The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-06-01
u SOUTHWEST.
A Vast Empire Springing Into Exist
ence.
A Pleasant Interview With Governor
Hendricks About His Recent Trip.


of tOwns-Old Las Vegas, East Las vegas,
West Las Vegas, and the Springs. The word
Is Spanish, and the English Interpretation Is
The Meadows" Altogether the town. or
towns, contain a population OF about 500,
a majority of whom are MeXicanS or Greas-
ers. 1t is something over 100 years old, and
has been an important trading post for the
last quarter of q century. Here in large
quantities were stored the supplies for the
Army, always in trouble with the Indians,
and here emigrants to California, over the
Old Santa Fe trail, from which the railroad
takes its name, corralled their stock and
stopped for a few days to refresh themselves
THE MEXICAN
is a debt-paying animal. Under the peon
system he was sold for debt 1t was a law of
the natives, and existed long after the negro
slaves received the rights, lights and bene-
fits of President Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation. In addition to this they
have been under the influence of the Jesuits,
and the Jesuits are a people OF exemplary
honesty. The consequence was the mel
chants of New Mexico became the richest
of the world. What in the States is called
"a failure was never known in the Terri
tory.
The country has a history concerning
which very little is understood.
There was a civilization in that part of
the Southwest long. before Daniel Boone adj
vanced into the OF Kentucky.
The native of New Mexico cut hay with q
hoe and plowed corn with a stick, exactly
as he does to-day, and knew something OF
religion, while Indiana was yet Peopled
with savages. The Rio Grande at Santa Fe
and Albuquerque fortified growing crops OF
wheat and corn while the Wabash, from It's
extreme source to the Ohio, meandered
through an unbrOken forest. There was a
time when the most profitable trade to st.
Louis came from New Mexico. That track
-aua EanSac Cifu har start rinOt he nrOO-
ress of the railroad across the great plains,
every stop in the tracs-laying would cause a
city of 1000 inhabitants to spring into ex-
iStence.
THE BEGINNING OF A TOWN.
True. for miles and hundreds of miles the
country to a ''tender-foot' seemed a vasI
unbrOken solitude, only here and there q
large herd of grazing cattle or flock of sheep
attended by "a solitary hOrseman." But
when a merchant appeared in the middle
of the desert with a barrel of liquor and g
tin cup. within ~forty-eight hours the towr
might reasonably De described as large ano
thriving"
ALL THE CATTLE
of New Mexico were owned; the owner
wee rich Since the War the ranehmeI
have borrowed money of each other by the
thousands, without giving a note. In 1867
q EdiCllLlldl vi e AACAAOOf SOA0 N A
grant for SO, ZOO, 600.
He visited New York to receive th'
money. 1t was paid him in bills of a larg'
denomination that it might be carried home
in a grip-sack. After his return he wa:
asked what he thought of the Empire City
Il wouldn't live there for the whole town.
was the reply. at is too thickly settled"
NO ATTENTION
was paid TO wool in the Territory until 1865
NJ anEnn harrafr A
for the clip and made a million in cash
A majority of the natives have since known
something of its value.
The country astonished Mr.. Hendricks
it would astonish anybody. It's
WONDER LAND.
It's vast wealth as attested by it's store
houses, the barren and f%orbidding aspect o
nature, We. its evident prOductiyeness.t
Two years ago the railroad found La
Vegas an old Mexican town of sun-drie'
mud-the material of which Babylon wa
built. To-day a new and beautiful city ha
leaped into existence. Il found" said MI
Hendricks, quite a large number of m.
old friends and acquaintance from Indiana
Colonel William Steele. formerly of Wa
bash, later of Indianapolis, is now a larg
real estate dealer and Justice of the Peace il
East Las Vegas. The office is an impOrtan
one there. His health is good, and | neve
saw him in better spirits. There are tw
daily papers in Las Vegas, one of which j
edited by a young man from Indiana, Nr
Kistler."
One week ago yesterday Mrs. Hendrick
attended the Church of which she is a mem
Der in Las Vegas. 1t was an adobe build
ing, but very beautiful inside There ar
several elegant Churches, she says, in tn
city.
GENERAL LEW WALLACE.
At Santa Fe, the Governor and Mrs
IIouI-;oI-g urar vary oNrHioIhv raofauaI u,
General Lew Wallace. The Governor wa
highly g~ratifed to hear of the esteem il
which as he expressed il my neighbor wa
held by the people of the Territory" Hi
administration b las been a miracle of sui
cess
In answer to the question. when vii
General Wallace leave New Mexico" b
answered: General Wallace desires to tur
the office over TO his successor in person
That is a duty that the Governors of Ne
Mexico, it seems, hitherto have avoided
General Wallace himself experienced gres
inconvenience in taking charge of affair:
His predecessor left the Territory before b
arrived.
ANOTHER INDIANA MAX
of whom the Governor heard the highe.
praise was William Thomas, an India
Agent. He is a brother Of Judge Thoma
of Montgomery and Parke-
oLsEY NEWELL
formerly of Lebanon, is publishing a pape
at Trinidad, Colo. The Governor foun
him thriving, delighted with the country
and at peace with all the world.
THE GREAT WEST
is overwhelmingly grand" said GoyernC
Hendricks, in the parlor of the Bates, O
Saturday evening. "A vast empire
bounding into existence as if by magi
Though seeing, it is difficult TO realize wit
what wonderful rapidity the waste plac,
are filling up, and large cities are building
The people are not only contented but chez
<ul. IL is a glorious contry As my trai
was pulling out of Kansas City, l hada ma
nifcent view of that young but giant m
tropolis, studded with palaces of trad
gorgeous Churches and other public buil'
ings, beautiful streets stretching for mile
adorned with private mansions in which
king might live. Then / thought of I'll
vast extent of tributary country. There
nc mystery in the growth of Kansas Cit.
and a limit TO its possibilities can scarcel
BE conceived by the mind of man. 1t is
glorious country, and this is a golden age"
A,chbishop PurceIl,s Debts.