Las Vegas free press., 1892-08-15
Las VEGAS.

Las Vegas Qhe meaeows), the largest city in New
Mexico. is the county seat OF San Miguel county, th
most populous and wealthy county OF the Territory
It's situated In latitude IS degrees 40 minutes north
on the Galiinas river, at the eastern base OF IN,
Rocky Mountains, at altitude OF about 6,5O0 fce
above sea level few miles TO the west are the
mountains, to the east and southeast a vast plalr
stretches away and affords fine stock and agricul
tural country. It has enterprlsing population Of
between and eightthousand people and is grow
ing steadily.
It is situated on grant of $4,000 acres Of which
only few thousand had good title, but the legsla
ture has Just passed alaw 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, strcetcar 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 s2j00O0 and whose trade extends throughout New
Mexico and Arizona. II is the chief commercial
town 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 afrordlng 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
|
in abundance. East and south Of the town and Ike
wise tributary to It, are the vast and well grassed
plains and valleys Of the Canadian and PecOs rivers
and their tributaries, constituting the nnest stock
region for sheep and cattle in an the west. This
great country is already well occupied with prosper
Gus cattle raisers 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 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. 7. & s.
F. Railroad extending from La Junta to Abuquer
que located here well their tie preserving
works.
Besides its railroad connections It has regular
stages east to Cabra Springs Fort Dascom and Liber
ty and the Texas Panhandle southeast to Anton
Chico. Fort Sumner and Roswell; north TO Mora via
Sapello and Rocada; northeast with Los Alamos, Co
londrinas and Fort Union. Telephone lines extend
to Los Aamos 1S miles distant and to Nora S5 miles
via Sapeo and Rociada.
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 40 lbs.
While so far there are producing mines very
Las Vegas the prospecting done has developed
the that there very good prospects Lere
that will, with proper working, soon pay we'll Ma
chinery has lately been purchased by of these,
and, undoubtedly they will soon be making regular
output
Five miles northwest Of Las Vegas, where the Gal |
nas river breaks out of the mountains, situated
the famous Hot Springs. The river here runs from
west east and the springs are on the south bank
almost central in natural park surroundedby pine
clad and picturesque mountains. The water Of the
springs Is as crystal OF high temperature and
the mineral constituents subtly dissolved and
blended to render 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
tezuma hotel there is very commodious, splendldy
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 roundtrlp tickets are sold from
Kansas City and eastern points to the Hot Springs
good for ninety days at greatly reduced rates.
About 10 miles above the Hot Springs at Hermlts
Peak, generally called Old Baldy detached spur of
The Rocky Mcuntans.ls OF the finest scenery In
New Mexico The peak Is broken abruptly of on Its
face rising almost straight up aO0feet while on the
south side of the mountains the river cuts through
coming from the top Of the range, in narrow
canon over 300 feet deep rising In some places with
,ut break the entire distance. Good fishing and
hunting can be had in the mountains anywhere
rom % to 80 miles of Las Vegas.
The average temperature for the year 1896 taken at
he Montezuma Hotel each day was as follows; Jan
nary 40 degrees; February, IS; March, So; April, GO
Nay 60; June, I6 July, IS August 77 September, 10;
october CO; November, 50; December, so.
San Miguel is the empire county of New Mexico.
/ is on the average, one hundred and eighty miles
ong by ninety-nye miles wide, and containing about
100000 acres embraces within its boundaries rugged
md wooded mountains, extensive plains and fertile
ALLEYS Its elevation the east is about 1000
Get and on the west 1900 The thIrty-nfth parallel
Il latitude runs centrally through IT, II is bounded
IN the north by Mora County, the south by Berna-
lilo and Chaves Countles1and extends from the sum
NIT Of the main range of mountains on the west to
he Texas Panhandle on the east. 1t is well watered
y the Canadian Pecos Galllnas, Sapello and Tecolo
c rivers and their tributaries. Between the sape-
and the Gallinas is the great divide which separates
he waters flowing into the Mississippi from those
owing into the Rio Grandc The western portion OF
he county is mountainous rising from the plains to
he highest range in the Territory, capped with oter-
al SHOWS The elimination Of the mountains ut
lch great altitude twelve thousand feet, causeB
reat accumulation Of snow which constantly feeds y
le mountain streams with pure water, that passes
n into and through the valleys below. The Nora
apello Gallnas Tccolote and Pecos streams all y
ave their sources in the same mountains and nearly
the same locality. The precipitation moisture -
4 the eastern slopes OF the mountains By rain and
low Is greater than In any other portion Of the Ter
tory. A
New Mexico Is as large as all the New England =
ates together, with New York and New Jersey 1
rown In. It is about equally divided In grazing n
,rcultural and mining lands. Millions Of acres .
ell In resources, waiting to be occupied. IL has
e precious metals coal iron, stock ranges, agrcul'
ra horticultural and grape lands, splendid scenery
ore sunshine. more even temperature, more eA- q
iarating atmosphere. than any other country on
is continent, low taxes and an active home market II
n all agricultural products.
New Mexico wants manufactures Of every de- 4.
rpton, more farms, gardens orchards vineyards II
lners 8 tock ralsers, a million more industrious c.
ope TO develop its resouces and make for them II
Ives comfortable homes. There is no better held
r profitable investment OF capital.
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