Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-01-12
TUESDAY EVENING. JAN. 10 1897.
EVERY TUB ON ITS OWN BOTTOM

For the information of those most
concerned, those lndiferently or not at
all interested, but who should be, in
the building up of our city, THE Optic
will state that on December 9th, last, a
letter was addressed to the industrial
commissioner OF the Santa Fe system,
at Chicago, by one of our business men,
asking whether it was the intention of
the management to appoint local, or
sub.commlssioners, at various points
along the line IN New Mexico. A very
courteous answer was received, to the
effect that no s'subs" would be ap-
pointed, and that towns would have to
act for themselves In showing up their
resources, etc., but that the commits
sioner would aid in every other way
possible, and consistent with his in
structions.
The industrial commissioner further
remarked that he would feel thankful
to his correspondent at this end, for all
information as to resources, opPortuni-
ties for Investment, and inducements
to capital, etc., as Las Vegas was about
the only town not yet heard from at
that time, on the Santa Fe system
(More recent correspondence with the
commissioner does not reveal that any
further data has at this date been for
warded to him except by this first cor
respondent The commissioner waa
promptly supplied by his correspond.
n with much valuable information
which will bear good fruit in due sea.
son, and with which he expressed him
self as being very much pleased and
interested.
e Now, it does seem strange TO The
Optic that, so far as known, only one
man in this city should have taken
enough interest on behalf of the place
TO write to this commissioner, or that
one man only should have the interests
of the city in constant view and stand
ready to embrace every opportunity
that presents itself to promote those
interests and consequently the well
being of The entire community.
II appears to US that there is evinced
altogether too much of. a disposition
on the part of the general public to lie
down, or to throw up the sponge; that
there is a lack of energy and push, ex-
cept among about 3 h%alf-dozen men
who know not when they are defeated,
but keep up the fight that often turns
from defeat to complete victory, sheer
~ through logged determination to
win, is self-evident in this case under
mention, that this one man saved Las
Vegas from being the only town in this
vast Territory that had not sent to the
industrial commissioner. at least q
word or two as to its resources.
This state Of affairs is all wrong.
You must bear 10 mind that you can
help materially your town, and conse
quently yourselves, by making known
and advertising resources or cpportuni-
ties for investment and introducing
them to capitalists. Such introduction
will be brought about by the industrial
commissions of the"Santa Fe SYSTEM,
for that's what he's there for. Don't
leave it all to one man to attend to; if
you do that, he cannot carry the load no
matter. how willing he is, nor how
earnestly he may strive to advance the
town; you must all take a hand with
him in this and every other matter OF
kindred nature, which is Of the most
vital Importance, besides sustaining
the reputation this place has always
hitherto had of being in the push and
keenly alive to take advantage of all
opportunities presenting themselves Of
handling and successfully carrying out
in the most creditable manner every
thing that has been undertaken.
This apathy that is apparently steal
ing over US like that which attacks the
wandeser in a .snowstorm.
must be vigorously combated; this
demon of indlff erence to the common
veal and inevitably and indirectly to
your individual welfare, must be exor-
cised or else your condition will be
reduced to the pitlable state Of behold
ipg other cities reap rewards that
rightly might have been won by you,
by which. through your W neglect
and laziness. you have suffered to be
won away, while you stood idly by,
waiting for some other fellow to make
a move, or for a plum to drop into
your mouths. It's al, wrong and If we
all will apply the maxim. 1.-THE Lord
helps those who help themselves we
cannot fail of success.
But, sgain, this paper says: Don't
txoect the few constant workers to do
It all; or il you do, at least do moi try
e tear dqwn what they are trying 70