The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-09-04
A NEw-MExIcAN TOWN.

How scheme t. Help the Indians Failed
Tho Government Builds . village u
Great Expense-Orchards, Gardens and
vinsyards Planted-The Noble Red Ma,
However. Preferred 70 Steal, and . Spec.
aastor Bought Out Uncle Sam.
Special Cnespoodsnce Of the Cincinnati Gasette.
FORT SUMNER, San MIGUEL, Co., New
MEXICO, June ESPECIALLY no where on
the frontier have 50 many changes occur.
red. in the last fifteen or twenty years, q
at this little village on the Rio Pecos, 10
miles south of Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Some years ago grand plan of colonizing
and ciVilizing the Navajo Indians was
conceived BY our generous government,
and '.fat take" it proved for many par
ties. A large tract Of land, Of which the
chief characteristics are sand and alkali,
was set apart for the special purpose Of
growing cereals for the poor red man. An
immense dam was built across the river,
and, for time, proved effectul IN
changing its muddy waters from their
natural channel into the large "acequa''
or irrigating ditch, prepared for it by the
expenditure of thousands of dollars. Be-
sides the ditching. Of which there is some
twenty miles in all, the river was lined
for several miles with an avenue of cot
tonwood trees, which serve at present to
give charmingly picturesque appearance
to the place.
A large number Of buildings were erect
ed. Most of them being mere adobes,
have long since gone to ruin. Many are,
however, in good repair. The timbers for
the roofs Of the houses were hauled over
100 miles, and their original cost was IS
per log. They are of the best white pine.
and are as sound to-day as when first cut.
A fine orchard and vineyard were planted,
gardens and lawns LAID out, and farming
commenced. Poor Lo. am sorry to say,
did not take kindly to the project. In
stead of earning his bread by the sweat of
his brow, as the United States intended
he should, he preferred to make occasion
al raids into Texas and other distant
lands, and bring back large herds of horses,
and sometimes a scalp or two by way
variety. However, if the Indians did not
make good farmers, It was not the fault
of the government. To add style, as we'll
as safety and majesty, to things in this
AOOdAltys OLA COmP6ulco VI WCIC
stationed here for several years. After a
time, when it had been demonstrated
that no amount Of money or labor could
keep dam across the Pecos, in good
order; when most of the aboriginal farm
ers had grown rich from stealing horses
and sheep, and had "vamosed the ranch, :"
and all the contractors had got their pock-
cts well lined with government securities,
there came along speculative American,
Maxwell BY name, who purchased the
whole business, flock stock, and barrel, I"
for the paltry sum of s., 400, thus becom-
ing the sole owner Of property that cost
our great nation something over FIVE
millions.
Mr.. Maxwell was too sensible a man to
follow the old government plan of Guilt
waiting poor land, but turned his attention
to stock. and in few years he succeeded,
by judicious management, in getting to-
gether herd Of the finest blooded cattle
IN the Territory. His attention was not
confined to cattle, but horses and sheep
came in, also, for their share. His sheep
land covered a great extent of country,
and he was at one time the veritable sheep
king of New Mexico.
In time Mr.. Maxwell, like the rest of
mankind, died, leaving the bulk of his
prop rty to his wife, a Mexican lady, who
is still living. His family consisted of
seven daughters and one son, very pre-
possessing gentleman and an able man
ager of the vast estate now under his con-
troll.
Fort Sumner has lost much Of its former
glory, but is still an attractive place. A
broken flagstaff and solitary cannon
alone mark the parade ground. Tie
building has degenerated into
the habitation of an old negro washer
woman, and the Adjutant Generals Office
is occupied as storeroom and Postoffice
by Messrs. Garrett e. Smith-the former
an old buffalo hunter, and the latter the
greatest beaver hunter Of the Southwest,
and widely known through this country
and Texas as "Old Beaver Smith" His
intimate friends claim that he has trapped
more beaver than any two men who ever
followed this business for livelihood.
The old man has entirely forsaken his IA
vorite pursuit, but still loves to be called
"Old Beaver" There is another store
here kept by Mexican, who, in couse-
duence Of seldom keeping anything to sell,
has but little patronage. The population
Of the place is probably 200 souls, the in
habitants, with few exceptions. being
Mexicans. They all live in houses belong
ing to the Maxwell estate, and the only
recompense they give for the use of them
is an occasional coat of whitewash.
Mrs. Maxwell is a total abstinence wo-
man, and will allow no intoxicating liq-
uors sold in the place, so this is perforce
temperance town. A Mexican has
lately been appointed Constable and JUS
hce Of the Peace protein On the second
day of his Judicial authority, there ap-
peared before his Honor two Mexicans who
had in dispute the ownership Of bull.
Court was called in the shade Of some cot
tonwoods, with the witnesses sitting
astride an adobe wall, while his Honor
rnshed round trying to scare up a Jury.
He summoned Old Beaver, but finally let
him off on his plea Of being p. NJ, or a.
he termed it, "A U. s. official. and not
subject to sit on jury" However, the
vacant seat was soon filed b, ''Greaser,'
and the trial proceeded. There were no
lawyers, but no lack Of "jabber" on that
account. The case was finally decided,
but Who got the bull, whether the PLAIN
tiff, defendant, judge or jury, | was una
bic TO understand.
The postal facilities are very good for a
country so sparsely settled. There is a
daily mail, north and south, connecting
at Las Vegas. for all points north. east,
and west. The Cosgrew Bros. are the
present contractors Of 400 miles of mail
line south from Las Vegas. for which they
receive an annual remuneration Of ST.
800. They have likely lost numbers OF
their 6ne mules through a party of free
hooters known az the BUSTERS, Who
rule this country with rod ofiron. taking
stock and property whenever il suits them
50 TO do. with no one TO offer any resist
ance.
The climate is salubrious and the air
wonderfully clear and bracing. On a clear
day the Captain Mountain. seventy-6ve
miles away. is plainly visible. The days