Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 3, September 1999 Page: 150
[68] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal
with one room only, the cars rapidly advance into
a rugged country, the hills rising like great cones
far in the distance. For many miles the road seems
to traverse the line of a once mighty but now
extinct river, with its waterline distinctly marked
on the strata of rocks along its banks. The hills
are barren of trees, but here in this desolate re-
gion is the true home of the cactus. The rocks
abound with numerous varieties of cacti family.
That which grows in greatest profusion has its
base formed like a pine-apple, from which spring
tufts of serrated leaves, while from the center
rise tall stems from two to four feet in height,
bearing the flower and fruitage of the plant.
Another very abundant variety throws outward
and upward great arms of succulent branches,
which, at first glance, give the impression that
the whole land is infested with hydra-headed
serpents. This wild, mountainous and barren re-
gion seems devoid of all animal life Not even a
bird is to be seen; naught but the hills of rock, the
cacti and the trough of the dead river, whose
very name is forgotten, but through which poured
the waters which once rested over the land, the
ocean flood, which has left its mute witness in
shells upon the hill-tops, and in the great basin of
the Rio Grande. This dead waste, so vast in ex-
tent, makes one fall to peopling it with mytho-
logical beings. There might have been the play-
ground of the Titans, and these great boulders of
rock the balls which they threw and caught in
their mighty hands. The road, not only here, but
all the way to El Paso, is remarkable for the tor-
tuous course among the hills and valleys, making
many perfect horse-shoe curves.
Our route winds nearly all the way to El
Paso through a natural highway between the
mountains that rise in continuous chains on ei-
ther hand, and which, projected ages ago, was
traversed by Indians, the pioneer engineers of
the route before it was utilized by the stage com-
panies which, in their turn, have disappeared at
the shrill cry of the locomotive.
The round hills which form the foot ofthe Chinati mountains are growing higher. Some
of them, grim wardens of the land, clothed in
their armor of rock, and towering high above the
rest, look afar to the blue mountains of Mexico.
Beautiful are soft, blue outlines of mountains
which hover along the bank of the Rio Grande,
and once this morning we have been blessed with
a sight of the river, rising a bright mirage upon
the distant horizon. Solemn and grand are the
mountains near us, on which we trace, in their
"basso relievos " of various colored rock, tow-
ers, castles and cottages, fortressed cities, and
caverns which penetrate deep in their stern and
rugged sides; stern and beautiful, even in their
desolation. The trees and shrubs, which gradu-
ally become more stunted, have now disap-
peared.
Leaving Sanderson, the wonderful pan-
orama of mountain scenery increases in gran-
deur and sublimity. The long, high range of the
Chinati mountains lift their tall peaks through the
pure atmosphere towards the sky of cerulean
blue. Light clouds of silvery whiteness float above
them; their white rocks, which have won for them
the title of Las Sierras Blancas, reflecting the
brilliant sunbeams, and making it difficult to gaze
upon them continuously.
From Naxon's Springs, the country
grows more verdant with trees, and shrubs reach
far up the mountain side; the valleys are car-
peted with richest green; herds of antelopes, fat
cattle, and droves of horses are seen, and the
cacti have not wholly disappeared, but mingled.
with other and more luxuriant growth. The moun-
tains of white rock have given place to more
lofty ones, and the immense rocks which cover
their sides and crown their majestic heads are of
russet red. Going down into the valley of San
Francisco we watch the receding mountains. I
have learned a few of their names: this is Santa
Rosa, and that is the Bishop's Mitre; those three
tall peaks are El Trinidad, while the one near us
is Santa Cruz-names which show the religious
cast of thought of the former inhabitants of the150
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View 39 pages within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 3, September 1999, periodical, September 1999; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151407/m1/22/?q=nesbitt%20memorial%20library%20journal: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.