The Las Vegas gazette., 1886-05-05
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 5
LAS VEGAS, NEEDS.

Wnen business lS 6laCk WIFI Ine
merchants of Las Vegas how many of
them sit down and soberly think out
the cause for the depression? 1t is a
patent fact that for the past two years
this city has been dependent for pros
perity upon local trade only, and
this accounts for the standstill of
journal footings of merchants during
that time. 1t is true that Las Vegas
has to back it, as tributary to its
wealth and business. what is by far
the richest portion Of the great south
western country included in southern
Colorado, New Mexico, western Texas
and Arizona. The direct trade from
our own county of San Miguel, added
to that of Mora county, is sufficient
to make Las Vegas an important
commercial point and one of those
fortunate places designated as "good
towns" The people of Las Vegas
are wide-awake and pushing if any
thing, and the present position does
not please them. They want to see
the City of Meadows, with its wonder
full advantages and unequalled re-
sources, come to the front as a center
of growth and prosperity. The busi-
ness men of this place wish their led
ger footings increased year by year
and sparkling success take the place
of uncertain growth.
THE GAZETTE has sounded the sit
uation and to fill its mission as
daily journal, working to build up
the community in which it is situated,
points out the cause and effect. The
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad
company has always been n friend to
Las Vegas and i'll more ways than
one has added to the stability and
growth of the city. But from bust
ness mans point of view there is
more to be done to aid the develop
ment of the trade and business of
Las Vegas and which the railroad
company can we'll grant without loss
to itself.
The great and growing trade of
Lincoln county always came natur-
ally to Las Vegas. Three years ago
the wagons of the freighters rolled
through the streets loaded down with
merchandise for Lincoln county.
Three years ago there was not Las
Vegas merchant but had customer
in the county of Lincoln. Today
they are few and far between, aud a
wagon train for the lower Pecos will
soon become a curiosity. See how
Lincoln county has grown. From a
tax return of about $400, 900 in 1882 it
has increased its wealth until today
the assessors books show over So 900,
900 of taxable property. The fault
then lies not with Lincoln county but
with Las Vegas.
This great traffic has gone to other
points, but it is not altogether lost.
Many Lincoln county people look
upon Las Vegas as "their town" and,
in the face of the heavy discriminat.
ing freight tariff of the railroad com
pany, still come to this point to buy
their goods. Ell Paso has captured a
valuable part of the trade of the
southern part of Lincoln county by
reason of the cut rate which it has SO
long enjoyed, and which rate enables
the merchants of that place to sell
with profit for less than similar mer.
chandise costs Las Vegas merchants,
laid down.
Las Vegas, of course, enjoying nc
competing lines of railroad, cannot
expect rate like Ell Paso has, but
even with fair reduction our mer'
chants by reason Of their acquaint'
ance and superior facilities would be
able to "hold their own" against the
world.
The question Of course will arise
Will it pay the Atchison, Topeka 4
Santa Fe road to make liberal re
duction in the freight rate to New
Mexico's cities? THE GAZETTE says
it would. In the first place the SAINTS
Fe road gets but a small proportion
of the business into El Paso. The
hauling is divided and the Texas
roads get the lions share. With the
trade branching from New Mexico
cities the Atchison road would have
all of the business, and low freight