Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-01
THE CARLSBAD OF AMERICA
Remarkable Richness and Potent
Curative Properties of Waters
of 0iO Caliente.
EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM SANTA FE

EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM SANTA Fl
Historical Account of the Discovery O
These Wonderful Springs-Cures
Wrought Among Spanish Sol
diers-An Eastern Tribute.
In considering the many substantial
and undeniable advantages of Santa f,
as health resort the presence of Oh,
Caliente (hot spring. within easy reacl
of this city should never be overlooked
The name implies the existence there o
only one hot spring, but as matter O
fact the words should be Ojos Calientes
as at the point indicated there is grouT
OF probably the most remarkable ho
mineral springs in the world-springl
that are not only remarkable for theil
size and volume, but for the potent cura.
tive properties of their waters. The
waters of these springs strongly resemble
those of Carlsbad except that they are
much richer in healing and health giving
mineral ingredients than the famous Ger.
man waters. The springs are situated in
the southwestern part of Taos county,
about fifty miles nearly due north of San
ia Fe, are comfortably reached from this
city in about six hours over the Denver
& Rio Grande railroad to Barranca and
thence (twelve miles) over good wagon
road in easy and closely connecting daily
coaches. and are owned and operated by
Hon. Antonio Joseph, who has provided
good hotel, cottages and bath-houses
for the accommodation of guests.
DISCOVERY OF THESE SPRINGS.
The history of these springs is interest
ing. Among the brave and venturesome
spirits that accompanied Coronado to
Santa Fe in 1888, and by his valor con-
tributed to the conquest of that ancient
Indian stronghold, was Gen. Antonio Es-
pejo. Coronado and his worn, jaded Of
ficers and footsore troops passed the win
ter at Santa Fe, and in the early spring
of 1884, inspired by Indian stories and
impelled by greed and curiosity, bands of
soldiers, under command of trusted gen.
erals and mpanied by agenerous con.
tingent of Jesuit priests, swarmed over
the country to the north in search of the
"seven cities of the Cibola," rich veins of
minerals and other wonders. The all
conquering sword of Spain swept tribe
after tribe of Indians into sub jection to
the crown, and the accompanying priests
lost no time in marshalng the captives
under the banner of the GROSS. Under
native guidance Gen. Espejo left the val
ley of the Rio Grande, crossed the mesa
and descended into the valley of the Ca
liente creek and discovered the volcanic
springs at this place. He fortified the
place and gave it its name of Ojo Calien-
to, and for many years it was maintained
as frontier post of the Spanish invaders.
From his Indian guides he learned of the
wonderful
CURATIVE PROPERTIES OF THE WATERS,
and thoroughly tested their merits upon
his soldiers, many of whom were suffer-
ing from the dreadful diseases incident
to protracted and victorious campaigns
countries. Amazed at the rapid improve
ment and perfect cure of his diseased SOL
diers, Gen. Espejo enthusiastically an
nounced in his reports that he had GER
tainly found the fountain of eternal
youth. Cabeza de Vaca also visited Ojo
Caliente, and in 1885 returned to the City
of Mexico, where he made detailed re-
port to Cortez of the exploits and dis
coveries of the expedition to the north.
An extract from that report, now at Ma
drid, reads: "The greatest treasure that
found these strange people to possess
are some hot springs, which burst out at
the foot of mountain that gives evil
dence of being an active volcano; 80
powerful are the chemicals contained in
this water that the natives believe the
springs the gift of their deity. The
miraculous effect of these waters in heal
ing our men, suffering from diseases and
covered with ulcerous sores, convinces me
that they will do many things not possible
with our doctors" De Vaca's report found
ready credence among Cortez' troops,
and great numbers of stricken soldiers
tramped across the dreary country and
found in the waters of the volcanl,
springs
PANAoEA FOB THEIR sUFFERINGs.
Many whose strength gave out before
the goal was reached were brought upon
stretchers and improvised ambulances.
Great pools were dug, and the waters of
the springs we're turned into them.
These pools were covered with tents, and
for many months their waters were in
constant agitation from the bathing SOL
diers.
Espeio found on the mesa above the
springs the ruins of great pueblos, that
had once contained 5000 or 1000 thou
sand people, but the traditionary lore of
the Indians failed to explain their origin.
The outlines of these pueblos, and many
others, on mesas, for miles above and
below this place, are clearly traceable
and yield to patient investigation aud
the labor of excavation their treasures
of pottery, arrow-points, beads and
trinkets, with grinning skeletons that tor
ment the curiosity of the arch@ologists
and antiquarians. The Navajo Indians
on their first entering this valley, more
than 1900 years ago-.their traditions
claim 1000 years ago-found the ruins
practically in the same condition as to-
day, and the volcanic springs we're then
pouring their health-giving waters in
copious streams, that by actual, practical
and scientific measurement show daily
flow of 275,OOO gallons,
| VARYING IN TEMPERATURE
from 1OS degrees to 12O degrees Fahren.
heit. II is no longer necessary to search