The herald., 1894-09-22
IT IS A VERY FINE COUNTRY.
What a Writer Says of the Las
Vegas Valley.
Ben c. Jordan Gives a Glowing
Description of 1t.
The Land Through which 'ths
Southern Nevada Railroad VIII
Run-A Little OF Its
History.
special correspondence to the HERALD.

III tn0 year 1861 party OF spanish
monks came up the Colorado river, their
object being to establish missions.
Alter travelling for some time they left
the river and travelled inland 25 mile~,
when they came upon spot where
they chose to locate. and their action in
this matter was an exempllhcation OF
the fact that the judgment of the Span
ish monks regarding climate and fsrtil-
ity of soil was something marvellous.
The wonderful results which hey OBJ
tanned in California were fully equaled
at the point of which mention has just
been made, and it really seems as if
they must have been inepired.
This party gave the name OF Las We
gas (the meadows) to this place, and it
was rightly named. Standing upon a
little swell just south OF the ranch
house and looking off to the east one
sees the green bottom lands stretching
away for miles toward the southeast, to
the foothills, being dotted bore and
there with clumps OF tall. graceful cot
tonwoods and thick groves OF mesquites,
while through it's whole length runs a
brook, the ripping OF which seems to
be joyous laughter over the conquer
ing of the desert and the making of it
ito rejoice aud blossom as the rose."
Many years after the monks left Nor
mon missionaries entered, and they.
too, saw the exceptional advantages OF
this valley as a colony site. and pro-
ceeded to establish one. Difficulties
without number aroae. Indians har-
raised them, sickness came, supplies
failed to arrive, but nevertheless, with
their accustomed persistence and ener-
gy, they continued until they had
thriving colony OF 35 families. This
was about the year 1866, as the first to
enter was Captain Hunt. who made the
first tracks through to Los Angeles in
1849. In 1850 the first emigrant party
went through to San Bernardino. In
1866 the irst freight trains made the
trip from Los Angeles to Salt Lake, and
it was about this time that the first
families located here.
The colony was successful and built
church and school house and q smelter
for refining the ore from the famous Po-
tosi mine. They made all plans for the
establishment OF happy and beautiful
homes and hoped to live here in peace.
and when the time came for them to
leave the earth. they fondly hoped to be
laid to rest in the quiet valley, where
their families and friends could with
loving tenderness make beautiful their
last resting places.
Bat it was only dream. They were
sneddsns sesIh nqasstsss tsedt d fe p ayHe SFayf ths
came to them from Brigham Young in
1857, calling them home at once because
of the fact that the relations between
the United States government and the
Mormon church were strained, and war
seemed imminent. They left their
farming implements and household
utensils behind, some of them buried.
They left their newly planted orchards
and vineyards and groves of cottonwoods
to desolation and loneliness.
Years rolled by and brought many
changes, but Las Vegas valley still re-
mained deserted until about 1865, when
a party OF gentlemen. composed of o. d.
Gass, Salisbury. Knapp, Howell and
Wilson took possession OF the ranch.
They retained il in common for num-
ber OF years, when Mr.. Gass bought out
the shares Of the others, but the burden
wac too heavy for him and he failed,
and in 1879 the property came into the
hands oil Archibald Stewart. In 1884
Mr.. Stewart died, leaving a vile, still q
young woman, with five small children,
the oldest being 10 years of age. Since
the death Of her husband, Mrs. Stewart
has managed the entire business, and
has shown herself to be O remarkable
woman.
The ranch has improved steadily, or
chards and vineyards being put out,
buildings erected and the size of the
ranch has increased from $40 acres to
| 1880 acres. This has required years oil
unceasing toll and planning. and proves
that Mrs. Stewart is a woman OF great
ability and energy.
Las Vegas ranch is superior to any
ranch in Southern Nevada, the soil be-
ing remarkably fertile. while the climate
is euch that fruit ripens earlier than in
any other valley in the state. This was
conclusively proved at the midwintei
fair, where fruit from this ranch was on
exhibition two weeks before similar fruit
arrived from any locality. And besides
all this it is a beautiful place at which
to live, there being less Objectionable
features than anywhere else in the world
l believe. At this time OF the year the
weather is simply perfect; calm, sunny
daye, 30 quiet that it would seem al
though trouble were entirely out OF place
in this world followed by nights 80 COO
and comfortable that the most restles
person cannot help sleeping.
There seems to be, at the present time
considerable interest taken in Las Vega
valley by Los Angeles people, and prob
ably an attempt will soon be made t
find artseian water. That such an at
tempt will be successful there is yer.
little room for doubt as everything in
dicates an abundance of it, When
railroad once touches the valley proph
esy that it will be more quickly settle
than any other valley in the southwee
ever was, for it will then possess com
binstion of advantages that are un
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