The Fremont County record. [volume] (Canon City, Colo.) 1877-18??, 1881-07-30
Las Vegas and Santa Fe.


they crossed the Ration range the
country began to widen out into
bright looking stock ranges, and
thence to Las Vegas it was nice all
the way. Thinks during long dry
spells one could easily fall into the
unjust idea of barrcnness SO many
express. Tie valley of the
Gallinos from Las Vegas to Hot
Springs, five miles, is beautiful and
has many clusters of adobe residences
besides several very large substantial
farm houses, the abode of the wealth
Ter Bacas, Romeros, ETC., who are as
numerous in that country as Smiths
and Jones elsewhere. The Hot Springs
is in charming locality. just below
them, where the hotels are built is
cozy park surrounded by plump,
round hills covered with evergreens
and a luxhriant growth of bright
green-lcayed shrubs. The bath house
cost $1S, 900 and is supplied by eigh-
teen springs. Average temperature
of water in tubs, ITO to 100 degrees.
One grand hotel, nearly completed, is
said to contain 275 rooms, and all the
Improvements of the times. The old
and new towns of Las Vegas, contain
ing from 5000 to 1000 inhabitants,
are very fourishing. having many
heavy dealers who draw trade for
hundreds of miles. Chief Engineer
A. A. Robinson lives in the new
town. Their little daughter was just
recovering from scarlet fever, while
the mother, exhausted by care and
anxiety, was just brought to her bed
by typhoid fever, no doubt induced
by the filthy condition of the streets,
alleys and lots throughout the city.
1t seems q great pity such promis-
ing town should be spoiled by lack
of enterprise in incorporating, and
thus- -hevins whoieronnu iawo for the
policing of the city. if for nothing
else. They will sooner OF later have
some fearful epidemic for their slofh-
fulness, that will take off many OF
their best men, for the drone and
non- progressive element seem always
to go free at such times. JEFF Ray
nolds lives in the old town and pre-
sides over the First National bank
that fronts on the plaza, substantial
institution, building and all. Mr..
Rockafellow thinks JEFF must have
cleared considerable over one hun
drcd thousand dollars since he went
there from Pueblo few years ago
with only his good name.
lie says there is no doubt old Santa
Fe possesses more that is odd and
strange than any other place on the
continent The old churches, that
look like ruins outside, but with
gorgeous chancel and alters, old oil
paintings and statuary of their patron
saints within; ono of which, San
Miguel, was built in 1897. The roof
of this church was destroyed in 1880
by Indians and restored in ITO.
Shortly after 1t was destroyed the
Indians surrendered on opposite sides
of the valley to the Spaniards, saying
they did SO in "good faith" interpre-
ted by some TO be where the name
Santa Fe originated. A church is
built on the spot commemorating the
event, and g fine staff stands where
the flag of truce was said to have
been planted. Near these old church-
cs stand The Sisters church, one of
the prettiest little churches in Amer
lea, the Brothers. college. the Sisters
of Lorctto school and the Slsters'
hospital. Near them is the charming
garden Of the bishop, in which is
sixty varieties of fruit and
from which they were permitted to
eat their fill of cherries, apricots and
currants. In it plum trees were
laden, SO Archbishop Lancy told
them, he thought with more plums
than leaves, and the pear trees bent
low with their loads of fruit. As
this and the garden about the Sisters
school are the finest in the country
which shows sadly the neglect Of
thorough cultivation, Mr.. II. came to
the conclusion If the bishops and
priests could make tho people work
SO In the erection of such fine build
ings aud cultivation of such perfect
gardens, that 1t Is a real pity there
could not be more Of them. He
thinks about one to a score or so
might be still greater improvement.
A. they looked down from the beifry
Of tho klisters' school over the town
surrounding IL large green plaza and
saw the low, one story, dirt roof.
adobe buildings closely lining the
norrow, well policed streets and
built about little plazas, IN which
were growing apricot aud other trees,
shruba and howors, and about The
outskirts, others toeming With life
tbat look like ruins, while hera aud