The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-06-27

Exponent. Mr.. Hoover,
who is cousin of Lawrence and John
Caster, of this city, is an extensive
and writes a letter we'll
worthy of perusal. A second letter
will be published next week:
Lordsburg, Calf, May 10, 1907.
According to promise we give you
brief account of our trip to the Golden
State.
Leaving Chicago on the evening of
May 8th, over the Santa Fe on special
train for sight seeing, we had many adj
vantages that the passenger on the reg
ular train does not have, as this train
was personally conducted by represent
atives of the Santa Fe road, who stop
ped the train at each place of interest
and explained the different historical
points along the route.
AS the Santa Fe road is built on the
old Santa Fe TRAIL there are more his
torical points along the route than we
were aware of, in connection with some
great mountain scenery.
Thursday we crossed the states of
Missouri and Kansas; these states show
a great prospect for wheat, as we never
pect.
A short stop was made at Topeka,
the state capital. Friday found us in
Colorado, passing along the west range
of the Rocky mountains to the south for
over two hundred miles. Spanish peaks
over ninety miles distant were in view
for several hours, their tops being COW
cred with snow. Trinidad was visited
by our party. 1t is nice town, built
at the base Of the Rocky mountains and
is somewhat Mexican in appearance.
The only thing interesting about the
place is the name and the circumstance
connected with it. When in the early
days settlement existed at this place,
it was attacked by Apache Indians, who
were defeated and driven back by an
old man known by the name "Dad,' who
was captain of the home guard. This
man had a daughter by the name of
Trini, who rendered good service as a
scout, and to honor them both the set
tiers gave the place the name Trinidad.
Las Vegas is the second oldest town
of New Mexico, and is built in the old
Mexican style. Many of the houses are
built of cement and look odd in appear
ance.
Santa Fe is the oldest city in the
state, being three hundred years old.
The government building occupied by
Mexican governors when the territory
belonged to Mexico, is the principal
point of interest. The government
building contains Indian curiosities and
relics. such as Kit Carson's rifle, saddle
and other articles that belonged to the
famous scout.
For hundreds of miles through New
Mexico, the only houses of habitation
are fiat houses made of clay and look as
if they were about the size of a freight
car. How people live in such looking
country is what puzzles the passenger
as he passes through the country and
views the sand and rocks from the car
window.
"Starvation peak" the most noted
mountain peak in the state, is near the
Santa Fe, and as it was clear day we
had a fine view of the mountain. AT
one time the Spanish were driven on
the top of this mountain, which is al
most solid rock, by the Indians and
surrounded. After a vain effort to make
their "get away" they hewed three
crosses in the rock at the top of this
peak, so as to show their faith in the
Catholic religion. These crosses car
be plainly seen from the car window
today.
A stop was made at Albuquerque, OF
two hours, to visit the greatest red maj
museum in the country. Here all the
trinkets and belongings that ever the
Indians had is on exhibition with not {
few of the copper faced individuals
themselves, who solicited an exchange
of coin for wares and other articles
they offered for sale. Saturday at 8 a
M, stop was made at Loguna and {
half mile walk brought one to the
Pueblos.
The village is located on slopins
hillside of solid rock. The houses ar.
travels through or over the village, h.
is on house top part of the time ant
then he can ascend ladder and reacl
another house top or he can follow
very narrow passage way between TIN
huts and call that an avenue. A lool
on the inside of the houses didn't revea
much furniture, as the floor served TO
chairs and the teeth for knives and tn
fingers for forks.
Bows and arrows and saddles ant
Dlankets seem 20 predomlnate as 1urnl
ture in each hut.
The chiefs door was thrown open am
nearly all the party shook his hand a
we'll as that of his better half who stoo
by his side and held a two year old, tn
next heir to the throne.
The whole village turned out an
gave a war dance, to the music of
noise made by the pounding on wha
might be called drum, and chin musi
principally. While the dance was ii
progress the squaws were busy pushin
the sale Of their wares, "clay pottery,
on the pottery. The entire village liv
as one family SO far as laying up store
for the rainy season and it is said the
have few family jars to mar the pleas
ures of life as they are very peaceabl
among themselves.
The next stop was at Williams wher
the train took a side trip of sixty mile