Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-12-27

Mr. Editor II feel guilty at the mere Thought
OF inhlcting upon your readers Letter from
the West" for Americans are usually 80 well
acquainted with all parts Of their country, by
travel and by books and letters that 1t is hard for
the most inquisitive person to find anything new,
even In New Mexico, to relate to an eastern audi
ence. | have, however, extracted 80 much en-
joyment from a Thanksgiving In that old new
territory that am tempted to write something
about It, feeling somewhat relieved at the thought
that by publishing you will become pdrticeps
crinlinis and will have to listen alone to the
groans Of a much corresponded public.
Las Vegas, one Of the chief cities OF New Mex
ico is 1856 miles from Kansas City. The journey
was comfortably made by a ride Of forty hours
without change OF cars over the Atchison, Tope-
ka & Santa Fe railroad, and takes one across the
entire length OF southern Kansas, through the
southeastern corner Of Colorado and about one
hundred and twenty miles south into the terri
tory. One Of the most comfortable features OF
travel on this road is the arrangement OF eating
houses. They are all under one management and
furnish most excellent rations, for the consump-
ton Of which ample time is allowed by the rail-
road managers. was reminded by them of the
many good meals have enjoyed at the st. Adams
and White River Junction railroad eating-houses,
and per contra Of the soggy doughnuts and an
cient sandwiches have bolted on some other
eastern roads. In this journey southerly bear
ing OF about three and one-half degrees Is made
and the climatic changes are quite noticeable and
interesting. With the progress southwest and
west there Is also constant increase in elevation
above the level Of the sea. and the atmosphere
grows dryer, the suns heat more intense and the
cold less chilly" II may use the expression.
Just after crossing from Colorado into New
Mexico the road passes through the Ration Pass
at an elevation Of about 1900 feet, the highest
point Of the journey and 800 feet above the
starting point Then the train speeds down
grade of 1874 feet until it reaches an immense up
land plateau or mesa, which slopes away for hun
dreds Of miles towards the south and east and
furnishes some OF the best grazing land in the
southwest. Here the road passes, among other
fine ranches, that Of ex-senator Dorsey, which,
with all its stock and improvements, is estimated
by stockmen as worth upwards Of 100000, the
natural increase in few years of an investment
Of about 100000 A brother Of Superintendent
Folsom OF the Passumpsic railroad is largely in
terested in ranch near MIR. Dorsey's and has
regained there the health which failed him in
Vermont.
As the train glides southwark over and down
this immense pasture, it seemed also to pass into
different season. The clear sky the bracng
air, the brilliant sunshine are charming and ire
sistibe. No surliness can Withstand them; the
"blues " disappear and it seems as though dis
ease even must succumb before such inspiritng
agencies. The word that best expresses my i'm
pressions Of New Mexico at this first full gaze
upon her is sunny"
Las Vegas (the meadows) is a city Of some
5000 inhabitants and is scattered over good
deal Of unduating country. The old town, which
grew up before the railroad reached the territory,
is rambling, queerly built city with square or
plaza in its center and the narrowest Of streets
radiating from it in every direction. There are
few modern buildings, most of them business
blocks Of BRICK but the prevailing style OF houses
and shops Is the low, flat-roofed adobe which by
the way has been much maligned, for it can be
made not only very comfortable but a very at
tractive dwelling. Many OF the adobe houses are
two stories high, very smoothly and tastefully
finished externally and lathed and plastered in
side, while the thickness and solidity Of the walls
render them impervious alike to excessive heat
and to penetrating winds. Indeed believe the
localities visited by severe winds. The new town
stretches away three-quarters of mile to the
railroad station, embracing most Of the business
Of the city and is more modern and not so inter-
esting in its appearance.
Las Vegas like most of the larger New Mexi-
can towns, is the trading center for an immense
expanse Of country, and the wholesale merchants
do very large and lucrative business. Most OF
their customers are the "natives" so-called, OF
Spanish extraction, but with blood much diluted
by intermarriage with the Indians They come
in from distances Of fifty and one hundred miles
with their teams laden with hides and WOOL and re-
turn with quantities OF clothing salt, Hour
canned goods and spirits. The purchases are
usually on long time credit; but with high prices
few bad debts and seventy five per cent on bills
after thirty days, the merchants manage to live.
The variety Of pelts brought In is wonderful.
saw In one warehouse dozen different kinds, OF
all sizes and species, from that Of swift small
prairie fox, TO one which had covered an inn
mense grizzly bear. The chief products of the
country, which are brought in for barter, are
wool and the skins Of sheep and cattle.
The business which took me to Las Vegas kept
me until Thursday the Both, and therefore de-
termined to eat my turkey, which by the way
proved to be most delicious wild one,-at tbs
Montezuma Hotel at Las Vegas Hot Springs. A
ride Of six miles over branch Of the Atchison
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad takes one along
the banks Of the Gallnas River, a small, clear
cold stream, to where 1t energies into the plains
after its rapid. tumbling course from the SUN
mits of the Spanish range down the canon tt
which 1t has given Its name. Here at the moutl
Of the canon, is plateau Of some two hundred
acres which the railroad company has purchased
and beautifed with fine park, trees, fountains
etc, and here the same company has erected TIVE
very fine hotels and one Of the most extensiy
and complete bath houses in the country. TIT
Hot SpripRs which for centuries have attracte,