Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-08-07

E E"L w.
they illustrate the general climate
Of New Mexico, and because they
enoble him to point out the most
desirable resorts for the different
seasons Of the year. For example,
it would be exceedingly unwise to
send during the winter months a
patient from the Gulf states to any
place colder than Silver City or
Las Cruces, and equally so to have
him go during the summer months
to Las Cruces, Socorro OF Albu-
querque.
The ideal winter resort of New
Mexico is Las Cruces, which, with
its twin city, La Mesilla, is located
in the famed and fertile Mesilla
Valley, about twenty miles above
the Texas line. It is located
directly on the Rio Grande west
OF the Organ mountains, which, in
the clear atmosphere, look like
hills three or four miles away,
but which arc really great
mountain peaks fourteen miles
distant and 5000 feet in height
These mountainsa are perforated by
valuable lead and silver mines.
Las Cruces is a quiet little town
of 1900 people, a large proportion
o hom are Mexican. A good
hotel built upon the mesa
or high land on the edge Of this
town would be deserving of a large
winter patronage, as Las Cruces is
quite accessible, being about two
hours ride from El Paso, Texas.
With two or three exceptions the
accommodations are poor. A plan
for q cottage sanitariam twenty
four miles east Of the town is still
IN embryo. In summer a few
inyalids have foundi il beneficial to
camp out on the higher ground at
the foot of the Organ mountains.
After the first of April the heat at
Las Cruces becomes very disagree
able, the temperature in the un-
clouded sun running far above 100
deg. Fair. 1t is not a summer
resort.
On the other hand, we find the
cities of Las Vegas and Santa Re
presenting most Of the require
ments of the patient with weak
lungs who seek a summer resid-
ence. Being in mountainous dis
tricts the summer rainfall is
greater than in the cities of the
valley, and this, together with
their higher altitude and latitude,
causes the temperature to be much
lower than that of other cities in
the Territory. These rains would
be very Objectionable to the in
valid were it not that they are OF
short duration, and that the slope
of the ground and porosity OF Tie
soil cause the water to Aow off and
disappear at a very rapid rate.
leaving the atmosphere quite dry
and free from impurities. AS q
consequence there are very few
days during tue rainy months in
which a patient may not find q
few hours, morning or evening, t.
venture out.
The mean temperature of these
1.-TWO cities is about that Of Nov
York City, ST. Louis and Salt LAX,
City, while their summer temper
allure is about that Of Detroit anC
Chicago, but experience has shown
that here-as in other high, dry alti
tudes the cold is felt to be lesI
penetrating in winter and tho hea.
far less oppressive in summer.
a residence in this TERRITORY
during both winter and summe.
has convinced the writer that 70.
equal temperatures the winters
cold and summers heat are ia.
more easily borne aud less intense
lly felt than in the eastern an,
southern states-a difference duI
to the great dryness Of th,
climate.
a few miles from the town o
that name are the famous Las We
gas Hot Springs, which have be
come a delightful summer resort
aud are deserving Of a greater rep
utatlon thnn they now enjoy
They have been found To be YER
seful in rheumatism and govt, a
, well as many cutaneous and syph
ilitic diseases. In the treatmen
of the latter tho bath IS soft no
mud is a conspicuous and adTan
tageous feature. The waters an
strong Ia lithia.
Before passing on to Silver City
which we believe 10 be the hes
all-the-year-roupd health resort,
may BE well to say a word or twl
! about Albuquerque and Socorro
These, ike other New Mexical
towns, have great advantages o
-, climate. They are both situate,
J on the Rio Grande. and the latte
, town IS, commercially speaking
but a small edition Of the former
Albuquerque is perhaps the mos
important, as il Is undoubtedly thI
most progressive city of the terri
tory Ile position held by lhos|