La Junta tribune., 1910-07-02

u about one hundred and fifty
~ miles from its mouth. three
fourths or more Mexican and one
fourth or less American. The Amer
leans are the brains aud nerves Of
the city and the MeSicans are the
muscle. As the MeSicans are citi-
zens through the political bosses
they control the city. The Ameri-
cans simply have to make the best
of It. and as the Yankee not only
can make the lest OF any condition,
when he is compelled to do so, but he
does make the best OF 1t and always
comes out on top; hence, here as
under similar conditions among the
negroes In the south and among the
mcancr foreign element OF our large
cities, Ia the north. by ways often
that do not bear the best OF Amer.
lean moral standards often. regret
TO say, the Yankee aCcomplishcs his
purposes and has his own way, This
city Is thriving business city. What
is the source OF It's business acilY-
ity and prosperity. the stranger at
once inquiries In his mind The
country. save what little Is Irrigated
along the narrow valley OF the Rio
Grande. IS barren waste. covered
with mesquite and chapparel, small.
dwarfish. thorHy trees or rather brush
and great clusters OF cactus
The MeKicaus lIve Ia small. hot
and ~ ventilated houses or rooms.
often a family of eight or one doz
occupying but one and sometimes two
rooms The Mexican is lazy. lie is
starved and starvation staro@ you in
his face. especially Is this true Of
the women They are small lrsu
and haEEard. They grow old. bu'
they grow wrinklod aud ugly. They
marry y0unE. often al M" age Of
thirteen. fourteen and fifteen y,,rs,
aud bear. as rule. large families
The children are starved, too, and
poorly clothed aud badly housed The
mass are drnscly ignorant aud super
stitious have never iu any coun.
try seen faces so blank and absolute
~ without expression \ day or two
ago. | stood on platform waiting
for my train TO start Facing me
stood two old MeSicans. leaning up
against the depot. with their eyes
fixed upon me glanced at them
aud looked away and turned my
eyes towards them two or three
times l then looked straight into
the eyes Of one and another, and
finally looked steadily into the
eyes OF one Of the men aud I must
say never. In all my ne, saw such
human vacancy was absolute
ly no expression whatever II was
like the stare Of a snake and his
cyes Wrr. as fNed-an absolute
blank.
This city Is one OF M" important
gatcways into Mexico. The lntorna-
tional aud Great Northern and the
Texas Mexico railroad enter aud the
Mexican National railroad runs from
this city into Mexico The Texas.
Mexico railroad belongs 10 the same
company as the Mexico National
railroad. but under IA. Laws of the
state cf Texas, this road and all rail-.
roads must have their offices with.
In the state Il Is therefore run as
an independent line, The United
States custom house. with It's corps
OF officers and great office and Gus
tom force is an important element
In this city. There are also at this
piac. Wholesale and iobbing houses
aud commission firms. railroad round
houses. shops. and the residences
and offices OF large importers aud
traders. Tho streets are generally mar
row. Many Of the business houses
are good structures. built largely Of
brick There are several fine parkH
aud beautiful residences with orna.
mcntcd grounds. Property Is cheap.
although the city is growing. but not
rapidly hut the Mexican huts ar.
humble. some mtolcrsblc. and. like
the negro quarters in southern cities,
n mar TO the beauty OF the city.
Every southern city has It's low. nig.
ger quarters which always destroy
the fine effect OF the beautiful south.
crn homes such "a are found In south
crn cities.
Across the river il the Mexican
city ot New l.ardeo, I, has n pop
ulation OF pro ably fiNe or six thous'
and II in clean and pretty city. for
n Mexican civ. II contains two
most beautiful parks. ornamont"d