Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-01-30

y EDITOR REFLEcToRi After leavin
? Abilene we journsyed through $ nth
= ern Kansas. During the night "
passed through part Of Oklahoma an,
. Texas, We then q tered the south
eastern portion Of New Mexico. ii
800 miles We passed through . yer,
barren and mountainous country
Toa casual observer one would tn nj
. 1t unit for habitation yet there ar,
a quite number Of good towns. sup
ported BY large ranches on which !
large number Of cattle, sheep and
goats Craze. Mining is carried on to
large extent. Arrived at FL Paso,
the gateway to Arizona, New Mexico
and Old Mexico.
81 Paso, including Jaurez, Next
can City, with only the Rio Grande
river between, has about 10000 popu-
lation. Fl Paso's population Is about
onerhalf American and the other half
Mexican. The indominant push Of
Americans has made Ell Paso a live
building city. Having spent two
days in this city | took the train for
Torreon. On arriving on the Mexi-
can side, we were overhauled by the
custom house officers, who thorough
ly inspected our person and baggage.
II no dutiable goods are found
baggage is marked 0. z. II anyone
attempts to take through any articles
not in accordance with custom duties,
he will be fined and confscated. 1t
generally takes about two hours to
inspect all baggage for each train 60
ing south.
From Jaurez to Torreon the coun-
try is similar to New Mexico except
quite large strip is devoted to cotton
raising north Of Terreony which is
irrigated BY Nazas river. On srriv-
ing at Torreon we boarded the Inter-
national Mexican train for Pedricena
when ! was met by my nephew,
Frank Smolt.
Pedrioena, San Lorenzo and Valer-
dena are the principal villages which
are supported by three large smelters
costing about 100000
There are large number Of mines
in the mountains on both sides Of
this valley, which contribute q large
amount of ore to the smelters. This
valley is considered one of the richest
money district in Mexico. The head
officers Of these shelters are Ameri-
cans. The manual labor is all done
by Mexican Poems. All the mines are
also worked by these Mexicans.
The habits of the Poems and their
manner OF living are something after
the Indian fashion. They are as
rule very ignorant and indolent, very
'ew can speak the English language.
Here is where an American fresh from
,he states loses out. There villages
ire all built Of adobe houses, families
ire generally large, and with their
logs, pigs and chickens all share one
mall hut. @ Their principal living is !
orn which is ground fine aud soaked 1
D water, then rolled into what we
all fap-jac and baked. These are =
allied portillies; 30 cents gold per :
ay will generally support family of b
or 10. Their dress Is rather pecu. /
ar; the men and boys wear tight t
ting pants. a chesp cotton shirt. . :
lanket and sandals. Their sandals
re made Of heavy strips OF leather, q
ne for the bottom and one for the Z
'p Of the, foot tied with strips Of :,
ather. Children run bare-fOoted. b
be women feel very proud In a new
Ilico dress and 9 rebosa for their
'ad and shoulders. Burros are here "
lthout number which do all the ly
eighting to and from the mines. ar
ley carry about all the ore from the 81
ines to the shelters; without the -
4 Of these burros the mining BUSH IL
IS would be q failure. de
Or. W. A. Jolley joined me here on so
Iursday Of this week and will re- ~ ~
me our journey south to Manzanello wi
the Pacific coast stopping over at VIC
, most prominent cities including
, city Of Old Mexico. 49,,
MP. JoLLEY. pel
" do,
dr. London writes: III I owned Sol