Show LETTER FROM MEXICO today we led a trade fyr for acres of jand ninety miles southwest of chihuahua for a ranch and colony of an organized company after a sojourn of eighteen days we looked over an ancient city over three hundred years old with a church of more than two hendred hn adred and a beautiful cathedral little less than two hundred the I 1 litter atter costing it is recorded that it was built with the savings of a very rich silver mine in ia close proximity to this city by an arrangement ran gement of saving twelve cents in I 1 a reserve fund from every eight ounces of silver taken from the aibe mine and eight years of such savings erected the cathedral which stands with its dome and two towering spires just south of a magnify magni magnificent fl ent piazza we next passed the mint soldiers barracks Hyal goa monument and plazza piazza the oll adje le duct with forty arches in one sp anand a promenade down the alamada brother bentley and I 1 parted at the depot and leaving behind me the city of chihuahua the capital of this state with no DO ordinary reflections of my eighteen days stay I 1 in a this quiet mexican city we soon sped onward towards old mexico city passing cerro del coron el so called from the execution of a revolutionist colonel at this point we passed through lovely valleys fifty miles on to ortiz is a broad valley of many ninny fields but very dry it is said that the rains begin in the latter part of may and juno june when everything puts on a sunday dress from Fro mOrtiz ortiz to santa rosalla rosalia fifty miles we come to one oneff of the most lovely valleys the eye could desire to rest upon dawn most of the way to rosalia we ran against a large stream of water it is no more nor less than the river concho which heads in the sierra madra mountains in the districts of H hidalgo idalgo A basola and guerrero running southeast to rosalia one hundred and fifty miles it turns in a serpent serpentine itie course going in a northeasterly direction for abut about one hundred and fifty miles where it forms a junction with the rio alo grande river this latter finds its way into the gulf of mexico and is a godsend god send to this part of the country leading up in the rainy belt is a sure supply to the most needful of dry mexico at rosalla rosalia station I 1 was met by elder A J stewart who captured me for two days mr stewart sewart is 1 locating a city for colonizing purposes at this place he has baa been five years engaged in arranging with the mexican mecio in government for a concession and it appears to me that he be has succeeded in obtaining an excellent concession with the government having obtained many privileges in the direction of import ing iree of duty ouch materials and goods goode an aa are required for colonization purposes for a term of fifteen years mr stewart claims that what he has done donees as on his iowia account and on his hie own responsibility the government has baa granted he be says acres of land at this place for a city mr stewart to is in possession of a deed from the mayor of santa rosalia mr juan juaa ort z an I 1 signed b by the governor nor of mr bonor senor lauro burrillo Cur rillo rue former is quite in favor of colonization and not only is he anxious to aid in a city plot but in other lands even to exceed the acres water privileges here are more than an average in this place and the climate is very favorable avo rable fig trees flu fl far as astae the have been proven very well and ana some fine trees that we examined were heavily laden with figs some of them were half grown already also p granate granato me some of them as large as a small egg while at chihuahua one hundred miles north the pomegranate were only in bloom and the fig trees in many cases bad been injured by frost quinces grow well wall and are showing for a good crop we had bad beets for dinner over three inches la in diameter the first brat crop of peas la Is over sweet potatoes thrive excellently and cotton is also rated rat ed iti ila this belt ane altita le ie here is feet the trade winds pass near this city and snow and frost are rare no doubt with proper cultivation and Ju judicious licious irrigation rosalia will prove a most abundant fruit belt Improve Luent is greatly required in a agricultural 9 pursuits in ia mexica generally much of the soil is very prod productive and the climate generally favorable although it varies in different localities we visited gardens where I 1 never saw grape vines so heavily laden before in any cli climate maAe three miles southwest south west of santarosa santa rosalia lia we took tok a 25 cent hot spring bath rho fhe water was quite as hot as aa my tender sain sin could stand there are six of these noted springs issuing from faloma a rocky mountain an oval 10 feet by 5 is cutout out out of chestone th the stone estone and clay plastered plastered 0 up and a constant stream ru runs no through A temporary room surrounds each bath A sweat bunk of boards is also an appendix where a few blankets are wrapped about the invalid and if he does not sweat he will soon find it out the baths bathe are strongly charged with a variety of minerals but no analysis has been given thereisa there is a sort of hotel near by 2 per day is the rate with 25 cents for bath and 50 cents fora fora ride of three miles an american can was chirped 3 for his ride for he be made no bargain beforehand a D dj not think mexico is all roses for there are thorns on every rose how ever I 1 believe with mormon 11 skill it may be made a very desirable home for there are tens of thousands of the remnants of the fathers who entered this lani lan I hundreds of years before A christ two days day of this exhilarating air I 1 and rest as a change from fram my arduous labors in chihuahua braced me up so that I 1 am on my way to the old city of maxim rf the mexican central railroad has y good accommodations in the first class Is the weather is hot now but some times cool winds bring consolation KJ EDWARD STEVENSON SANTA ROSALIA I 1 00 way may jtb 1892 |