Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-12
TAOS 4 COMMERCIAL CENTER
For More Than 100 Years it Has Held
Important Position in the Great
Southwest.
ABOUT OLD TIME BUSINESS RIVALRY
An Inspection of This Section at the
Present Time Gives One the I'M
preston of Prosperity and
Comfort.

| lhos, N. M', Juiy ne lhos VailoJ,
and by that term is meant that section of
country lying east of the canon of the
Rio Grande and west of the Taos noun
tains, stretching to the south nearly
twenty miles and possibly fifteen miles
wide, contains a population of between
5000 and 5000 people, and is bountifully
watered by seven or eight streams flow
ing in a southwesterly direction. The
greater number of the people live in
small towns or plazas, which thickly dot
the landscape in every direction, the
farms occupying the lands around and
between. Everywhere is heard the sound
of running water as it falls from one
level to another in the acequias. No
other valley or section of the territory
that l have visited is 80 thoroughly
ditched, or has 30 excellent supply of
clear water. 1t is everywhere-very often
overhowing the roads much to the dis
comfort of travellers. In the SOS the pop
ulat1on of the valley was estimated at
10000, but that number in all probability
was an over-estimate, although several
citizens, who have lived in the Taos val
ley for many years, are of the opinion
that there has been decrease in the num-
Der of people living in the plazas.
dition, but while the reasons given are at
variance one from another, the fact re-
mains that fewer people live here now
than forty years ego.
THE FAMOUS TAOS VALLEY.
birds eye view of the valley, which
can be obtained very easily, gives one
the impression of prosperity and COM
fort. Fields, meadows, pastures, plazas
follow in varying regularity. Groups of
great trees add charm to the scene, and
altogether an more pleasing PASTORAL
picture is difficult of imagination.
The crops raised are wheat, corn, oats,
alfalfa and field peas; the fields are well
cultivated, and at this season appear very
promising. 1t seems strange that in a
valley where conditions are 30 favorable
but little fruit is raised. There are three
or four fair sized orchards, in which the
trees are bending under the burden of
fruit, but farms are, as rule, devoid of
trees. Along several of the creeks wild
| plums grow in profusion, and this coming
fall there will be plums for the birds to
eat. In and adjacent to the plazas
splendid gardens, with few fruit trees in
each, are maintained, and vegetarians
will find in the Taos valley struck"
enough to satisfy their utmost cravings.
Roses and other flowers are in full bloom,
and many of the gardens are perfect
bouquets. In this connection the people
of Taos do not know what temptations
they have been throwing in the way of
gentleman who has been staying here for
few days past, from Greely, Colo.-his
name is withheld for the reason that he
will reach Santa Fe in few days, and it
is not fair that he should be placed under
suspicion. Of roses he is passionetely
from wholesale abstraction by the earnest
appeals OF his travelling companions not
to disgrace the name of the institution of
learning with which he is connected.
My experience in the valley is that at
first one is not very favorably impressed
with it, but when little drives or rides are
taken in different directions, and various
points of interest visited, the beauty of
it all grows on person, until after few
days stay he is reluctant to leave. More
over he cannot determine which partlcu-
lar part is the most pleasing. The
mountains, the streams, the quaint vii
lagos, and the pleasant, good natured peo-
pie, seem to cast spell over one, until
the rest of the world is forgotten.