Las Vegas free press., 1892-08-09
LAS VEGAS.

| Las vegas Nthe meaGOWs), the largest city IN New
Mexico is the county seat Of San Miguel county, tn
most populous and wealthy county Of the Territory
II sstuated in latitude IS degrees % minutes north
on the Gallinas river, at the eastern base OF tn,
Rocky Mountains, at altitude Of about $500 fee
above sea level. \ few miles to the west are tn,
mountains, to the east and southeast a vast plaiI
stretches away and affords fine stock and agrcul
| tural country It has an enterprslng population o.
between seven and eight thousand people and is grow
| Ing steadily
It is situated on grant of 10000 acres OF which
only few thousand had good title, but the legsla
has just passed law which settles the title and
will throw the balance OF the tract open TO settle
ment.
The town Is lit by electric light, has water works
gas, streetcar line, telephone exchange daily pa
per, churches academies public and private schools
a number Of solid banking and financial institutions
and mercantile houses, some Of which carry stocks
Of s2j0OOO and whose trade extends throughout New
Mexico and Arizona 1t is the chief commercial
toEn Of vast tributary country rich in resources,
the DEVELOPMENT of which has Just been commenced.
West and north Of Las Vegas, reaching to the Colora
do line Is mountain and mineral region, covered
with forests Of pine timber, affording excellent
quality Of lumber. Just west of town, to two
miles Is an unlimited supply of the finest red and
white sandstone, pronounced by. Prof. Hayden the
finest in the United States.
The valleys Of the mountain streams are very rich
and prolific, producing wheat oats, corn, grass etc.
In abundance. East and south Of the town and Ike
wise tributary to It, are the vast and wen grasscd
plains and valleys of the Canadian and Pecos rivers
and their tributaries constituting the hncstl stock
region for sheep and cattle in all the west. This
great country is already well occupied with prosper
Gus cattle raiscrs and wool growers, who make Las
Vegas their business town and supply point. Build
ing material is excellent convenient and cheap, and
the business houses and residences are handsome
well built and permanent Las Vegas is without
question, the best built town In New Mexico
The headquarters Of the division Of the A. T. Il $.
+. Railroad extending from La Junta to Aibuquer.
que arc located here well as their tie preserving
works.
Besides its railroad connections It has regular
stages east to Cabra Springs, Fort Bascom and Lber
ty, and the Texas Panhandle southeast to Anton
Chico. Fort Sumner and Roswell; north to Mora via
sapello and Rocada; northeast with Los Alamos, Go
londrinas and Fort Union. Telephone lines extend
to Los Alamos s miles distant and to Mora, S5 miles
via sapello and Rocada.
Water is supplied by gravity system Of water
works, the water being taken from the river seven
miles above the city, and has pressure of no. lbs.
While SO far there are no producing mines very
near Las Vegas the prospecting done has developed
the fact that there some very good prospects here
that will, with proper working, soon pay wei. Ma
chlnery has lately been purchased by some of these
output.
Five miles northwest of Las Vegas, where The Gal
lnas river breaks out of the mountains are situated
the famous Hot Springs. The river here runs from
west to east, and the springs are on the south bank
almost central In natural park, surroundcdby pine
clad and picturesque mountains. The water OF the
springs as clear as crystal Of high temperature and
the mineral constituents are subtly dissolved and
blended as to repdc. It wonderfully beneficial to the
human system. In addition and supplementary to
the advantages possessed by the mineral water the
climate Is one of the finest In the world. The Mon
tczuma hotel there is very cOmmodious, splendidly
furnished and the management and tables are all that
can be desired and the accommodation for guests Is
anywhere. The bath house Is large and
very complete in all its appointments.
branch line Of the Santa Fe railroad runs from
Las Vegas to the Hot Springs, connecting with all
trains At present round-trp tickets are sold from
Kansas City and eastern points 10 the Hot Springs
good for ninety days at greatly reduced rates
About 10 miles above the Hot Springs at llermits
Peak, generally called Old Bady, detached spur of
he Rocky Mountains,is of the finest scenery In
New Mexico, The peak is broken abruptly OFF ON Its
face rising almost straight up 400 feet, while on the
south side of the mountains the river cuts through,
coming from the top of the range, In narrow
canon over 2O0 feet deep rising in some places with
out break the entire distance Good nshng and
hunting can be had in the mountains anywhere
from - to 80 miles of Las Vegas
The average temperature for the year 1896 taken at
the Montezuma Hotel each day was as folowsi Jan
uary, 40 degrees; February, IS; March, 5i April 60
May 69 June 49, July, IS; August, u; September 20;
October. 60; November, 81; December, 50.
San Miguel Is the empire county OF New Mexico
II is on the average one hundred and eighty miles
ong by ninetynye miles wide, and containing about
10000 acres embraces within Its boundaries rugged
and wooded mountains extensive plains and fertile
Ina ngf IA
feet and on the west 1900 The lhirtyhfth parallel
II latitude runs centrally through It. It's bounded
On the north by Mora County on the south by Berna
lilo and Chaves Coulties1anI extends from the sum
nit Of the main range of mountains on the west TO
he Texas Panhandle on the east II Is wei watered
ly the Canadian, Pecos, Gunas Sapello and Tecoio-
e rivers AMI their tributaries. Between the Sape'
10 and the Gainas is the great divide which separates
he waters flowing into the MISSISSIPPI from those
lowing into the Rio Grande. The western portion OF
he couutys is mountainous, rising from the plains to
ne highest range in the Territory, capped with eter
lal SHOWS The elimination Of the mountains at
uch great altitude, twelve thousand feet causes
reat accumulation of snow, which constantly ieeus
he mountain streams with pure water that passes
III into and through the valleys below. The Mora
apello, Gallinus, Tecolote and Pecos streams all
ave their sources In the same mountains and nearly
n the same locality The precipitation moisture
N the eastern slopes OF the mountains by rain ana
now greater than in any other portion OF the Ter
itory.
New Mexico is as large as all the New England
tates together, with New York and New Jersey
brown In. It Is about equally divided In grazing
gricultural and mining lands. Millions OF acres
lch IN resources are waiting 10 he occupied. lthas
he precious metals coal iron, stock ranges agrcul'
nra horticultural and grape lands, splendid scenery
lore sunshine, more even temperature, more eN-
ilaratng atmosphere. than any other country on
his continent low taxes and an active home market
or all agricultural products.
New Mexico wants manufactures Of every de-
rription, more farms gardens, orchards vineyards,
liners, took raisers, a million more industrious
eople TO develop It's resouces and make for them
elves comfortable homes, There Is no better hed
All, In al cal