The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-27
FROM NEW MEXICO.



The town of Las Vegas stands upon q
Immigrant made by the Mexican govern
ment in 1885 to Juan de Dios and others,
the area of which is 496, 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, IS |
half mile from the other, and is COM
prIsed chiefly of ADOBE houses built around
an open square or plaza in true Spanish or
Mexican style. The new town is of more
modern appearance and construction, be-
ing composed of frame houses built since
the advent of the railroad 1t is likely
also 10 be the most important Of the tho
in few years. The old town lies upon
II broad slope to the south ami east, and
its adobe, or unburned brick houses.
mostly one story high, have rather.
squaity, uninviting appearance, though
more comfortable inside than one would
suppose, as the thick, dry walls guarantee
cool atmosphere in hot weather, with
equal protection against cold in winter.
The streets are narrow, irregular and IN
tidy, and altogether the place presents a
sleepy thriftless and dispiriting outlook
Stll in business point of view Las Vegas
is one of the most prosperous towns in
NQNg MpNIRn Some nt The lur
camille establishments in the territory are
located here, and their trade extends far
to the south and southeast. Some mining
interests have been developed in the local
ity within the last four years, hut they are
not extensive.
The country around Las Vegas is the
typical New MeXiCo-the dry aid 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 gramma
grass, which at this season of the year. and
in fact at any time after the 1st of July is
ola grey color and looks as if simeon or Il
prairie fire had passed over it leaving but
bare stubble to mark where luynIiant
grass had been. But this grass though
short is succulent, and contains, | sup
pose, far more nutritive properties than
or best kinds of blue grass Cattle
living the year round on these plains
receive no other nourishment than hey
afford and still thrive Some of the land
around Las Vegas is cultivated and by
means of irrigation large crops of Germ,
oats and barley 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 into ravines and
arroyas. But little irrigation has been
done, the native Mexican orGreaser being
perfectly content to squat himself upon
his hams upon the sunny side of his adobe
building, or with riding wildly across the
phlins upon halt-broken mustang as
wild as himself, in search of some strayed
cattle A Mexican is in the highest
luxury when he has nothing to do, unin-
terrupted hot weather, Chili Colorado,
and IN unlimited amount of musicale,
fiery, intoxicating liquid, distilled from
species of cactus growing wild upon the
plains.
About seven miles west of the city of
Las Vegas the Gallinas river leaves long
canyon formed by the eastern spur of the
Sierra Madre, and enters the plain.
There, behind a low hill, lying like a
pOrters 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 improve
meats made under the auspices of the
railroad company with the expectation
that they will become popular resort.
Of their real qualities l know little or
nothing at present, and will reserve
extended mention for a future letter
West of Las Vegas, to the north and
northwest, projects out from the main
range OF the mountains an irregular line
OF hills and over and above these rises a
grey, PERCEPTIONS dome of rock, known as
Hermit mountain, the lei Soil
tarIo of the Mexicans. 1t is
so called from the fact that q
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 spring of water on the
mountain, and a cave, and with these re-
sources he lived for years.
On the way from Las Vegas to the
springs the tourist will see on top of hill
to the left of the road cross standing
boldly out against the sky 1t is of wood
rude in structure, but has singular mis-
sion, in that it is the point to which the
members OF the secret order of Penitcntes
crawl during Passion week They have
town further out on the road toward the
springs The first house in it. on thu
left hand side OF the road going-a ont
story adobe house, with low door il
front and no windOws-is the council
house in which the secret meetings of Tho
order are held. These people are brancI
Of the Roman Catholics. They are ex
communicated, and not recognized by thu
Catholic priests. but they nevertheless
cling to the borders of the church, AM
claim to be true Christians. and the Onl-
true ones. They are scattered all owe
New and Old Mexico, Arizona, and il
fact south of the Arkansas river. The
live in towns apart, and deport themselve
pretty much rs other people do, but dur
ing Passion week, the week preceding
Lent, they are very cruel, lashing ant
torturing themselves and one another til
the blood streams from them; and in tn
Las Vegas settlement they crawl from thu
town over the stony road, up the noun
tain to the foot of the cross already spokel
of, whipping themselves and utterin,
fearful cries and lamentations. They ar
believed to be an offshoot from the Fran
ciscan order of monks. which was early il
New Mexico, and whose ceremonies
closely resemble those of the Penitentes
PHoNo.