Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-04-29
VISIT TO SPAIN
AN INTERESTING One
A. G.. Baker Describes His Visit to
CadiZ, Spain i'm a Graphic
Manner.
is AN ANCIENT CITY
FOUNDED BY PHOENECIANS
An Important and Interesting City
of About Seventy Thousand
Inhabitants.

On the morning of Wednesday
February 18th we are up early and
can notice from the motion of our
ship are near harbor; a prettier
sight than the white walls of Cadez,
Spain seldom meets the eye, the
morning is beautiful and all are rea-
dy for trip through Spain. We an
chor out over mile from dock and
in many small lighters are soon con-
veyed to the wharf where some two
hundred teams are awaiting to
transport us over the city. -
Cadiz is an ancient city, was
founded by the Phoenecians about
twelve hundred years before Christ.
and during the many raids made by
the Spanish on the newly discover
ed America was the seat of their ex-
cursions. 1t is still an important
city of about seventy thousand.
We are first driven to it's two ca
thedrals we find them large cold
appearing buildings and as we en-
ter a chill goes over us. To one that
had not before visited many OF
these dungeon like places without
heat it might be considered as i'm
portant, we were not much impress
sed. We were shown one piece of
jewels that is said to be worth more
han dol
out into the sunshine, and with beg
gars on every side, we wonder if the
money placed in these dungeons
could not be better used in support
ing their paupers. On every side
we hear the cry of Baksesh and it
seems to be the national hymn Of
the Mediterranean countries.
We drive around the city, see its
ancient walls, its forts, hospitals,
and business places and are driven
70 the awaiting train to be taken to
saville, about one hundred, miles
north.
Our train consists of about twenty
cars Of seating capacity of about
twenty persons each; they are divid-
ed into small compartments with
side doors and one enters his ap-
partment direct from tie side of the
car. The cars have only four wheels
and are altogether a shiftless truck.
Soon boy goes by ringing a bell
and we get to our seat, but the
/ train does not move, we alight and
soon a boy passes the length of the
train blowing horn and again we
get to our seats, We hear the con-
sure we are to move, but no, again
we wait, but finally the station agent
pulls a bell over the door to the de-
pot and we start.
I There is no bell on the engine,
runboards follow the length of the
train and the conductor from these
} directs the train. Our little engine
groans, we move on through the
} salt marshes, on either side are piles
of salt heaped in pyramids. This is
the chief industry for some miles
out, when we rise higher up and
out into a very fine farming country.
Over one half of southern Spain
is set to olives and we soon are in
these groves. The groves are all
cultivated and the country looked
fine as one sees the many large tiled
roof cement homes.
We are at once surprised to see
their crude methods of farming. A
COW and an ass are usually hitched
together. the old crooked stick plow
stirs the soil. This plow cuts
scratch about five inches wide, itsffas
a tongue reaching to the yoke from
which it is drawn, the yoke is about
eight feet long and as one looks on
this crude rig he asks where these
people have been for the last thous.
and years. Goats are seen every
where; they seem perfectly at home
in the farmers house and are the
most numerous of all animal life.
Their cattle are small and look like
an entirely different specie than
ours.
A five hour ride and we are in Sa-
Vile. Saville, an ancient walled city,
has made much history. For many
generations it was the seat Of gov
ernment for Spain and still is the
winter home of the king. 1t has about
one hundred and fifty thousand peo-
ple excepting a few ancient build
ings its appearance is not imposing,
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