Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-04-16
HAGAN THE
KEY NOTE TO
THE SITUATION
General Manager HopewelPs Tremendous En-.
ergy Great Experience and Genuine Optim.
ism Overcame Gigantic Obstacles.-The
TraCkIaying Machine at Work.
ESTANCIA TO BE REACHED
MAY IS AND SANTA FE
JULY1 OR EARLIER

| like lighthouses and the plains whicl
| become more rolling seem to be billow
of the ocean. On the Jumanes mesas
during the rainy season, the grass i
knee high and the water gathers il
| large bodies. 1t is then that the sheep
| men drive their flocks into that section
| to leave the mesas again when the wa
ter has dried up, for there is no sprint
| or we'll in that entire section which ex
tends into the Gran Quivira with it:
| mystic ruins and indications or having
supported a large population at one
time. There too the grass is knee higf
on an area of 100 miles by 80 miles, but
stock is not driven in there owing te
the lack of water although sooner OF
later water is bound to be discovered
The Gran Quivira ruins are only 2i
miles from a point on the Santa Fe Cen.
trail railway near Progreso and will
doubtless be visited by l:any tourists
for it is an easy drive and eight miles
from Progreso, are the interesting
ruins of another Pueblo village.
Near Willard, in the gap between the
Manzanos and the Jumanas, the con-
struction forces of Lantry and Sons are
encamped. The Santa Fe-Belen cutoff
mountains into the Estancia plains. 1t
will cross the Santa Fe Central 100
yards south of Willard, in anticipation
of which several homesteaders are put
ting up buildings in that section. The
cut off will strike the Rock Island at
l lano, the station above Torrance.
Wcrk is being pushed so rapidly that
the work of grading will be completed
by fall, seven months ahead of the
contract limit which was IS months.
SHIPS ARE GLIDING.
Near Willard, looking over to the
Pedernal peaks, the traveller will see
wide expanses of water rejecting the
sun over which ships are ending with
sail spread 1t is the mirage. Then he
will see thunder rain clouds gathering
in the east and reflected against the
banks of the cumulus clouds are
is the mirage. Then the prairie will
seem afire and the cloud of smoke
come rolling toward the traveller while
at the horizon marches an army of
white spectres. 1t is the mirage. On
warm days, coming from Hagan the
station buildings at Moriarty are sus-
pended in midair apparently, but inver-
ted and ranch buildings are actually
seen around and over hills although not
seen on other days. The mirage effects
are wonderful and invariably arouse
the admiration of the wanderer across
the plains.
From Willard to Progreso, the Santa
Fe Central makes sweeping curve OF
100 degrees, the grade ascending very
gently. 1t skirts along the southern
end of the Dog lake which looks allur-
ing from a distance as if inviting sail
boats on it's surface, pavilions on Its
banks with bands playing and picnic
ers shouting in glee. But nearer
view shows the forbidding features of
the landscape, the barren cliffs, the al
kali beach and the glaring reflection of
The sun.
On the way to Progreso, considerable
sand is passed broken by scattered
growth of pinon, pushed down from
the Jumanes mesa. From the top Of the
Progreso divide the last view of the
Santa Fe and Pecos rang
es appears.
PROGRESO ISN'T, BUT WILL BE.
Progreso-well, Progreso, isn't it will
be- The prospective county Z seat isl
marked by Colonel ]. Francisco Chaves'
sheep ranch. Within sight, IN every d.
rection, are the windmills of other
ranches. The country appears rather
barren compared with the plains
around Antelope Springs and Estancia.
The first view of the Rattlesnake Hills,
that look like a crouching camel and
which have a dense growth OF pin0n
along their base, Is obtained from Pro-
greso, as we'll as Of the Pinos Wells
The country becomes more
rolling and rocky as the road skirts
along the Gallinas mountains.
In these mountains there are consid-
erable timber, good mineral indica-
tions and plenty of game, but dearth
Of water. At Blanca, the sand is very
deep but the fine mass of pinon and ce-
dar from the Gallinas to the Rattle
snake Hills beautifying the land
scape. The sheep in this section look
better than they do in the plains and
many herds of half wild horses roam
over the plateau. Quail especially are
plentiful. At Blanca, the last ranch
and well, that of Juan Chaves, are
passed, there being at present no other
wells or buildings between Blanca and
Torrance, a distance Of 16 miles. An
attempt to sink a well was made at
the foot Of Trinchera mesa but It was
The well outfit is being
moved today from the foot of the mesa