The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-26
BACK FROM NEW MEXICO
Impressions of Hon. L. A. Watres
with Reference to That Re-
eion-Believes That It Has
Great Future.

John Welcs Holl"n0a"K, OF Wilkes
Barre. and l.. \. Wlrcs, of this city,
with their party of friends who visit
ed New Mexico to inspcct the property
Cf the New Mexico R1llway and Coal
company. and its allied interests here,
returned home. This property is owned
aud controlled by Pennsylvanians, and
many of GU" local capitalists are in
tereSted in it.
although | heard many nattering
statements about the country and its
possibilities, | am bound to say that
what | saw was far ahead of my ex-
pcctotions,' said Mr. Watres yester-
day in response to request by a
Tribune man for his views concern
ing the country he visited.
Although the I'll Paso and North
eastern railroad was originally intend
ed to open the Salada coal fields, locat-
ed lGO miles northeast Of FL Paso,"
continued Mr. Watres, "it was found
that upon reaching Alamagordo. which
is midway between the coal fields and
FL Paso, there was a large ana extern
! siVe tract of excellent timber upon the
| Sacramento mountains which could be
! twenty miles from AlamagOrdO. The
! track has been completed from lIl Paso
| to Alamagordo, and the mountain road
| was just completed when the visiting
| party arrived there last week.
| This mountain road winds through
! picturesque canons to the summit OF
| the Sacramento mountains, and opens
| an immense tract of timber growth of
| white and yellow pine, spruce and 9th
er woods. The timber upon this prop
erty is much thicker and larger than
| We expected TO find. Another surprise
was the charaCte" of the soil in the
! cauons, which is susceptible of culti-
walton, both as farm and fruit land.
AZ the end of the road where the
timber was being cut, things were in
| most active and business-lilye con-
ditiOn. Even the tired-looknG Mevi-
cans seem to have caught the spirit
| and energy which have characterized
the brave PennsylVanians and East
erners who We're bold enough and far
seeing enough to penetrate the vast
desert to find and develop with theil
brains and money the valuable coal
timber, mineral ana farm lands in the
Sacramento mountains.
This valuable timber land is within
100 miles of I'll Paso, which is a great
railroad centre for the southwest
there being seven railroads entcrins
that city. There can he no question q,
to the demand for the lumber: and il
is worthy of notice that this produce
is nearer by 100 miles to the narlie
than any other timber.
"Hhe Scranton capitalists interested
in that section have erected one of tn,
best saw mills at Alamagordo, tha
can be found anywhere. Although tn,
town of AlamagOrdo is but a few
months old, the rapidity with whicl
il has grown is surprising. 1t alread,
has a number of dwellings, two res
taurantS, several stores, two dru,
stores, four doctors, schoolhous
Wsed also as a church,, and a mum
her of buildings are in process of cree
; ton, to be used as dwellings and place
Of business.
"One of the most valuable feature
of the place is that it has an eXcelIen
supply of good, pure water from tn
| Alamo Canon.
"Thc track and roadbed of the mai
line, and of the Mountain road ar
first class i'm every respect. The com
pany has secured excellent termlna
facilities in the City of FL Paso, am
in connection with the Texas and Pa
cifc railroad owns a most Valuabl
belt line terminal, which equips it TO
doing the large business which the fu
ture seems to warrant. Taking it a
. together, the enterprise seems to hav
passed beyond the experimental stag
and those who undertook it are to b
congratulated upon the energy dis
played, as well as upon the bright pros
pect for it's future"
It is understood that at very earl
day the main line win be complete
a from Alamagordo to the Salada cof
fields, as there is q pressing deman
for this coal i'm the southwest.