Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-17
in PICTURESQUE OLD MORA
The New Mexican's Special COrre-
spondent Writes of Trip from
Las Vegas to Mora.
MANY GREEN AND FERTILE VALLEYS
Aside from Being the County Seat
Mora is the Center of q Fine Agri-
cultural Region and a Business
Place of Importance.

cultural Region and Business
Place of Importance.
Mora, N. M May 13.-From Las Vegas,
the county seat of San Miguel county, to
Mora, the capital of Mora county, the dis
tance is 80 miles. A journey from the
one place to the other must be made by
team, over one of the best wagon roads
in the territory and through a country
pleasing to the eye. The way is guarded
on either side by mountains, and winds in
and out among the foot hills; valley after
valley is crossed, and the scenery is con-
stantly changing. Physically, the trip is
tiresome; meatally, it is delight.
THE VILLAGE OF sAPELLo.
Thirteen miles from Las Vegas the Sa.
pello river is forded, and near the ford
lies the little village Of Sapello. Here
Mr.. Henry Coke conducts large general
mercantile business, and judging from all
appearances New Mexico has not dealt
unkindly with the genial Henry's purse
and health. He greeted Hon. G. A. Spiess
and your correspondent this morning
very cordially. Had he lived in eye old
south" he would have called off the dogs
and yelled from his door, slight, strangers,
light" but as he lives in New Mexico he
took US in and cared for our wants in q
manner that made the remaining miles of
the drive much more pleasant-we did
not longer wonder where dinner was to
be had.
THE MORA VALLEY.
The pretty Cebolla valley was crossed,
and there from the top of divide the
western Mora valley burst on our view.
Green, we'll watered and bordered on all
sides by high mountains, many OF them
capped with snow, the Mora valley may
we'll be claimed by its inhabitants to be
the prettiest spot in northern New Mex
leo. The western valley is about 25 miles
in length, having an average width of
three miles, and the Mora river runs
through it's entire length, furnishing
water for irrigation and power for
mills.
Beauty without utility is desirable in
some places and in some things, but where
the problem of living enters into the
proposition, mere beauty fails to satisfy.
But in this valley beauty is direct result
of the uses to which man has put that
which nature has supplied with lavish
hand. Mora is what might be termed
strictly an agricultural county, with wheat
and oats and alfalfa as the principal
products. Some corn and barley
are raised, but these are merely
side crops. Sheep are another important
source of revenue, bat wheat and oats are
the staples and the stanabys.
GOOD SEASON.
The present season has been very
favorable for sowing and the growth of
the cereals. The whole valley is ''under
DITCH" and crops are nearly always GER
tain, but this year the rains began imme'
diately after the seeds were sown, and
they at once sprang up, covering the
plowed fields with delicate green, and
forcing the crop season far ahead of what
it is usually. The acreage of cultivated
ground is larger this year than ever be-
fore, and the farmers feel as if fortune
we're unusually kind to them. OF water
there will be no lack the coming sum
mer, and when harvest time comes plenty
and pleasure will be the lot of the people
who live in this vast hollow of the Rocky
mountains. While grass and grains are
in an advanced stage Of growth, the sea
son otherwise has been backward, and the
prospects for large yield of fruit is ex
oellent. The buds have been held bach
until this time and danger from late
frosts is past. The same condition OBJ
taius in the orchards of Mora county al
in the southern part of the territory
Unless portion Of the growing fruit II
picked the trees will suffer from break
age. The sheep men are in better spirits
than they have been for several years
past. The increase in the hocks viii
average over IS per cent, while the in
creased prices of wool and lambs makes
the focks valuable.
On the Mora river in the western val
ley are fine Touring mills, all run by wate
power. These mills have combined
grinding capacity Of between 500 and 6ot
bushels of wheat per day, and run nearly
the entire year on wheat grown ip@ss
valley, and if it were not that cons Ora
BILE grain is shipped away, would be KEEP
busy all the time. The -four made is al
sold at home, going into the mountain
and surrounding country, and the tioul
trade is large item in the annual bust
ness done by the merchants.
THE TOWN OF MORA.
The town of Mora is very old, an
there are places Of interest in and aroun
IL, Situated in the broadcast part of tn
valley, surrounded by green fields ant
empowered among blooming orchard
and green foliage, 1t is pretty, as vel
as uaint place at this time of the yeal
| To the west about 25 miles rise loft
mountains that are covered with snow
and this afternoon furious snow storn
hung over them, which could be plainl
seen from the town. The Mora rive
| flows through the place just back OF tn
business houses, and all day long the roa
of waters can be heard. To the Nor
river the valley owes it's fertility an
prosperity, and it's noise is an ever pres
ent reminder that running water an
Drops 20 hand In hand in New Mexico
Aside from being the county seat, Nor
is place OF much Importance as busi
ness point. II 10 connected with the ou'
side world by long distance telephon
from Las Vegas, and has q daily ma
service. Three large establishments, ru
by Mr.. P. d. st. vrain, Lowensteir
strousse d Co., and Charles v. Strong
with stock, comprising every
thing needed in an agricultural CON
munity, supply the country for mile
around. At the west end of the mai
street stands the county county hous
one of the handsomest public built
ings in the territory.
CLHvELAND VILLAGE.
- synn .-n.k - Mara ana Au1n III