Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-09-25

The foregoing figures are valuable 20 the ply
sician inasmueh as they Illustrate the general
climate OF New Mexico aud because they enable
him TO point ont the most desirable resorts for
the different seasons Of the year, For example.
Il would be exceedingly unwise to send during
the winter months a patient from the Calf
states 10 any place colder than Silver City or
Las Cruces, and equally so 20 have him 20 dur
ing the summer months 70 Las Cruces, socorro
or Albuquerque.
The ideal winter resort Of New Mcxicoi Is Las
Cruces. which, with its twin city. Ia Mesiila, IS
located IA the famed and fertile Mesiila Valley
about twenty miles above the Texas line. Il Is
located directly on the Rio Grande west Of the
organ mountains, which. Ia the ciear atmos-
phere, look ike hills three or four miles away.
but which are really great mountain peaks
"a miles distant and 1900 feet IN height. These
mountains are perforated by valuable lead and
silver mines. Las Cruces Is quiet little town OF
400 people, a large proportion Of whom 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 Lls
Cruces is quite accessible. being about two
hours ride from n Paso. Texas. With two or
three exceptions the accommodation are poor.
A plan for a cottage saDitarium - miles east OF
the town Is skill IN embryo. In summer a few
invalids have found it 1enencial to camp out on
the higher ground at the foot Of the Orgn
mountains. After the FIRST Of April the heat at
Las Cruces becomes very disagreeable, the
temperature in the unclonded sun running far
above 100 deg Fair. IT is not q summer resort
On the other hand, we find the cities Of las
Vegas and Santa Fe presenting most Of the re-
quirements OF the patient with weak lungs who
seek a summer residence. Being In fountain
Gus districts the summer rainfall Is greater than
In the cities OF the valley, and this, together
with their higher altitude and latitude, causes
The temperature 10 be much lower than than
that Of other cities m { e Territory. These rains
would be very Objectionable TO the Invalid were
il not thar they are Of short duration, aud that
the slope OF the ground and porosIty Of the soil
cause the water to flow of and disappear az a
very rapid rate. leaving the atmosphere quite
dry and free from impurities. As "A consequence
there are very few days during the rainy months
in which q patient may not find a few hours
morning and evening, 10 venture ont.
The meanitemperature Of these two cities Is
about that Of New York city, st. Louis ana salt
Lake City. while their summer temperature Is
about that OF Detroit and Chicago, but expert
ence has shown that here as in other high, dry
attitudes the cold is felt to be less penetrating In
winter and the heat far less oppressive In sum
mer
Before passing on to Silver City. which we be-
lleve 60 be the best all-the-yoarr round health
resort, It may be- well to say a word or Two about
Albuquerque and soeorro. These. like other
New Mexican towns, have great advantages oi
climate. They are both situated on the nio
Grande, and the latter town Is, commercially
speaking, but a small edition Of the former
Albuquerque Is perhaps the most important ms
IL is undoubtedly ihe most progressive city Of
the Territory. The position held by these two
places, dramatically. IS q sort Of mean between
those already mentioned-not az warm IN winter
as Las Cruces. nor as cool in simmer as Las
Vegas. Santa Fe and Silver City. Psrhaps it
would be well to describe them as pleasant re
sorts for the spring and fan.
We now come 20 SILVER City. a mining town Of
3OO0 inhabitants, In the southwestern portion
Of the Territory, with an elevation 81 6.0O feet
It is located partly on the hiilsides and partly In
an arroyo or open valley Immediately surround
ed by hills about 200 feet higher than the town,
and more remotely by mountains ON the north
some 1000 feet higher. The natural fail Of the
main street Is 200 feet 20 the mile. It's peculiar
location gives II a great advantage over other
New Mexican towns. more particularly Albu
querque. socorro and Las Cruces, inasmuch as
surrounding hills cut of the hard winds that are
50 disigreeable az all seasons on account Of the
dust they carry. but more particularly IN winter.
when the element Of cold is a serious considera.
ton. Dust and wind storms ARE much less
common at Silver city than N The valley OF the
THO Grande. aud oniy an invalid can testify N
the disagreeableness Of s Oh conditions. The
water for the supply OF the town is intercerie1
by n sort Of underground dam about a mlls
above. and Is supplied in iron pipes. like that
which Is procured rom wells along tile Ri,
Grande II is "hard." and has "a slightly alkahn.
TASTE, aud without being at ~ an ifr,l drnklnl
water. Il serves it, purpose, aud has Hrter beer
known 10 produce sickness. In o valley ab0n|
SIX miles long, above the waterworks, tlierr nr'
but TWO or three residences, 20 the danger from
contamination from animal excreta is at d
minimum.
The following figures given by Professor W
g. Warning. who has nnalyzed the watsr. show
that 10 Is superior 70 that which supplies Ga
city Of Denver;