El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-24

TIELD HEADQUARTERS, Punitive
= Expedition L. S. Army near Mani
quipa, Mexico, April 24-This camp
is located near one or the most pictur-
esque and one Of the Oldest towns in
the state Of Chihuahua colder even than
, the present city Of Chihuahua) and one
OF the largest municipalities on the
American continent in point Of area,
SOcOrro, n. NJ, has long had the dis
tinction OF being the largest city in
tho United states, in point OF area,
with its seven and one half miles in
every direction from the center Of the
center panel OF the front door OF the
old mission church built by the con-
Quistadores as they passed that way IN
their, quest for treasure in the latter
years Of the 10th century.
Namiquipa was an old city when the
site Of SOcOrro was first seen by the
invading Spaniards. After Santa Bar
bara IL is the oldest city in the state
OF Chihuahua When the gold hunters
passed through this beautiful valley
within very fLW years after the con-
quest OF the City Of Mexico, they found
the rich soil being titled by the Pueblo
Indians. Good crops Of corn we're being
grown by means of irrigation from the
Rio Santa Maria and the farmers were
living i'm little communities scattered
along the full length Of the stream.
FrIars Get Big Grant.
The Franciscan friars, who always
accompanied the soldiers. saw a splen~
did opportunity for proselyting and es-
taDlished themselves with small
guard OF arquebusiers and built
church which still stands and does duty
as a house OF worship. For their
efforts in the matter OF converting the
Indians TO the Christian faith, the
priests were given a grant OF land
which extended FOR five leagues in
every direction from the front door Of
ethe "iglesias'a or church, or covering
nearly all Of the arabic land in this
immediate portion Of the long drawn
out valley OF the Santa Maria
Though this camp is fully nine miles
from the old mission church. it is only
on the outskirts Of the town, a cir
cumstance which causes those OF the
column unfamiliar with the Mexican
habit in the matter Of building cities.
10 marvel
People AbjectIy Poor.
Rich as the country is I'm the way of
agricultural possibilities. the people
are poor to the point Of abiect poverty
and painful evidences Of the poverty
may be seen on every hand. There is
"a woeful lack of windows in the houses.
This lack may be found in the houses
Of the comparat lively rich or well to do
as I'm the jacals called home by the
poems. The Padre who presides over
the destinies Of the parish Of which
Namiquipa Isl the chief city, explained
the peculiar condition as to windows
and particularly as to the lack Of glazed
windows. by saying that many OF the
houses now standing and occupied as
homes were built many years, in some
cases hundreds Of years. ago, when
glass was luxury even in Spain, from
which is would require to have been
brought by sailing vessel TO Vera
Cruz, thence or the backs Of mules, a
distance Of nearly 1.500 miles. making
IFS cost pr0hibitive even 10 the gran
does who established themselves in this
wonderful valley as the lords Of the
manor and the protectors Of the poor
Indians 10 the extent Of seeing 20 IL
that the poor Indian turned the Hons
share Of the product Of his toll over
TO them
No Floors in Homes.
Window glass is not the only COM