Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-08-20
LETTER FROM NEW MEXICO.
DEMING, New Mexico.
LII. 01-t 1901

OthINt, NEW AhfAl(o. [
July 3lst, 1881
Dear Boss-Being at leisure for the
last eight or ten days on account of the
hard rains which caused Il great many
washouts along the line of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, thought
would take this opportunity to give you
glim description or bird's-cye-yleW OF
New Mexico along the line of said road.
Coming into New Mexico by way of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fc Railroad
you enter 4 tunnel in the State of COlora-
do thirty miles from Trinidad which is
two Thousand teet long, and when you
come out YOU will be III the territory OF
New Mexico. Leaving this tunnel we
notice on both sides of the road coal mines
i'm abundance, from which, as We learn,
coal is delivered on the cars ut 80 cts per
ton. The scenery along here is magnlfi-
cent. A ride OF several hours brings us
TO Las Vegas. This city consists really OF
two towns. situated in plateau, and sur.
rounded by mountains. The ''old town"
the original Las Vegas. is half a mile from
the other, and consists Of abode houses
built around a plaza in true Spanish or
Mexican style. The new town is of frame
houses, aud was caused by the railroad.
IL is now the most important of the tW o.
Las Vegas is also noted for lis Famous Hot
Springs which are situated about six
miles from the town and are reached by q
splendid road. They are situated in q
basin of the mountain and are in the CEN
tEe of grand scenery. The Hot Springs
Company have built a fine hotel there that
will comfortably accommodate from 4
hundred to Il hundred and twenty-five
guests. Across the river is the bath house,
connected with the hotel by Il bridge. 1t
fe built of stone, 300 feet long and about
40 feet wide, and has in the basement
twenty-three tubs i'll tie gcntlemen's de-
partmcnt and fourteen in the ladies'. 1t
is said five hundred baths can be given
per day. Back OF the house on the hills
are tie twenty-five springs, sending forth
their boiling water. How deep they are
no one knows; it is said if an egg Is placed
in them it is soon cooked.
Going on down the road we pass some
curious Indian villages. Tho houses have
the doors in the roof, and the inhabitants
90 up ladder from the outside and pull
the ladder after thom. The MeSicans also
have their Gobie houses which only have
one window and Il door, in which can be
found eight or ten inhabitants. The
fields on which they raise their crops arr
irrigated, and the simple people still pillow
with a stick q man walking III front OF
the oxen and mOtioning them forward.
The cattle are very politc-thcy never 60
anywhere unless they are invited. We
also notice wooden crosses standing in the
fields; which are set up by the pious peo-
I pie who think some influence is mysterl-
oUsly eXcrtCd TO protect the crops.
At Wallace small town we strike the
Rio Grand river, and from there the ride
to Albuquerque is short one. This town,
named after the Duke of Albuquerque, Is
destined 10 be one OF the most important
in New Mexico. At this point tho Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad con-
meets vita the Atlantic and Pacific which,
when finished, will carry zone through 70
San Francisco. The Denver and Rio
Grand have also line surveyed through
this town. The Santa Fee Company TN
dertook the experiment Of sinking arteslsn
wells at this point, hit failed after going
eight or nine hundred feet and losing
their tools.
After leaving this point we take our
course along the banks of the beautiful
Rio Grand where there is found great
many Mexican towns and villages. In
the spring of each year these hcxicans
gather in numbers for the purpose of
to irrigate their land and give it sufficient
water; after this is all done they have a
grand dance, at which time the natives
for miles around are in attendance and all
partake the "fluid" TO their hearts
content. These dances last from four to
five nights and always break up with
some ten or twelve corpse TO plant in the
beautiful sand.
Our next station of any importance is
Sooorro, which is now coy little city,
and promises 10 increase in population
on account of lis valuable mines in the
Socorro Mountains near that city. The
city has now population of about three
thousand Of which one-half are MeXicans,
who apparently live happy in their little
dohies. There are large crops of grapes
raised here and the old juice can be bought
for the small sum Of a dollar per gallon;
this is fine garden spot and great inter-
est is taken in raising all kinds of vegeta-
bles. Leaving here we follow the Rio
Grand river again for long distance;
when our Iron horse succeeds il carry
ing us over sixty miles of the beautiful
prairie land We hear it "toot" for the lit
tie town of San Marcial, at which point
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail-
road have their Machine Shops erected;
and where we gee all hands busy at work;
we cross the Rio Grand ut this point and
follow il for some distance which is very
pleasant travelling and also beautiful
scenery. A few hours ride brings us to
the city OF Rincon which is situated on
tho banks Of the Rio Grand and where
We again cross this river. Il this point
r. r. Company have branch road to FL
Paso where it will connect With the Tex
as Pacific. Fifty miles farther on we come
to our destination, the little city of DEM
ing which is situated or the Florida Pass
near the Florieta, Tracy and other noun
tains; which mountains are said TO contain
some very valuable ore and are thick with
meI from all parts Of the Union who are
busily engaged in prospecting. These
mountains are also Inhabited by number
OF Indians and it is often reported that
they are going to take the town. We sat
up until near three O'Clock watching their
signals the other night. This made us
feel somewhat that way. We Were told
a few days ago that Uncle Sans soldiers
were after them, but the impression here
is that If they were to see the Indians they
would willingly take free-pass TO Fort
Cummings, which is about miles from
here. There were two negro soldiers killed
by Indians between here and the fort last
week, and also a surveying corps which
numbered between fifteen aud twenty out
of which none were left to tell the story.
There are numbers of persons killed
around that are never heard OF. 1t is
hoped they will not call on ourlittle town
for IL has sufficient trouble with the cow
BOYS and the roughs, who are almost as
bad as the Indians. Yesterday the town
was visited by some cowboys who par