Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-02-20

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and IT, possibilities.
Through this immediate portion OF
Inc 6o1ntfS, thofe Is little fruit raised,
because Of our location ia regard 10
the mountains and altitude, producing
so great a change In the temperature
from day TO night, thus giving the
fruit no chauce 10 grow and ripen in
lis season, and again, and for the same
reasons, wa have, through this part Of
the Territory especially, very hard hail
storms, that do much damage to crops
OF all kinds, so, Of course, fruit cannot
be depended or here IS an industry ~
least.
C~a't'eand sheep-rais'n g form . large
part Of the industry Of the northern
part Of the Territory. and also OF the
cast aud south, tina boundless ranges
stretching away from the mountains
and reaching into the Indian Territory
and the Pau handle of Texas, giving
ample feed and wonderful opportunity
TO this branch Of the business, while
to the west and south mining 10 tho
great attraction. l would say industry.
but, as far as l know, there are only
two or three dividend paying quartz
or silver mines in the Territory and as
this branch OF work seems TO be all ex-
pense aud no profit Il. can hardly be
classed as an industry outside the coal
mines, and in addition to tho coal l
have already mentioned, north Of u,
10 the mountains between New Mexico
and Colorado. coal ia mined to a consld-
cradle extent, but 1t is Of q very poor
quality.
As in all mountain countries, We
nave clustering among the foot hills
resorts for pleasure, health and
pastime, as the condition and tastes of
the individual may dictate. or these,
one to which tho minds Of the people
10 oftenest drawn, perhaps, Is
"Harvey's resort" known as the high.
est resort in the world, its altitude
being 10000 feet above the level OF the
sea. Its appearance reminds one very
much Of the pictures that have been
handed down TO us Of the homes OF our
forefathers as they were before the in
dependence Of our loved and powerful
union.
Coming still nearer home, we find.
only six miles from US, just under the
eastern shadow Of the last mountains
OF any size, tho Las Vegas hot springs,
where the water Is found boiling from
the ground within a few fact OF an Ice
cold mountain stream. 1t is claimed
that these waters contain wonderful
healing qualities, and therefore the
company that own this property,
tho Santa Fe railroad company. have
converted it into a very foe health aud
summer resort. Here is to be found
one Of the finest hotels ia the south
west. Il is grand, spacious and elegant
in every appointment. This hotel,
the "Montezuma," Is the third Of the
kind that has been built at the springs,
all the Others having been destroyed by
fire.
But the health seekers form no small
portion Of the people who are daily ar
irving. es the city. in the winter
months especially, is always flooded
with them, nor do they seek IN vain,
for the pure, bracing air OF our climate
10 q healer in itself. Many OF the suf-
ferers who come to test 1t have great
cause to bless the climats we enjoy,
but some Of necessity put off the coming
too long and then, of course, they
seek 10 vain, for the health when en-
tirely shattered cannot be mended sven
here.
The mountains here are small, gen.
orally speaking, there being only ons
point worth mentioning, "O;d Badly"
Ga this point, snow Is To be found eight
and nine months in the year, and is
near enough to US SO that it is the usu-
al resort for picnickers, all through the
summer months.
The mountain streams abound in
trout, and the bills are well supplied
with game, not enough, however, SO
that the pleasure is taken from the
sport Of hunting; therefore, the hunt
ers enjoy it the more when it is reached
From carly in the summer, and, l
might say. spring, large camping par
ties are formed for the purpose OF 60
ing into the mountains to fish and
hunt. The "speckled beauties" bear,
and deer are the main attraction; but
tho pleasure OF the trip, the ~associa-
tions, and the beautiful summer
weather. form no small amount Of the
Inducements that call the people from
home. Whole families GO. Often the
parties number thirty or forty and
sometimes more. No season passes
without parties from Kansas City and
St. Louis. and even from cities still
farther east, who come especially to
join the camping parties leaving from
this place.
Our city, while not modern in all its
appointments, is one of which we need
feel no shame. It's American SETTLE
ment proper dates from the fall and
winter OF 1879-'8O, and in that time we
have made good progress. Our streets
are lighted with electricity, and our
business buildings and many of our
are Of the finest stone or
brick. Our Masonic temple would be
a credit to many eastern cities. and of
which we are justly proud. Our homes
are pleasant and comfortable, and
when | say that the poor man and
working man generally have better
homes and live better than the same
In the east, | feel that / am not
sx~aggerating. MIRA Hardness.