Las Vegas free press. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1891-1???, 1892-03-14
LAS VEGAS FREE Press
MONDAY, MARoH IA, 1892.
Las VEGAS.

Las vegas cine meac0Ws), the largest city In New
Mexico is the county seat Of San Miguel county, tn
most populous and wealthy county of the Territory
1t is situated in latitude IS degrees 40 minutes north
on the Gallinas river at the eastern base of thu
Rocky Mountains, at altitude Of about $500 fee
above sea level A few miles to the west are tn
mountains to the east and southeast vast pail
stretches away and affords ine stock and agricul
tural country. It has enterprisng population o
between seven and eightthousand people and is grow
ing steadily.
1t is situated on grant of 10000 acres, Of which
only few thousand had good title, but the legisa
ture has just passed alaw which settles the title anS
viii throw the balance Of the tract open to settle
ment
The town is Tic by electric light, has water works
gas, street-car line, telephone exchange, adaiy pa
per, churches academies public and private schools
a number VI solid banking and financial institutions
and mercantile houses, some Of which carry stock
Of 100000 and whose trade extends throughout New
Mexico and Arizona. 1t is the chief commercial
town of a 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, aording an 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 like
wise tributary TO IT, are the vast and well erased
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. This
great country is already well occupied With prosper
Gus cattle raiseTs 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,
4 fc wit
question the best built town in New Mexico.
The headquarters of the division of the A 7. & S.
+. Railroad extending from La Junta to Aibuquer-
que are located here well as their tie preserving
works.
Besides its railroad connections It has regular
stages east Cabra Springs Fort Bascom and Liber'
ty, ana the Texas Panhandle southeast to Anton
Chico Fort Sumner and Roswell; north to Mora via
sapello and Rocada; northeast with Los Alanos, Go
iondrinss and Fort Union. Telephone lines extend
to Los Alamos - miles distant and to Mora, 80 miles
via Sapello and Ilocada.
Water is supplied by a gravity system Of water
works, the water being taken from the river seven
miles above the city, and has pressure Of l4O 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 we'll Ma
chinery has lately been purchased by some OF these
snd undoubtedly. they will soon be making regular
output
Five miles northwest Of Las Vegas, where the Gal
nas 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, surroundedby pine
clad and picturesque mountains. The water OF the
springs clear crystal of high temperature ana
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 tho
climate is one Of the finest in the world The Mon
tezuma hotel there is very commodious, splendidly
furnished and the management and tables are all mat
can be desired and the accommodation for gues 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 roundtrip 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 OFF on Its
face rising almost struight up @OOteet While ON the
south side Of the mountains the river cuts through
coming from the top Of the range In harlow
canon over 900 feet Deep rising in some places with
mt a break the entire distance. Good fishing and
hunting can be had in the mountains anywhere
from % to 30 miles of Las Vegas
The average temperature for the year 1896 taken al
the Montezuna Hotel each day was as follows; Jan
uary 40 degrees; February, 5Si March, 55i April GU
May 60; June, 90; July, 49, August as September 'O
october G.; November, 50; Dccembei' 90
San Miguel is the empire county OF New Mexico
It Is ON the average, one hundred and eighty miles
long by nnety-nye miles wide, and containing about
s4OOOOO acres embraces within its boundaries rugged
and wooded mountains, extensive plains and fertile
valleys. Its elevation the east is about 4OJo
feet and on the west 12COO The thirynfth parallel
of latitude runs centrally through it. 1t is bounded
on the north by Mora County, on the south by beina
lilo and Chaves Counties and extends from the sum
init OF the main range Of mountains on the west 10
the Texas Panhandle ON the east 1t is well watered
by the Canadian, Pecos, Ganas sapelo ana Iecolo
te rivers and their tributaries. Between the sape-
10 and the Galnas Is the great divide which separates
the waters flowing 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 mountains nj
such a great altitude, twelve thousand feet, causes
great accumulation Of snow, which constantly ieeus
the mountain streams with pure water, that passes
OF into and through the valleys below Inc Mora
Sapello, Galnas, TecolOte and Pecos streams All
have their sources in the same mountains and nearly
In the same locality The precipitation Of moisture
on the eastern slopes of the mountains by rain ana
snow is greater than any other portion Of the Ter
ritory.
New Mexico is as large all the New England
states together, with New York and New Jersey
thrown in. It is about equally divided In grazing
agricultural and mining lands. Millions OF acres
rich in resources waiting to be occupied u has
the precious metals, coal ron stock ranges agricui
tural horticultural and grape lands splendid scenery
more sunshine. more even temperature more eX'
fhilaratiug atmosphere than any other country on
ahis continent low taxes and an active home market
for all agricultural products,
New Mexico wants manufactures OF every ae'
scriptlon more FARMS gardens, orchards, vineyards
miners, stock Jasers-a million more industrious
people to develop It's and make for them
selves comfortable homes. There is no better neld
profitable Investment Of capital.