Las Vegas free press. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1891-1???, 1892-01-11
LAs|VEGAs FREE Press
MONDAY, JAN. II, 1892.
Las VEGAS.

Las Vegas (the meacoWe), the largest CITY IN new
Mexico the county seat of San Miguel county, the
most populous and wealthy county Of the Territory
It situated In latitude 50 degrees 20 minutes north
on the Gallinas river, at the eastern base Of the
Rocky Mountains, at an altitude Of about $500 feet
above sea level. A few miles to the west are the
mountains, to the east and southeast vast plain
stretches away and affords fine stock and agricul
tural country It has an enterprising population Of
between seven and eight thousand people andisgrow
ing steadily
1t is situated on grant OF 10000 acres, Of which
only few thousand had good title, but the legsla
ture has Just passed law which settles the title and
will throw the balance Of the tract open to settle
ment
The town is llt 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 100000 and whose trade extends throughout New
Mexico and Arizona 1t is the chief commercial
toxin of vast tributary country, rich in resources,
the development of which has just been commenced.
West and north of Las Vegas, reaching to the Coora-
do line Is mountain and mineral region, covered
with forests of pine timber, afording On excellent
quality Of lumber. just west Of town, one 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 well gvassed
plains and valleys Of the Canadian and Pecos rivers
and their tributaries constituting the finest stock
region for sheep and cattle in all the west. TINS
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 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. I. q s.
f. Railroad extending from La Junta to Aibuquer-
que are located here well asthelr tIe!preserving
works.
Besides Its railroad connections 1t 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 Rociada northeast with Los Aamos, Go
londrinas and Fort Union. Telephone lines extend
to Los Alamos 10 miles distant, and to Mora, 30 miles
via Sapello 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 1iOlbs.
While so far there no producing mines very
near Las Vegas the prospecting done has developed
the fact that there are some very good prospects mere
that will with proper working, soon pay well. Ma
chinery has lately been purchased by some Of these
and, undoubtedly they will soon be making regular
output.
Five miles northwest Of Las Vegas, where the Cal
nas river breaks out of the mountains, are situated
the famous Hot Springs. The river here runs from
west to east and the springs on the south bank
almost central in natural park, surroundedby pine
clad and picturesque mountains The water OF the
springs is as clear crystal of high temperature and
the mineral constituents so subty dissolved ana
blended as to render 1t wonderfully beneficial to the
human system. In addition and supplementary 10
the advantages possessed by the mineral water the
ts,t thu 40
tezuma hotel there is very commodious, splendidy
furnished and the management and tables are all that
can be desired and the accommodation for guests Is
unsurpassed anywhere. The bath house Is large ana
very complete in all its appointments.
A branch line of the Santa Fe railroad runs from
Las Vegas to the Hot Springs. connecting with all
trains. 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. at Hermits
Peak generally called Old Badly, detached spur OF
the Rocky Mountainsis some of the finest scenery IN
New Mexico, The peak is broken abruptly on on lts
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 2OO feet deep, rising in some places Win
out a break the entire distance. Good fishing and
hunting can be had in the mountains anywhere
from 20 to 80 miles Of Las Vegas.
The average temperature for the 1890 taken at
the Montezuma Hotel each day was as foowsi Jan
uary 40 degrees; February, IS; March, 55 April, 90
May 60 June 70; July, Isl August, rs September ~;
October. 60; November, 50; December, so.
San Miguel is the empire county OF New MEXICO
1t is on the average, one hundred and eighty miles
long by ninetyhye miles wide and containing about
4OOOOO acres embraces within its boundaries rugged
and wooded mountains extensive plains and fertile
valleys Its elevation the east is about 4OOO
feet and on the west 1900 The thirtyhfth parallel
of latitude runs centrally through it. tbs bounded
on the north by Mora County the south by Berna-
lilo and Chayes Counties and extends from the sum-
init of the main range Of mountains on the west 10
tho Texas Panhandle on the east 1t is well watered
by the Canadian PecOs, Gallinas, Sapeo and Tecolo
te rivers and their tributaries. Between the sape
Ito and the anas the great which separates
the waters aowing into the MISSISSIPPI from those
flowing into the Rio Grande. The western portion OF
the county Is mountainous, rising from the plains 10
the highest range in the Territory capped with eter
nal SHOWS The elimination OF the iiiSe"fains at
such great altitude, twelve thousand feet causes
great accumulation Of snow, which constantly feeds
the mountain streams with pure water. that passes
off into and through the valleys below. The Mora,
sapello Gallinas Tecolote and Pecos streams all
have their sources In the same mountains andneary
in the same locality. The precipitation OF moisture
on the eastern slopes Of the mountains by rain and
is greater than In any other portion OF the Ter
ritory.
New Mexico is as large as all the New England |
States together. with New York and New Jersey
thrown In II Is about equally divided In grazins |
AGRICULTURAL and mining lands. Millions OF acres
rich in resources are waiting TO be occupied lthas
the precious metals, COAL iron stock ranges agricul
tural horticultural and grape lands splendid scenery
more sunshine, more even temperature, more ex-
atmosphere than any other country on
this continent low and an active home market
for all agricultural products.
New Mexico wants manufactures Of every de-
scrlptlon more farms gardens, orchards, vineyards
miners, stock raisers-a million more industrious
people to develop its resources and make for them
selves comfortable homes. There is no better heid
for profitable investment of capital.