Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1908-10-06
AMERICAS OLDEST CITY
Former Editor of Observer Tells of
His Visit to Historic Santa
Fe

A1souV AOot, Nd1ioy SONSAON "ASA p"
luxuriant growth of grass, and thickly
dotted with the dwarf shrubbery
peculiar to the higher attitudes; a
valley watered by a clear mountain
stream, fed by melting snow. Imagine
an atmosphere as pure as the chimes
of silver bells, aud as refreshing in its
effects on the tired traveller as that of
the most invigorating tonic; an
atmosphere tempered by sunshine
three hundred days in the year. Let
your Imagination draw such picture,
and you will have a fairly accurate
mental photograph of the country
surrounding the city of Santa Fe. the
ancient capitol Of New Mexico.
One of the inexplicable mysteries Of
the human mind is that we are prone
to draw distinct mental pictures OF
places in which we are interested and
have never seen. We pick up book
of fiction, and, before reading far. we
have unconsciously formed in our
mind a picture Of the scene surround
ing the action of the story, and this
mental photograph, so to speak, re-
mains with us unchanged TO the end
of the tale So it is with unfamiliar
places in which we are interested. We
read of a strange city, or hear it
described, and at once it stands forth
in our imagination clear and distinct.
and this picture remains indelibly
fixed in our minds eye until removed
by the actual sight of the place itself.
Think this is true Of every one of us.
For no good reason. I had always
fancied the city Of Santa Fe to be a
mud-walled village in a sand and
sagebrush desert, surrounded by
burning and trackless plains. This
impression had steadfastly remained
in my mind since the day when, as a
schoolboy, I first read of the ancient
capitol. Imagine, therefore, how ruth
lessly this cherished picture was swept
aside as our train brought us in sight
of beautiful city, sitting smiling in
fruitful valley, and guarded by
emerald mountains crowned with per-
petual snow. The surprise was fit
ting one, as it served to prepare US for
other pleasant surprises soon to
follow.
have spent two days in this histor-
ical capitol-two days in which every
available moment has been devoted to
sightseeing and study-and a more
profitable period of time I never hope
to enjoy. So delightful has been the
visit that I feel that would like to
share it with the readers of the Obser-
yer, and so have decided to write a
letter devoted solely to a description
Of this interesting spot.
For many Of the historical facts here
presented, and for much valuable
information concerning the Santa Fe
of the present day, 1 am indebted to
Colonel Max Frost, the scholarly
editor-in chief of the Daily New Mexi-
can, and the dean of the newspaper
profession in the Southwest. To this
Grand Old Man of New Mexico, I am
indebted for the honor OF a personal
interview and for copy of his charm
ing booklet, "The Sights Of Santa Fe. "
The city OF Santa Fe has a popula-
ton OF 5000 souls. counting Americans,
Mexicans, and Indians not taxed. II
is IS miles northeast of Lamy juno
ton on the Santa Fe railroad, and is
connected with the main line by q
spur track. Being situated off the
main route Of travel, thousands OF
tourists pass it by every week In the
year, little dreaming that 10 so doing
they are passing within an hours ride
Of one OF the greatest centers Of histor.
ical interest in North America.
Santa Fe has been called the ''mosi
interesting city in the United States,
and the title is deserved. 1t also
claims to be the oldest city continuously
inhabited in North America, the only
rival claimant to that distinction
being st. Augustine, Florida. Be tha
as it may, it is certain that Santa Ft
Is one among the oldest Capitols, no
only of the United States, but OF th'
world.
1t was founded in 1898 by the Span
ish conquistadores Oh the site OF az
ancient Indian pueblo. Even at this
early date it had all the appearance oi
being the center Of government for q
large and powerful tribe Of Indians
and while its earlier history comes
down to us 10 the nature Of tradition
there are good reasons for believing
that the cacique's house OF that perioc
had been the home Of Indian ruleri
for centuries before. This house, with
out doubt the oldest 10 the Unitec
States, had the appearance Of grea
age even at the time the spaniardi
made formal settlement 10 Santa Fe
The building is still standing, and 4
10 q fair state Of preservation.
Prior 70 the year 1880. the Spanish
conquistadopes took what they coveteC
~ the fairer portions of New Mexico