Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-05-06
{ incorporation concIuded.)

between the towns. The Gallinas. a
stream so-called because a chielsen
could without wetting its feet
Division was foolish, union would en-
| able us to accomplish wonderful re
| suits. The gentleman said he would
touch upon a delicate subject. but
physician never covered up a wound
| thinking to thus heal it. Nothing
| could be gained by gainsaying the
truth. He was a Mexican, born ir
| Mexico, but had come to live undel
the American flag. All his hearers
were Americans. But there had grow
up the idea that there were two towns
one Mexican. the other American;
one old, the other new. This ides
| carried on was fatal. The old towr
had gone backward. and would sinl
to insignificance unless union could h
brought about. The Mexican and tht
American in this com munity shoull
combine civilly, socially, politically
| commercially as soon as possible
There should tie no difference We
| should become one substantial. unit
ed city, and great would be our posi-
bilities for the future. The east side
was ready to unite, there should be MT
nesitancy on the part Of the west.
Mr.. Larrazslo delivered himself
forcibly on the subject Of the Las We
gas grant. He said that several year,
ago he had been the only member Of
the Las Vegas bar, possibly excepting
Mr.. Chacon. who had believed thu
reople of the west side had q right Il
the Las Vegas grant. He had believed
the action of the court in appointing
trustees illegal and he had urged thu
citizens 20 Incorporate and secure
their rights. They hadn't done 50
Now perhaps they were sorry. Mr.
Chacon was mistaken when he sale
there was any recourse now. The &C
ton of the legislature in validatins
the decision of the court had put tht
matter entirely in the hands of the
court and the Incorporation Of La,
Vegas wouldn't affect the question IL
iota. But there was one remedy ant
that was to vote for the right men Il
go to the legislature and then tn,
rights of the west side would be pre-
tected.
J. D. w. Veeder.
Mr.. Veeder pointed out what coul
be gained by pulling together. H,
took up Mr.. Chacon's statements tina
so much could be accomplished
through incorporation. On the eas
side the sidewalks, the grading, al
the improvements had come from til
pockets q the individuals just as ii
the west side. The west side, througl
commissioners and association coul
gain the same results as the east wifi
out any increase of taxation to SUI
port a costly municipal government
The point was most effectively level
oped. But the gentleman favored cor
solidation because of what Las Vega
could accomplish as a united city. ]
had lost thousands of people in ID,
last few years on ccoun of division
The city would easily become the hrs
in the territory if consolidation cou,t
be secured. Its natural resources er
titled it to this position which 1t hi
lost to Albuquerque, through disuDien
Mr.. Veeder handled the grant ques
ton without gloves. He said he ha
been connected with it from the BIZ
ginning, had had more to do with |
than any other man.
The hope of the west side ever 81
curing the administration Of the gran
was a delusion. The west side didn
own it, and never could De given
right to administer it. Most empha'
ically the grant was a trust, and it
administration properly belonged !
the court. When congress confirme
the grant to the town of Las Vega
it meant to include every person Twin
on the grant. This was RICH. al
would appeal to the sense Of fairIes
of everybody. He thanked God tina
the grant was in custody Of the couI
and would not be put in the hands {
politicians of either party to be parce
ed out in bonuses to their friends. Nj
Veeder was at his best and G~ellvere
a stirring and convincing speech.
1t was 1870 when F. C. de lac
arose to make and address in favo
of separate Incorporation. Hon. Eug.
kRoA Romero followed in the same lit'
hut as The Optic representative We
unable to remain longer, no report !
given Of these speeches. A committe
was appointed to make further inyes
LEGATIONS and report ct the mce.inI
May is. sGs$VtkV