Las Vegas free press., 1892-07-12
Las VEGAS.

Mexico, is the county seat Of San Miguel county, tn,
most populous and wealthy county Of the Territory
Itis suatedin in latitude IS degrees 20 minutes north
on the Gallinas river, at the eastern base Of IN,
Rocky Mountains, at an altitude OF about $500 feet
above sea level. 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. lt has entorprsing population OF
between seven aud cghtthousand people and Is grow
ing steadily.
1t is situated on grant Of 10000 acres Of which
only few thousand had good ttle but the legisa.
ture 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 s25O0OO and whose trade extends throughout New
Mexico and Arizona. Il 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 a mountain and mineral region covered
with forests Of pine timber, anordng 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 I'm 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 like
wise tributary to IT, are the vast and well grassed
plains and valleys Of the Canadian and Pccos rivers
and their tributaries constituting the hnesti stock
region for sheep and cattle In all the west This
great country is already wen 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. md
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. & s.
f. Railroad extending from La Junta to Aibuquer
que are located here well as their tic preserving
works.
Besides its railroad connections It has regular
stages east to Cabra Springs, Fort Bascom and Liber
ty, and the Texas Panhandle southeast to Anton
Chico, Fort Sumner and Roswell; north TO Mora via
Sapello and Roclada northeast with Los Alamos, Co
londrinas and Fort Union. Telephone lines extend
to Los Aamos 1S miles distant, and to Nora 95 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 40 lbs.
While far there are no producing mines very
Las Vegas, the prospecting done has developed
the fact that there some 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 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 from
west to cast 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 clear crystal of high temperature and
the mineral constituents are so subty dissolved and
blended as to render It wonderfully beneficial to the
human system. In addition and supplementary to
the advantages possessed by the mineral water the
climate is of the finest In the world, The Mon
tezuma hotel there is very commodious, splenddly
furnished and the management and tables all that
can be desired, and the accommodation for guests Is
unsurpassed 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
rains. At present round.trip tickets are sold from
Kansas City and eastern points to the Hot Springs
rood for ninety days at greatly reduced rates
About Is miles above the Hot Springs, at Hermit's
'eak, generally called Old Bady, detached spur of
he Rocky Mountains,is some of the finest scenery in
Sew Mexico, The peak is broken abruptly OF on its
ace, rising almost straight up aO0 feet. while the
outh side OF the mountains the river cuts through,
omlng from the top of the range, In narrow
anon over 2OC0 feet deep rising in some places with
ut break the entire distance. Good fishing and
uniting be had in the mountains anywhere
rom ~ to 80 miles Of Las Vegas.
The average temperature for the year 1896 taken
he Montezuma Hotel each day was as follows; Jan
AIRY, 40 degrees; February, 5S March, IS; April 60
lay, 50 June, as July, IS; August a; September, 7O
ctober 62; November, 50; December, 50.
San Miguel is the empire county Of New Mexico.
Is on the average, one hundred and eighty miles
ing by nnety-hye miles wide, and containing about
10000 acres, embraces within It's boundaries rugged
nd wooded mountains, extensive plains and fertile
alleys. Its elevation on the cast is about 400
et and on the west 1900. The thlrty-nfh parallel
latitude runs centrally through It. Il is bounded
the north by Mora County, on the south by Borna-
10 and Chaves Counties1an1 extends from the sum
IL Of the main range Of mountains on the west TO
e Texas Panhandle on the east. 1t is well watered
the Canadian Pecos Gallinas, Sapello and Tecolo-
rivers and their tributaries. Between the Sape-
and the Gallinas is the great divide which separates
le waters flowing into the Mississippi from those
lwing into the Rio Grande The western portion Of
&c county is mountainous rising from the plains TO
C highest range in the Territory, capped with eter
Il SHOWS. The elimination OF the mountains at
ch great altitude, twelve thousand feet, causes a
eat accumulation Of snow, which constantly feeds q
c mountain streams with pure water, that passes Al
into and through the valleys below. The Mora, -
pco, Galnas, Tecolote and Pecos streams all W
We their sources In the same mountains and nearly Ii
the same locality. The precipitation moisture
the eastern slopes Of the mountains by rain and
1w greater than in any other portion Of the Ter 81
Ory. A
Sew Mexico Is as large as all the New England II
,tes together, with New York and New Jersey -
rown In. 1t Is about equally divided in grazing, W
Ticulturnl and mining lands Millions Of acres, 81
n in resources, waiting 10 be occupied, IL has
precious metals coal iron, stock ranges, asrcul- -
-a horticultural and grape lands splendid scenery 81
,re sunshine, more temperature, more OK 6I
aratlng atmosphere. than any other country on a.,
S continent. low taxes and an active home market -
all agricultural products ~
lew Mexico wants manufactures OF every de- hi
lption, more farms gardens, orchards, Vineyards q,
ners, tock raisers, million more industrious W "
,pc to develop its resouces and make for them IN
YES comfortable homes. There Is no better field
profitable investment Of capital. a.