Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-06-08
FROM NEW MExlGU.
A Trip Into the Las Vegas
Country.
Climbing Lofty Mountains and
Gliding Through Narrow
Canyons.
Life Among Half Breeds
and Mexican Greasers.
The City Of Las Vegas and
Its Traffic.
LOUD CRIES AND PLENTY OF
WOOL.
Forty Pound Cabbage Heads and a
Glorious Climate.
LOUD CRIES AND PLENTY OF
WOOL.
Forty Pound Cabbage Heads and q
Glorious Climate.

n -
EDITOR LEDaER:-In company with
a party of special service people, | have
lust returned from a two weeks ex-
cursion into the Las Vegas country.
Our party left here on the 10th of May,
and went first to Lamy station, the
junction of the A.. t. Il S. +. railway
main line and branch 10 Santa Fe, a
distance of sixteen miles. Here we
made close connection, and as this is a
breakfast station, they allow twenty
minutes for refreshments. The rail-
road company has a fine hotel, and
they accommodate hungry travellers
for one dollar a meal. The population
of the station is chiefly railroad men.
There are two saloons in close prox-
unity to the depot, besides two or
three dwellings, the section buildings,
coal shed aud water tank, which com
prise the station.
At $3.50 we steam away eastward, up
Gallesteo Canyon. The road is very
winding, with a grade of one hundred
feet to the mile. Entering the grand
old Santa Fe range, the scenery in
creases in interest and beauty, until
the traveller becomes lost in wonder
and admiration at the grand display Of
natures art to be seen on every hand.
We pass through grand forests of pine
and cedar, dotted here and there with
small farms, where the "Greaser" may
be seen in all his idle dignity, blowing
the soil with forked logs, and striving
to exc his miserable, scanty living.
Nov and then hOcks Of sheep and
goats, also small herds of cattle, may
Be seen feeding on the mountain sides
Our progress now became very slow;
the ~stapenoOus exertion OF the two
poa3erous iron horses, dragging us
around sharp curves and up heavy
grades, proved that We had indeed
entered the mountain Businesses.
We observed, all along, many work
ing parties, engaged in improving the
rad with stene ballast, and building
water breaks where the streams are
liable. in the rainy season, to wash out
the road bed. They are also erecting
substantial stone and iron bridges,
instead Of the trail trestleEork that
has thus far answered the purpose.
The company are expanding large
suns Of money to improve the condi-
ton Of their road, which will be car
ried forward until every foot is placed
10 substantial order.
We fually leave the canyon far be-
low US, and with a tremendous effort
our locomotive drags'us up above the
clouds and wei the Glorietta summit
Freed from the heavy strain, the
smoky monster dashes into Glorietta
station, a town of about 300 inhabi-
tants, mostly whites. This is a lum-
Der region, from which large ship
ments are made to all parts of the
lower country. 1t is also a point of
historical interest, as it wal here the
battle of La Glorietta was fought on
the 18th day Of March, 1862. between
Union and Confederate forces, in
which tits said both sides got whipped,
the Union troops ~retreating to Fort
Union and the Confederates to Santa
Fe. The field on which the strife
took place can be seen from the pass
ing trains on the railroad.
From this point we begin the de-
scending grade, and at a speed that we
imagine every moment we are going
to be hurled over some precipice and
dashed into atoms.
We continue this apparent break
neck pace, until we reach Pecos Sta
ton, passing Kingman an Fulton
stations, stopping only long enough to
exchange mails. The former station
is situated on the Pecos river. Ii
comprises only the railroad section
house and depot. There is Z
settlement Of Mexicans lust
below the station. They subsist on
the productions from small plats O.
arabic land and their hocks OF sheer
and goats.
Leaving the Pecos we ascend agair
another elevation until we react
Bernal station, distance ten miles
From thence we descend to Suez
bacher, six miles, where we come on,
once more into a rolling country. A
Quava, five miles distant, we meet tn,
westward bound train, stopping jus
long enough to pass a greeting to oul
Eastern friends.
A swift run of five miles, and WI
were hurled into Las Vegas, the riya
metropolis of the Southwest-time
1:3O pm; distance from Santa Fe. g
miles. Our first greeting. on steppin,
out of the cars, is a binding fog O
dust and sand, impelled by a furiou
gale, which is common to this section
accompanied by hats, bonnets, para
soils, old papers. etc. Confusion nov
becomes rife. We enter the motle
crowd which assemblies to witness tn
arrival Of every train. We endeavo
to push our way through. stumblin
over dogs, boys and freight-jostle
by dirty tramps aud "Greasers." w
are accosted on every hand by th
usual sound of"Hack, sir2" Hack I
any part OF the city, Free bus /
to any hotel in the city" Fright thi
way for the best hotel in the civ
etc. If we succeed in reaching breath
ing space, we feel slyly for our pocke
books and watches, and if still in GU
possession, we are satisfied.
Las Vegas boasts a population {
5000, about one. third Of which
Mexican. It is situated on the Ri
Gallinas, a stream of no small impol
lance for this country. The porto
Of the city formerly known &c the oil
town lies on the west side of th
stream, and the buildings are cor
structed chiefly Of adobe and preser
quite an antiquatvd appearance thong
they cant boast OF such antiquity !
Santa Fe. 1t is, however, taking 0
n mnturo annoaranoa varv fast ainc