Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/310

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282
CITIES AND ROUTES OF TRAVEL.

way, although the company's trains are run across the river to El Paso. Leaving El Paso del Norte, the following stations are passed:

Distance from Paso Del Norte. Stations. Elevations.
Miles. Feet.
Paso Del Norte 3,600
30 Samalayuca 4,300
74 San Jose 3,950
96 Ojo Caliente 4,090
139 Gallego 5,360
164 Laguna . . . .
181 Encinillas 5,060
192 Sauz 5,168
210 Sacramento . . . .
224 Chihuahua 4,690

The country between Paso Del Norteand Chihuahua is well adapted to grazing. There are several large mining districts on either side of the line of the railroad, at distances varying from ten to a hundred miles. The mines are chiefly of silver, although there is an extensive deposit of iron-ore near Ojo Caliente.

About 100 miles west of Samalayuca lies the old presidio or military post of Janos. It is 35 miles north of the ruined town of Casas Grandes, which is about half a mile distant from the modern town of the same name.

The remains lie adjacent to a fertile valley about two miles in width.

They are built of adobe, and are called the "Casas de Montezuma." They face the cardinal points, and consist of fallen and erect walls. The latter are from five to thirty feet in height. The edifices resemble the Pueblo dwellings of Arizona and New Mexico. Fragments of pottery have been found in them. The original buildings are supposed to have had three stories and a roof, with stairs outside, probably of wood.

Passengers on the Chihuahua division of this road gen-