The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-12-26
wALKup IN MEXICO.
What he Saw out.There.
Las YEAS N. NJ


LAS VEGAS, N. NJ,
Dec. IA, 1879.
EDITORS NEws:-I thought that few
lines from this portion of Gods creation
would probably be of interest to some of
the readers of THE NEWS. We left La
Junta yesterday, at one O'Clock p. m. for
Las Vegas, New Mexico. The scenery
along the road is grand indeed. We
could see Pixies Peak from the cars at
distance of 125 miles, and the Green
mountain at distance of 20 miles.
The country along the road is very
thinly settled. Every few miles we
could see a small mud hut, occupied by
herders. II is no uncommon thing TO
see flock of from thirty to forty thou
sand sheep. There is no farming done IN
this country that amounts to anything.
The main business is stock raising,
which, by the way, is very profitable,
from the fact that stock lives through
the winter on the range, and does well,
and keeps fat.
Trinidad, on the line of the road is a
very thriving town, with population Of
$500.
There are some of the finest coal fields
here ever saw, Pennsylvania not ex-
cepted.
After passing Trinidad some sixteen
miles We arrive in New Mexico, crossing
Rattoon mountain, or rather going
through portion OF IT, This mountain
is 1000 feet high and there is a tunnel
through the top of it also feet in length.
This portion Of the road is called the
"mountain division" You will have
some idea of the tremendous grades
pull the train up them, one of them be-
ing the Uncle Dick" said to be the larg-
est engine in the United States.
We are now at Las Vegas, New Next
co, very thriving town of about $500
Inhabitants. About four-fifths of this
number are Mexicans. There is divis-
ion of the town, old and new Las Vegas.
The old portion lays about one half
mile from the railroad and the new lays
Immediately on the railroad. At least
ness houses are built of mud bricks, call
ed in this country "dobe'' houses, and
they are said to be very durable. There
are two of the largest commission
houses here ever saw in any country.
They are 500 feet in length. These
houses are run by Mexicans, very sharp,
shTewd men.
have just returned from IA trip to the
warm springs, which are located six
miles distant from Vegas; but before
proceeding further with description of
the springs, must tell you what saw
ON the road to the springs. l met $40
jackasses used as packers driven by as
many Mexicans. Each one of these
Jacks had at least one-half cord of split
wood dashed on its back, taking it from
the mountains to Vegas to sell. Nowlif
you don't believe this statement i
have just this moment met Davis Pey-
ton and l can prove my assertion
by him. Now will give you descrip-
ton of the warm springs. They afford
about ten gallons of water per minute,
and the water Is so hot that 1t will cook
an egg in three minutes. There has not
been much attention paid to these
springs until recently, but company
has taken hold of them and is just COM
pletng a grand hotel, and beautifying
the grounds. The hotel and bath houses
will cost about 100000. went into a
laundry where there was fifteen Mexican
women washing, and in place of wash
boards they used rocks and as a substi-
tute for soap they used certain root of
a weed that grows in this country.
made a trip to-day to the ground
where general Scott once fought a battle.
There are n great many relics of mud
houses to be seen to this day. This bat
tie ground lays As miles south of Vegas,
on the main line af the railroad.
In conclusion will say I believe it
would pay any of our folks to take a
trip to this country, to witness the curl
osities that are to be seen here.
j. r. WALKUP