The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-24
S'S2Syz - - n mNG s1
With Eagle
THE MESiLLA VALLEY,
Some OF the Characteristics of a Ricl
Section of New Mexico.

Some of the Characteristics of a Ricl
Section of New Mexico.
Las Cruces is the principal town il
what is known as the MesilIa valley
The Mesilla valley is distinctive mann
applied to that portion OF the Rio Grand
valley in the extreme southern part O
New Mexico. extending from Fort Sci
den On the north to the Texas line no
far from the city of FL Paso, Tex. 1t!
average width is about three miles anc
its greatest width ten miles. The soil i:
exceedingly rich and fertile, and is es
pecially adapted for the cultivation OF
fine fruit, although alraost every variety
Of fruit, vegetables and grain can be
produced with great success. One OF
the principal and best paying crops of
the valley is alfalfa hay, of which four,
and sometimes five, cuttings are made
in one season. There is always a good
market for alfalfa hay, which brings
from $40 to 81 per ton. Every acre of
the valley is SO located that it can be IT.
Tigated from the river, which divides
the total acreage into TWO nearly equal
parts. The main line OF the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad passes
through the entire valley on the east
side Of the river. The altitude is about
$500 feet lower than Santa Fe and POO
feet lower than Denver, and the average
of the climate IS mild and as near per-
lection IS can be found anywhere The
only real winter experienced by the peo-
pie of the valley is III the month Of Jan
uarv, and even then the temperature
rarely falls below 20 dogs. above zero.
In the midsummer the temperature is
about the same as that Of the Pacific
coast. but one does not experience any
thing like the disccmIoyts that attend an
eastern summer
The store Buildings and most Of the
residences are built of adobe (mud)
bricks, and usually around an open
square called q placiti. In these placitis,
or open AR gardens, it is no uncommon
thing 10 PICK roses at Christmas, while
about Feb. ] the trees commence to put
forth a new growth Of leaves. About
ten days ago the enterprising citizens of
Las Cruces and the Mesilla valley, as
sisted by the territorial board of im1ni-
grafton and Gle Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe railroad, fitted out car with
fine fruit and other products Of the val
leg, ard started east, taking IN the prin-
cip3l towns along the line of the Santa
Fe route Tho scheme Of sending out
this car IS TO inteIligently show to the
people OF the east the resources and ca
no Z gr-l
TO demonstrate the fact that cattle rails
ing and mining are not the only indus
tries Of New Mexico. This fine exhibit
of fruit : kept fresh by supplies which
are shipped from here daily.
Two and one-haif miles southwest of
this point is situated the historical Mex
lean town Vt Mesila. 1t is the second
Oldest toxin in the territory, Santa Fe |
being the oldest, and 1t is claimed to be
the third oldest town in the United |
States. Twenty years ago it was the |
metropolis Of southern New Mexico. |
Seven stages arrived and departed daily |
from different points Of the territory, /
Arizona and Texas. Business was brisk, |
prices high and money plenty. The in
habitants We're mostly Mexican, and the |
American element chiefly composed of |
men who had come west for their health |
the climate in the states being too hot |
for them. In those days the man who !
set his stakes in this country and staid |
with it was q man Of unquestionable |
courage. When the railroad was built !
through the valley it left MesilIa several
miles to one side, and she now stands an
Isolated wreck Of her former greatness.
Six miles northwest of Las Cruces is
located the Shalam colony. This colony
is composed of the followers Of DIR. 4.
~ Rowland and j. B. Newbrough, who
claim to be something higher and wiser
than ordinary mortals. Their Bible is
called OaSpie, and they claim that it is
a direct revelation from God through
their prophet, DR.. Rowland. They are
at present constructing an immense tenn
pie according to instructions and plans
given in Oaspie. They are peaceful and
law abiding, attending strictly to their
own affairs and making no attempt to
secure converts At stated intervals
Newhrough or Rowland make extended
trips throughout the east and come back
with some half dozen or more young
babes. These babes viii be brought I'D
in the faith, and III this way the follow
ars of O2spie viii be increased. DR..
Tanner was at one time an active mem
Der Of this peculiar soct.-Las Cruces
N. NJ Cor. st. Louis Globe-Democrat