The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-27
NO. 20
Letter from New Mexico.
HOW TOWNS SPRING UP IN THE TERRITORIES
LAS VEGAS AND IT'S GROWTH.
las VEGAS NM Oct

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LAS VEGAS, N. M, Oct 9th.
| MEssRs. EDIToRs.-1f your readers are not
too busy with the political campaign, they
may be interested with brief sketch Of New
Mexico as seen by q Virginian. Doubtless
many OF you are aware of the fact that New
Mexico is now ranking among the foremost
Territories of the West and Is fast reaching
out Tor the lead. suppose, from what idea
we can get from tender feet, thatth people of
New Mexico are looked upon and thought to
be a set ofheathens, as bad as the followers of
the Montezumas. But such is not the case.
There is big inducement for emigration to
New Mexico, as much SO as the inducement
was to emigrate to California in 1849. Gold
is what we are all working for, and for which
many OF us sacrifice SO much. But not only
that her fertile valleys catch the eye of the
Eastern man; her unsurpassed prairie land has
charm for the Western stock dealer, and last
but not least, the hidden treasures which have
been buried away in her lofty and rocky peaks
for centuries, unmolested by the sleepy ma
tives, are grabbed at by the hardy miner The
hut OF the miner is taking the place of the In
dian wigwam, and the modern structures of
this age are usurping the adobes of the Mexi-
can. The ring of the white mans axe and
drill is heard instead of the war-hoop of
the savage and the bray of the burros. The
lazy Mexican is beginning to rouse from his
stupid SAUNDERS in which he has INDUCED for
so long time, and is beginning to realize the
motives of the Americans, and many OF them
are now making up for their hardness.
New Mexico has several enterprising and
fast growing towns, the most important of
which are Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Albuquerque
Socoro and Silver City, all of which have
brilliant outlook. Las Vegas is the leading
town OF the Territory, and is destined at no
distant day to become the Denver of the West.
1t contains about twelve thousand souls, that
is, the inhabitants all told of East and West
Las Vegas. The Eastside is principally, or
may say totally, composed of Americans, and
the buildings are all of American architec-
ture. The West-side is the old town of Las
Vegas, principally inhabited by natives, and
built in the old Spanish style, dotted here and
there with the more modern buildings of
Americans. The East-side is only two years
old, has nearly seven thousand Americans,
and does more business than all the other
towns of the Territories. We have a street
railway, gas works, and water works under
Roadway. 1t is the end and beginning of the
largest divisions on the Atchinson, Topeka
and Santa Fe railroad, and consequently is
the headquarters of great many railroad
men. Another road will strike here soon,
which will add to the many advantages which
we have over the other towns of the Terrific
ry. We have two daily paper, three or four
weeklies, and several monthly publications.
Just think of a town of scarcely two years
growth being the town that Las Vegas is to-
day Never before has the attention of Amer
leans been called to such strides towards
civilization and prosperity as that of New
Mexico 1t is one of the largest WOOL
growing countries of the West, and the
finest cattle producing Territory Colorado
gets the credit for New Mexico's wool and
stock because they have to be shipped through
that State on their way to Eastern markets
Never has such an opportunity for adyan-
tageous emigration been offered to capitalists
and working men. Lots which sold for $75
and $lO0 one year ago are now selling from
81 800 to $4,000, and real estate in Las Vegas
mas gone up 80 per cent in the last month.
Outside OF real estate speculations there are
shelters, mines, mining property, &c. Las
Vegas also offers big inducements to mechan-
cs and laborers. Carpenters get from $3.50
20 $3.50 per day; masons 81 and $3.50 per
lay laborers So and So, and wages of all
mechanics in proportion to above. And there
IS big demand for the working class of men.
Not many years ago New Mexico was
1reary and unbroken waste, whose solitudes
and wildernesses sheltered only chirping
birds, savage Indians, lazy Mexicans and
bowling beasts. Now, towns, cities, railroads.
NC, speak the voice of civilization and the
presence of white men. The long night is
fast passing away; the rich towns and mining
districts are being laid out. evidences of the
genuine value OF the minerals are being con-
irmed with every stroke of the pick and with
every BLAST the strongest confidence has
tremulous faith, and hope expec-
,antly lifts the eye to behold the dawning of
that better day SO much desired and apparently
50 rapidly approaching.
Of New Mexico's present much can be
said; of her future much more can be reason
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