Las Vegas free press., 1892-08-20
LAS VEGAS.

Las Vegas (the mcatows) the largest city IN New
Mexico, Is the county seat of San Miguel county, tn
most populous and wealthy county OF the Territory
ssiuated In latitude s5 degrees 20 minutes north
on the Gallinas river, at the eastern base OF tn,
Rocky Mountains, at altitude Of about $500 fee
above sea level. a few miles to the west are IN,
mountains, to the east and southeast a vast plair
stretches away and affords a fine stock and agricui
tural country 1t has an enterprlsing population Of
between and oightthousand people and is grow
ing steadily
1t is situated grant OF 10000 acres, OF which
only few thousand had good title, but the iegsla
ure has Just passed alaw which settles the title and
win 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,
number of solid banking and financial Institutions
and mercantile houses, some Of which carry stocks
Of s2J00OO and whose trade extends throughout New
| Mexico and Arizona. II Is the chief commercial
tom 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 a mountain aud mineral region. covered
with forests Of pine timber aIOrding excellent
! quality of lumber Just west OF town. one To two
miles, is an unlimited supply Of the finest red ana
white sandstone, pronounced by Prof Hayden the
| finest in the United States.
The valleys Of the mountain streams very rich
and prolific, producing wheat oats, corn, grass, etc,
in abundance. East and south OF the town and like.
wise tributary to IT, are the vast and well grasscd
plains and valleys Of the Canadian and Pecos rivers
and their tributaries, constituting the nncstl stock
region for sheep and cattle In all the west This
great country 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 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. & S.
F. Railroad extending from La Junta to Aibuquer-
que located here well as their tie preserving
works
Besides its railroad connections It has regular
stages cast 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 Aamos, Co
londrlnas 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 100 lbs
While far there are no producing mines very |
near Las Vegas, the prospecting done has developed
the fact that there very good prospects here
that will, with proper working, pay well. Ma
chinery has lately been purchased by some Of these
and undoubtedly. they will soon be making a regular
output.
Five miles northwes; Of Las Vegas, where the Cal
lnas river breaks out Of the mountains are situated
the famous Hot Springs. The river here runs from
west to east and the springs the south bank,
almost central In natural park, surroundedb by pine
clad and picturesque mountains. The water OF the
springs clear crystal OF high temperature and
the mineral constituents are so subtlY dissolved and
blended render It wonderfully beneficial to the
human system. In addition and supplementary to
the advantages possessed by the mineral water the
climate il one of thC finest in the world The Mon
tezuma hotel there Is very cOmmodlous, spendidly
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 It's appointments.
branch line Of the Santa Fc ralrond runs from
Las Vegas to the Hot Springs, connecting with all
rains. At present round-trip tickets are sold from
Kansas City and eastern points to the Hot Springs
good for ninety days at greatly reduced rates.
About Is miles above the Hot Springs ut Hermlts
Peak generally called Old Badly detached spur of
he Rocky Mountains,ls OF the finest scenery in
Sew Mexico The peak is broken abruptly on on lts
ace rising almost straight up 2n0fcet, while on the
outh side OF the mountains the river cuts through,
coming from the top of the range, In narrow
,anon over 1000 feet deep rising in some places with
,ut a break the entire distance. Good fishing and
uniting can be had In the mountains anywhere
rom ~ to 80 miles Of Las Vegas.
The average temperature for the year 1890 taken ut
he Montezuma Hotel each day was as follows; Jan
lary, 20 degrees February, IS; March, 5o; April, GO
Iay 69 June &c; July, 1s August, n; September. 1O
october. G2; Novepher 52 December, 80.
San Miguel Is the empire county OF New Mexico
{ Is on the average one hundred and eighty miles
ong by nlnetynye miles wide, and Containing about
10000 acres embraces within Its boundaries rugged
nd wooded mountains extensive plains and fertile
alleys Its elevation on the cast Is about 400
eet and on the west 1900 The thlry-nfth parallel
( latitude runs centrally through it. It's bounded
N the north by Mora County, on the south by Berna-
lio and Chayes Countcs1anl extends from the sum
lit OF the main range Of mountains on the west TO
he Texas Panhandle on the east. It is well watered
y the Canadian, Pccos, Ganas, sapelo and Tccolo-
: rivers and their tributaries. Between the Sape-
and the Ganas Is the great divide which separates
he waters flowing into the Mississippi from those
owing into the Rio Graude. The western portion OF
he county Is mountainous, rising from the plains TO Il
ne highest range In the Territory, capped with etor
al SHOWS The elimination of the mountains at
lch great altitude, twelve thousand feet, causes
reat accumulation OF snow, which constantly feeds
le mountain streams with pure water, that passes d
n into and through the valleys below The Nora u
lpeno, Galllnas, Tecolotc and Pecos streams all "A
ave their sources IN the same mountains and nearly
the same locality. The precipitation moisture IL
/ the eastern slopes OF the mountains by rain and
low is greater than In any other portion OF the Ter st
tory. A.
New Mexico Is as large as all the New England "
utcs together with New YORK ana New Jersey ii
rown in It is about equally divided In grazing, ,v
,rlcultnral and mining lands. Millions Of acres :
rh IN resources waiting 10 be occupied. ithas d
e precious metals, coal on stock ranges, agrcul- u
raj horticultural and grape lands splendid scenery 81
ore sunshine. more even temperature, more ex' -,
laratlng atmosphere, than any other country on w
Is continent low taxes and an active home market ia
# all agricultural products. n
New Mexico wants manufactures OF every de-
rlptlon more farms, gardens orchards vineyards, III
ncrs tock ralsers, million more industrious &C
ople TO develop It's and make for them in
Ives comfortable homes. There Is 40 better field 50
+ profitable investment Of capital