Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-04
rht MeslLLA VALLEY.
seme es the Characteristics of Rich
section OF New Mexiea.

seme es the chsraessristlcs of . Rieh
section OF New Mexico.
Las Cruces Is the principal town In
what is known as the Mesilla valley
The Mesilla valley IL distinctive name
applied TO that portion OF the Rio Grande
valley in the extreme southern part OF
New Mexico. extending from Fort Sell
den on the north TO the Texas line not
far from the CITY of FL Paso, Tex. It's
average width is about three miles and
its greatest width ten miles The soil is
exceedingly rich and fertile, and Is es-
pecially adapted for the cultivation OF
fine fruit, although almost every variety
OF fruit. vegetables and grain can be
produced with great success. One OF
the principal and best paving 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 $l4 per ton Every acre of
the valley Is SO located that il can bc ir.
rigated from the river. which divides
the total acreage into Two nearly equal
parts The main line OF the Atchison
Topeka and Santa re railroad passes
through the entire valley on the east
side OF the river The altitude is about
| 1880 feet lower than Santa Re and | 200
i feet lower than Denver. and the average
/ OF the climate is mild and as near per
I fection as can he found anywhere. The
| only real winter experienced by the peo-
pie OF the valley IL ln the month OF Jan
uary, and even then the temperature
rarely falls below 20 degs. above zero.
la the midsummer the temperature is
about the same as that Of the Pacific
coast. bn; one does not experience any
thing like the discomforts 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 a pIacifi In these plaeitis.
I or open air gardens. it is no uncommon
thing TO pick roses at Christmas, while
+ about Feb. | the trees commence TO put
forth a new growth OF leaves. About
/ ten days ago the entcrprising citizens of
4 Las Cruces and the Mesilla valley, as
/ sisted by the territorial board OF immi.
grafton and the Atchison. Topeka and
/ Santa Re railroad. fitted out car with
fine fruit aud other products of the val
| lev, and started east taking in the prin-
4 cipal towns along the line of the Santa
/ Fe route. The scheme Of sending out
/ this car Is to intelligently show to the
people Of the east the resources and ca
pabilities OF this wonderful valley. and
to demonstrate he fact that cattle rails.
ing and mining are not the only indus
tries OF New Mexico This line exhibi,
Of fruit is kept fresh by supplies which
are shipped from here daily
Two and one-haif miles southwest o
this point il situated the historical Mex
ican town of Mesilla II Is the secone
oldest town In the territory, Santa +,
being the ol!est. and it is claimed TO b
the third oldest town IN the Unites
States Twenty years ago il was tn
metropolis of southern New Mexico
Seven stages arrived and departed dali,
from different points Of the territory
Arizona and Texas. business was brisk
prices high and money plenty. The in
habitnnis were mostly Mexican. and tin
American element chiefly composed O
men Who had come west for their healti
the climate in the states being too ho
for them, In those days the man win
set his stakes in this country and stat,
with it was man of nnquestionabi
courage When the railroad was bull
through the valley 1t left Mesilla seyera
miles to one side. and she now stands al
isolated wreck OF her former greatness
Six miles northwest of Las Cruces
located the Shaiam colony This colon,
is composed of the followers of DIR. A
NJ. Howiand and J Il. Newbrough, VIII
claim 10 he something higher and wise
than ordinary mortals Their Bible
called Oaspie, and they claim that il
direct revelation from God throngl
their prophet. DIR. Howiand. They ar
at present constructing nm immense tenl
, pie according to instructions and plaz
given in Oaspie. They are peaceful an
law abiding attending strictly 10 thei
own affairs and making no attempt I
, secure converts. Al stated interval
Newbrough or Howland make extends
trips throughout the east and come bac
with some half dozen or more youn
babes These babes viii he brought Il
! in the faith. and IN this way the follow
ers OF Oasple will he increased, ID
. Tanner was al one time an active men
Der of this peculiar sect, Las Cruce
IN. Nj Cor. ST Louis Globe Democrat