishe had erected over 400 years
ago. 1t stood in the canyon. Up the
side OF the mountain, the railroad in
attaining this elevation, exhibits many
examples OF remarkable engineering as
1t seemed to me that we went back.
ward as much as we cid forward.
Near the summit, was the high bridge
across the canyon, which 1 felt little
doubtful about crossing at first. Then
they had to make three loops back up
and each time. we could see the track
below, that we had just come over
and so far below it resembled silver
ribbon. The last mile-if they could
have went Straightforward 81 with
those loops. AS wonderful as nature
is. man, can surmount all obstacles.
Brains and education in that instance
was exemplifed.
There are several loads of logs
brought from the mountains each day
down such long and heavy grade,
The trainmen handle their loads with
perfect salty. But 1 have known of
several ladies and men as well, that
have tainted with fright upon the
train, and made solemn promise that
Cloudcroft would never receive an
other visit from them. / for myself
thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to be
able to see it many times more in the
future. The forest there was very
dense, and it had been left unframed,
only streets were cut through the
dense forest, which gave it a rustic
grandure, leaving occasionally a stump
where weary travellers could sit and
rest.
AlamOgorda has had in the last two
weeks, three earthquakes, but they
were so faint and far away that we
only got the vibrations, but enough to
shake dishes, and furniture up little,
and as had never seen or felt one, /
did not realize it was one until it was
all over with. I attributed the first to
our pet house dog, thinking he was
raising an unusual amount of noise
and sent him out of doors. The shock
was felt very distinctly at Santa Te-
secorra, and several other places, also
In Ell Paso Liz 50 miles from here, and
at Juraz-old Mexico, but as far as /
have heard, there has been no lives
lost or much property destroyed.
| have visited Old Mexico once in
February and saw and admired the
famous old Adobe Catholic church
there, that was built in 1449, by the
Spaniards. The carvings are a
wonder, did by hand centuries ago
While l stood lost in adminiStion at
tine beautiful handwork of man at
that time the sad thought occurred to
me that the hands that done the work
had been LAID to rest for centuries
nearly four hundred years-the interior
being finished with mahogany, drawn
oy oxen over 600 miles.
/ thought it queer coincidence
while there on the grounds belonging
TO the church, l remarked to my sister
Jhe late Col. NJ, r. Roblee's wife, that
LII / could see necessary to make it
more beautiful was shade trees-which
there were none. While l was talking
I team drove up and a crew of
Mexlcan's began to plant trees. l
said to my sister we will wait and see
the first tree planted. If they have
made up their minds after almost 400
years to peautify the grounds-lets
wait and celebrate on foreign soil, the
first shade tree on that church pro-
perty.
Do not think from this letter / am
so much in love with New Mexico that
[ have forgotten dear old Wisconsin,
my birth place-or the many kind
neonlp there for T always fhinL of