Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-04-04
REV, ROBERT M'LEAN WRITES
FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEX.
Editor Courier:

NAlNcA C~NA 80
am reminded today that my
promise OF a second letter to the
Courier is still unfulfilled, so as a
March sandstorm has possession OF
the outside world | think It good
time to get up some OF the delayed
correspondence.
AS | attempt to write Of the New
Mexico today 1 cannot help making
comparison with the conditions in
this land OF the combination OF the
elements of modern progress with
those OF the immovable past.
Forty-five years ago l left North
Platte, Nebraska, the then terminus
OF the Union Pacific railroad, and
passed through Colorado, then south
ward into New Mexico, then follow
ing the trail down the Pecos river
to the Old Horsehead crossing, then
over the Staken Plain to the head
waters of the Concho, then across
the state of Texas, across Louisiana
and into Mississippi without seeing
another railroad. Today the whole
region is covered with a network OF
railroads, and modern cities, mod
ern methods of agriculture are seen
on all sides. The old Santa Fe Trail
has been superseded by the Atchison'
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, the
creaking and groaning prairie
schooner has given way to the
freight train and the broncho to the
Pullman. Old men still sit under
the shade of the trees and tell of old
times. of Indian massacres, of out
law hold-ups, of the half-breed
Charley Bent, educated at govern
ment expense and returning a worse
savage than the band OF desperadoes
whom he led in raids on his own
!
fathers wagon trains, Of the Cim-
marron gang which, from its fast
ness in the Dry Cimmarron noun
tains terrorized all northern New
Mexico; and It is with more than a
trace of sadness that these men OF
the frontier dwell upon the passing
of the days of adventure and ro-
nance.
| recall the outbreak of the
Apaches in 1868, short but terrible
and | remember running into a war
party of Utes just returning from
a fight with the Arrapahoes and
carrying proudly a number of fresh
scalps. Last night stood before an
audience of about four hundred In
dian pupils and spoke to them on
the meaning to us of the resurree'
tion of Christ. 1t was an inspiring
audience, and ! could only say as
did Morse, What hath God
wrought"
My address was preceded by al
Easter exercise that would be a cred
it to any place or any church. Th'
little lady who announced the mum
bers on the program and led in th'
responsive readings did it with al
the grace of a society lady, | woulr
not have missed that service for any
thing.
But enough of comparisons. ! vii
come to the material present.
Albuquerque is situated in the fef
tile valley of the Rio Grande, an
nowhere else will you find create
contrasts than here. On the on
hand we have an up-to-date city, fin
stores and public buildings, and with
in sight buildings that have stood S
long that no one living can tell whe
they were built. In Old Albuquerqu
| saw workmen tearing down tn
building which was the home OF Mr.
Phil Sheridan, while close to it wa
the handsome county court house
Bernalillo county. Back of that
the old church, part of which
said to be 500 years old. Throug
the whole valley are found the ne
and the old side by side. Great car
}. ais branch out to carry the waters
the river that has given the vale
z its name, and while at present
is looks as II there would be a wat'
is famine, not a quarter of what the'
Ie ditches demand, yet the food time
is in May, and before it subsidies Il
ID irrigation season is about owe
ID There are possibilities in the way
i'd alfalfa and stock that are as y
III hardly touched.
Last week | made a trip into Al
zona, passing out Of the Rio Crane
valley at Rncon, thence TO Bow
through valleys where there are m
n. lions of acres of the finest land, on
IN needing water to make them gard'
- I.,,o. A. powia thpv told me IN