Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-10-16

STRING, is03-MAnCH, ArHiI, MAY.

sician inasmuch as they Illustrate the general
climate Of New Mexico and because they enable
him to point out the most desirable resorts for
the different seasons Of the year.. For example,
10 would be exceedingly unwist 20 send during
the winter months a patient from the Gulf
states 20 any place colder than Silver City or
las Crdces, and equally so to have him 20 dur
ing the summer months to Las Cruees, socorro
or Albuquerque.
The ideal winter resort OF New Mexico Is Las
Cruces, which, with its twin city. Ia Mesllla, is
located In the famed and fertile Mesilla Valley
about twenty miles above the Texas line. II Is
located directly on the Rio Grande west Of the
Organ mountains, which, IN the clear atmos-
phere, look like hills three or four miles away
but which are really great mountain peaks
IA miles distant and 5000 feet in height. These
mountains are perforated by valuable lead and
silver mines. las Cruces Is quiet little town Of
1000 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 &c
deserving Of a large winter patronage, as Las
Cruces is quite accessible, being about two
hours ride from n PasO, Texas. With two or
three exceptions the accommodations are poor.
A plan for a cottage sanitarium p miles east Of
the town Is still In embryo. In SUMMED q few
lnvalids have found II beneficial TO camp out on
the higher ground at the foot Of the Organ
mountains. After the FIRST Of April the heat at
Ias Cruces becomes very disagreeable, the
temperature IN the mclouded sun running far
above 100 deg. Fair. IT is not a summer resort.
On the other hand, we find the cities of Las
Vegas and Santa Representing most Of the re-
q~ulTements OF the patient with weak lungs who
seek a summer residence. Being In mountain
Gus districts the su 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 than
that Of other cities in the Territory. These rains
would be very objectionable to the invalid were
Il not that they are Of short duration, and that
the slope OF the ground and porosity Of the soil
cause the water TO flow of and disappear at 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 a patient may not find a few hours,
morning and evening, to venture out.
The meanstemperature Of these two cities is
about that Of New York City, st. Louis and 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-
lieyc TO be the best all-the-year-round health
resort, 1t may be well to say a word or two about
Albuquerque aud Socorro. These, Ike other
New Mexican towns, have great advantages OF
climate. They are both situated on the Rio
Grande, and the latter town is, commercially
speaking, but a small edition Of the former.
Albuquerque Is perhaps the most important, as
It is undoubtedly the most progressive city Of
the Territory, The position held by these two
places, elimatically, is a sort Of mean between
those already newfoundland as warm in winter
as las Cruces, nor as cool In summer as Las
Vegas, Santa Fe and Silver City. Perhaps 1t
would be well to describe them as pleasant re-
sorts for the spring and fall.
We now come to Silver City. a mining town Of
5000 Inhabitants, In the southwestern portion
Of the Territory, with an elevation OF 0.OOO feet
It Is located partly ON the hillsides 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 1900 feet higher. The natural fall Of the
main street is go feet TO the mile. Its peculiar
location gives It 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
so disagreeable at 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 lest
common at Silver City than in the valley Of the
Rio Grande, and only an Invalid eau testify e
the disagreeableDess Of such conditions. TIL,
water for the supply Of the town is intercepto,
by a sort Of underground dam about a mil
above, and Is supplied in iron pipes. like tina
which is procured from wells along the Ri
Grande It is "hard," and has a slightly al1alin
taste, and without being az al an ideal driIkin
water, 10 serves us purpose, and has never bee
. known 10 produce sickness. In a valley abou
six miles long, above the waterworks, there ar
but two or three residences, $50 the danger froI
! contamination from animal excreta is ut
minimum.
I The following figures given by Professor W
l g. Waring, who has analysed the water, shO,
! that 1t Is superior 10 that which supplies IN
city Of Denver