Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-10-29
.WHERE,BRlGHr WATERS..SlNG,
Special Agent Stidger Talks of the East
ern Portion Of the Proposed Pecos
National Park.

Capt. j. S. Stidger, of the U. S. land
office, sent here to examine and report
upon the proposed Pecos national park,
returned last night from a trip TO the
head waters of the Rio Pecos and through
the eastern portion Of the proposed reser-
walton. He went first to Las Vegas
and the hot springs and found the peo-
pie there enthusiastic on the subject OF
this national park. At Gloria he took
blackboard and proceeded to Cooper's
mills thence up to Windsor's ranch. The
owner of the latter, sturdy Vermonter,
extended him every courtesy as also did
Mr.. Cooper, and nowhere, not even among
the few isolated settlers within the bounds
of the park, was single protest heard
against the establishment of this reser-
walton. On the contrary, everybody looks
upon it az a benefit; Mr.. Cooper, who at
first asked to Lave his lands excluded
from the reservation, which was done by
the surveyor general has now reconsld-
cred his objections and finds that it would
be advantageous i'll some respects to ne
included within its boundaries. Mr..
Windsor served as guide to Capt Stldger,
plotting him over precipitous trails on
horse back. They took in 1.-The rim" OF
the mountain ranges, visited the head
waters of the principal streams and went
as far north as within three miles OF the
Truchas CIRCUIT peak.
"And speaking of trout" said Capt,
Stidger, my but they are beauties up
there, and the quiet pools are full OF
them. peeped over the rocks in many
places and could see the bottom of the
pools blackened with the speckeled
beauties from ten to fifteen inches in
length. And the falls and swiftly flowing
waters along the several streams-what
Jolly song they do sing. | have quite
made up my mind that this park is
necessity which the government should
lose no further time in reserylng. The
region is grand one, suited only for this
purpose but the game and fish ought to
have protection. There are deer and elk
and grouse and small game through the
locality | visited and | reckon bear are
about as plentiful as they ought to be-.
vas particularly impressed with the I'M.
portance Of preserving the timber and
the consequent effect of this upon the
water in the various streams, so essential
to the welfare of the settlers in the
adjacent valleys. And by the way,
noted on my trip up the canon OF the
Santa Fe that tor distance OF Six or
eight miles above the city all shrubbery
and timber has been cut away. This
fact serves to reduce your water supply
very materially. Were the banks OF the
stream lined with willows and other
clustering shrubs of an indigenous nature
the stream would be so protected from
the sun as to greatly reduce evaporation.
This is a matter for your citizens to con-
slider"
Capt. Stidgers next trip will be through
the western and northern region of the
proposed park, northeast of Santa Fe, and
across the headwaters of the Rio Tesuque,
Nambre, Pojoaque, Madre and Santa
Cruz. He will 20 to the Nambre by buck
board and thence make the circuit by
horseback to the northwest side OF Bald
mountain and Truchas peak.