, 1873-01-05
THE "l0uRNEY OF DEATH"

DiacoFcrcr of Wnter - N mcnno71al IL
| Echalf OF tho Diacovcrcr.
frem t.e santa F. {Se,s Jftaieo> Union.
| United States, In Congress:
Your ne1norinliets, the undersigned, inh=b.
! itants OF the Territory Of New Mexico, respect.
| fully represent to your honorable bodies:
I That since the first settlement OF New Mexico,
now about three centurles the almost only ro1sto
Of travel from all the eastern aud northern por-
tions Of the Territory to and from Old Mexico
has been acroEs tho far-famod plain known as
! Fl Jornada del lfuerto, or t'Jonrney Of
Death"
This plain is a high, arid region, extending
from the Rio G7ande, at Fray Cristobal on tho
north, q distance Of about ninety mics TO tho
south, at Fort geiden. =
It is enclosed on the west by tho mountains
with their chain, on the east side OF the Rio
0rande, which makes g1eat bend to the west
before it5 cur7o back to q line with Fort Selden.
On the cast runs, tho entire distance, chain Of
the Rocky 1founta,ns. Tho width o: the plain
varies from a,few miles to perhaps twenty OF
more. Upon this plain the1e aro no timber treea
to be seen,
Along tho whole distance Ct ninety miles no
water has ever been found upon the surface, OK
copt on rare occasions during the rainy season
water collects for short time inpools OF small
Eond-liko gatherings. The route across this plain
derives it's name OF Tornado del Axerto Cor "5our
noy Of Death, y from the extreme perils which
ever attended the traveller and hia animals
FROM tho want Of water, aud tho crrelties of the
savage Indiana who haunted about tho plain for
Over this plain the United States mails, and
military stores, and troops had to pass, and all
merchandise to Southern New Mexico, Northern
Texas, &c.
The Government and Citizens from year to
year, made efforts to find or obtain, BY some
means, Wnter upon this ever-dreaded Jo,4r'n1dd.
or this Geuerm John Pope can we'll explain,
who many years ago had charge Of tie eudeavor
to sink Arte.ian wells in New Mexico by the
United States Government.
No water waB obtained until, in 1867. Mr.
John Martin, who had been First Lieutenant
in the First Infantry California Volunteers,
undertook, at his own expense, and, at the risk
Of bis hfe nnd employees, to sink yell With 8
spade and plck-a1e, close bythe road, at place
known as tho Aleman, just about midway Of the
distance OF ninety miles.
With almost incredib,a perseverance,, he dug
down and struck water at the depth Of 1A0 feet.
Thirty feet from the surface preserved bones
discovered. Martin continued to deepen the wellto
the depth Of eco feet, aud it now yiells IN
abundance OF water for all the purposes Of FAM
lily use, travellers, Government aud merchant
trains and their animals. The United States
mail stops and passes there daily.
The personal courage, energ-, and toll Of
Ea:tin have sublued the terrofs of the Jour
mad :, and won the gratitude Of tho now-1iying
and the generations to come. Tins reward Is
not ELI nc meslss 1lom Als country. The Gov
ernment itself, especially through its military
branch and operations derives great and petn1a-
nent advantages and profits from the labors nad
success Of John Martin. He has built
houaes, corra1s, and stablcs At the well.
Wien the forty-dyo miles dny's jour
ney is ended, the traveller ands hospitlble-
houae for the night for hiuaelf and animals, and
plenty Of fresh water free to both In view Of
the eminent benehta Martin has given to the
public nnd Government, your memorialists pray
Congress to Grant to Martin ind his heirs ia feo
simple forever, acroas the plain from West to
East, strip Of land OF the width Of five miles, and
in such manner as that Martins we'll will remain
in the middle Of the strip in tho north and south
width. The strip thus prayed for is wholly use~
less and fritless to the Gov veEn1aent, except the
value and importance attached to it by Iartin
and his well.
Your ulemo1ialists deeply nope that Congress
wiI! grant Nsrtin The gracious reward asked for,
and as in duty bound they will eroE p1ay, etc.