The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-12-17
Las vnaAsH HOE arRINas.
3 the Raitor q TmNrua.


To the Editor OF TIE NEWS.
A recent "Trip Of the writer over the
AtOhison. Topeka q Santa Re railroad
from Emporla TO Las Vegas, New Mex
co.calls 70 mind the remarkable changes
that have taken place In this region
Of country since I first visited 1t about
thirty years ago. At that time vast
herds Of buffalo in nearly countless
numbers could be seen In almost every
direction, grazing upon the prairies, and
numerous bands Of unfriendiy Indians
roamed the plains within view of the
old Santa Fe trail. which was then the
great highway Of commerce and the con.
Meeting link between the refinement and
civilization Of the east and the unedu-
Gated, mixed racss and savage red men
of New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas.
The Eoreshadowing ct that time Of the
advent Of the gigantic Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe railroad corporation, with
its numerous branches, and its power.
full influence upon the prosperity of the
country could but have been as
predetermined to the human mind
a. the Bible account of the wonderous
creation of the earth itself. The old or
team, with Its whoa haw-gse buck,
and the usual sccompanIments Of profan-
ity, creeping along with snaiI-like pace
at the rate Of fifteen or twenty miles e
day over the dry prairie and under the
broiliDg, sun has gwen place TO the iron
horse rushing through space at forty
miles ger hour over steel rails, drawing
palatial cars The "Whoa-hsw" and
the "gee-buck" and the profane driver
have been supplanted by the CHEEKY
"all-aboard" of the gentlemanly conduct
GRAND polite ''tlckes, If you please, !" and
the change IL one that the writer can
fully appreciate, In common with. his
fellow travellers Of thirty years ago.
There was very little on the road in
those days to cheer the weary sojourner.
Now IL is full of attractions. One OF the
most charming Of these along the en-
tire line is the Las Vegas hot springs,
situated about five miles from the city
Of Las Vegas and connected with the
main line Of the A. T. s. s. F. railroad,
by branch road also owned by that
company. At this point the a. T. s. s.
r. railroad have expended about a mil
lion dollars in beautifying the place by
utilizing and making its great natural
beauty all the more attractive, and pro.
.yiding it with splendid hotelaccnmmods
tlons,thus rendering it one of the most de
lightful places Of resort upon the Amer
lean continent. The hot springs of Las
Vegas are something really phenomena.
They have al altitude of 6, 700 feet above
the level of the sea, and are forty in
number varying in temperature from 10
TO 40 degrees Farenheit. Oae of these
springs alone furnishes 80, 900 gallons Of
water daily at a temperature of 40 de-
grees fahrenheit Their curative prop
critics are simply wonderful. They are
specially in acute and chronic
rheumatism, general debility. mental
exhaustion, all skin diseases, etc.,
and after leaving the baths the skin
feels like piece of velvet. The visitor
to the hot springs of Las Vegas, wheth
or in search of health or pleasure, i:
sure to profit by his trip. The writer
observed numerous crutches and cane:
lying about, brought there by invalids
but shortly discarded as useless, under
the magic effects of the baths. The air
is delightfully."- balmy at the springs q
all seasons of the year, and yet, high VI
in the mountains, at the pres
eut time, not more than q mile away
may be found pretty little lakes, frozeI
and affordIng first-class skating grounds
The Montezuma hotel, that was recently
burned, was magnificent structure
erected at a cost of $500 900 to the com
pany, and was splendid:Y appointed
Enough of its ruins remain
to give an idea of its
costly magnifcence. and it car
be rebuilt at an expense of aboul
$4,000. at the present time guests ar,
comfortably cared for at the Hot Spring
house, which, with numerous cosy cot
tages, affords ample and elegant accom-
modations for all who may come. Tn
hotel and all the property belonging t.
the A, T. 81 s. +. railroad company a
this point is under the management O
Mr. w. P. F. Meserve, man of large
experience and who, as hotel keeper, i
an acknowledged thoroughbred. Cel
tainlY no better selection could hay
been made for this important trust, an,
If there is any hotel between New Y0rl
and San Francisco where better cui
sine Is maintained the writer has nc
heard of 1t, and he speaks by the caro-
for he has sampled the most of them.
must not omit parting illusion to tn
glorious view obtained from the site {
the old Montezuma hotel, where on
may look down the grand valley throug
vista extending as far 6
the human eye can reacl
1t is said to be without a rival on tn
continent. No seeker either for healt
or pleasure should omit visit to til
Las Vegas hot springs. of New Mexic
During the writer's sojourn at IL
springs, he had the pleasure of meetin
; with the Rav. P. K. McCue, pastor of
Methodist Episcopal church at Chicag
? This gentleman is now eighty-four yea
3 of age, and is certainly ONE of the be
: preserved and most remarkable spec
: mems of intellectual and physical mar
? hood TO be met with anywhere. TT
!. writer also bad tue pleasure OF ridrI
= with Mr.. j. A. Judd, one of the mo
gentlemanly and popular conductors {
I the Santa Fe road. Il c. W.
; THE LATE MICHAEL MYERS.
From the Emporia Republican.