South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-09-28
FROM NEW MEXICO.
Speeitd Correspondence.
LAS VEGAS, N. NJ, SEPT. II.

OH Iuuu SranI made Dy the MEXICAN
government in 1886 to Juan de Dios
and others, tho area Of which is 400 ;.
447 acres. The city really consists of
two towns. situated on opposite banks
of the Gallinas River in plateau and
surrounded by mountains. The .old
town. or original Las Vegas, ia half
q mile from the other, aud is compris-
ell chiefly OF adobe houses built a
round an open square or plaza in true
Spanish or Mexican style. The new
town is gilmore modern appearance &
construction, being composed Of frame
houses built since the advent of the
railroad. 1t is likely also to be the
most important Of the two in few
years. The old town lies upon a
broad slope to the south and east, ani
its adobe, or unburned brick houses,
mostly one story high, have rather n
squatty, uninviting appearance, tho
more comfortable inside than one
would suppose, rs the thick, dry walls
guarantee q cool atmosphere in hot
weather, with equal protection against
cold in winter. The streets are mar
row, irregular and untidy, and alto
gether the place presents q sleepy,
thriftless aud dcspiriting outlook -
Sill i'll business point Of view Las
Vegas is one of the most prosperous
towns in new Mexico. Some of the
largest mercantile establishments in
the Territory are located here, and
their trade extends far to the south
and southeast Some mining inter,
ests have been developed in the local.
ity within the last four years, but they
are not extensive.
The country around Las Vegas is
the typical New Mexico-the dry,
arid looking plains we have seen all
the way from Western Kansas and
Southern Colorado. North of the
Mesilla Valley, stretching away as far
as the eye can reach, is the dreary,
unbroken monotony of gramna grass,
which at this season Of the year and,
i'll fact, at any time after the first of
July, is Of grey color and looks az if
a SIMEON or prairie FIRE had passed o.
yer it leaving but bare stubb!e to
mark where luxuriant grass had been
But this grass though short ia succu.
lent, and contains, / suppose, far
more nutritive properties than our
best kinds or blue grass. Cattle liv-
ing the year round upon these plains
receive no other nourishment than
what they afford and still thrive
Some of the land around Las Vegas
is cultivated, and by means OF irriga-
ton large crops of corn, oata and bar
ley are raised upon it. The rainfall
OF New Mexico is very infrequent,
and when it comes it comes all at
once and has such an effect that the
whole country is cut up mt, ravines
| and arroyas, But little irrigation has
been done, the native Mexican or
Greaser being perfectly content to
squat himself upon his hams upon the
sunny side Of his adobe building, orwith
riding wildly across the plains upon a
half-broken mustang as Wild as him.
self, in search Of some stray ed cattle.
A Mexican is III the highest luxury
when he has nothing to do, uninter-
rupted hot weather, Chilli Colorado,
and an unlimited amount of muscalc,
fiery, intoxicating liquid distilled
from a species Of cactus growing wild
upon the plains.
About seven miles west Of the city
of Las Vegas the Gallinas River
leaves a long canyon, formed by the
eastern spurs Of the Sierra Madre, and
enters the plain. There, behind low
hill, lying like portcr's lodge at the
entrance of the canyon, are the Hot
Springs, concerning which we have
heard more or less in recent years. A
large hotel has been erected near
them and other improvements made
under the auspices of the railroad
company, with the expectation that
they Will become popular resort
OF their real qualities know little or
nothing at present. and will reserve
extended mention for n future letter.
West OF Las Vegas, TO the north and
northwest, projects ont from the main
range Of the mountains an irregular
line OF hills, and over and above these
rises grey, precipitous dome OF rock,
known as Hermit Mountain, the iii
Solitario' of The Mexicans. 1t IS so
called from the fact that hermit
once lived on the top OF it, never
coming down, subsisting on what be
could pick up. and what the people
brought him. There was n spring of
water on the mountain, and q cave.
and with thcsc resources he lived for
years.
On the way from Las Vegas to The
springs tie tourist viii see on top OF y
bill TO the lett of the road a cross
standing boldly out against the 3ky.
1t Is OF wood, rude in its structure,
but has q singular mission, in that it
IS the point To- which the members Of
the secret order OF tho Pcnitento5
crawl during Passion week. They
have town further ont on the road
toward the springs The first house