Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-07-20
Il MEADOW CITY.

Some Things About Las Vegas Not
Generally Known to the
Outside World.
Las Vegas. meaning The Meadows"
. the county seat Of San Miguel coun-
y. lies OF both sides Of the Gallinas
liver, and. with Its suburbs, has about
10000 Inhabitants.
It has excellent water works, arc
well-hlled stores. beautiful residences
and incandescent electric. light plant,
telephone exchanges, headquarters of
the Atchison railway system. New
Mexico division, together with rail
road machine shops and ~tie-preserving
works. stock yards and large sheep
shearing and dipping plants.
West OF the river, the old town has
the quaint and picturesque Mexican
appearance adobe houses, narrow,
crooked streets, native people and
customs, handicrafts and occupations;
but the plaza and all OF the new town,
east of the river, constitute a distinc.
tive American city. The streets are
wide and well graded, while sidewalks
abound, shaded with growing trees.
Three parks, filled with grass and
trees, add to the beauty and h~ealthful.
ness OF the place. Handsome and
and innumerable lawns. set In grass
and adorned with shrubbery and
flowers, combine to proclaim q cultur.
ed community. possessed of all mod,
ern comforts and conveniences.
Las Vegas is the natural sanato-
rum of the United States, combining
more natural advantages than any
other place In America. Her thermal
waters are the equal of the Hot
Springs Of Arkansas. while her climate
Is infinitely superior. There Is no
malaria, no excessive heat or cold, NO
gnats. rats OF mosquitoes. The air is
pure, dry. rarined. and highly electri-
6ed-a certain cure for consumption,
II the disease be taken In time. The
hot waters are . specific for liver,
skin, rheumatic and blood disorders.
Her Montezuma hotel IL the finest hos.
telry between Chicago and California
and ID situated In : beautiful canyon,
five miles from town, where the hot
springs, forty In number. come boil
ing to the surface. Besides this,
st. Anthony's 6anitarium. conducted
by the Sisters Of Charity. and the
Plaza ~Sanitarium. conducted by Dr..
william Curtiss Bailey. N. D.
Las Vegas is the distributing point
for nearly all New Mexico BY the
! Atchispn system. she has connection
with Kansas on the east. Colorado on
the north, Arizona and California on
the west, and Texas and Old Mexico
on the south. Besides these, she has
more stage lines, connecting her with
tributary territory, than has any other
town in New Mexico. This territory
includes the entire section east and
south Of the mountains. and com,
prises the counties Of Colfax, Mora
Taos, San Miguel. Santa Fe, Socorr6
Dona Ana, Grant, Chaves. Lincoln, and
Eddy with parts Of Valencia and Der.
nalillo-a country larger than all New
England. This takes In the famous
valley Of the Rio Grande. and the less
famous. but not less excellent, valley
Of the Pecos-the finest fruit sections
Of the west.
There are eight large Wholesale
houses, whose trade extends through
out the Territory, and into the ad-
joining sections; while the volume Of
this trade. and the value Of the stocks
which they carry, cannot be duplicat-
ed west Of Kansas City and south Of
Beaver. Three merchants brokers
have selected the city ~ their dis
tributing center. tho amount Of their
yearly sales exceeding, In the aggre.
gate. the combined sales Of all other
such brokers In New Mexico. The
retail merchants, Of Las Vegas, are
more numerous. and carry larger and
better stocks Of goods than do the ~
tail merchants Of any other town In
this Territory or Arizona
Las Vegas has two dafly and ok
weekly papers. three banks. three
building and loan associations. ak no
tells. many boarding houses. nine
churches. Z number Of clubs,
and all Of the leading civic and
social societies; . roller 6our mill,
capacity. nfty barrels per day;
ave w~oll-Scouring establishments,
cleaning 10000 900 pounds OF wool an
nually; . wellecuipped brewery and
bottling establishment; \ mandatory
Of mineral and carbonatcd waters;
three wagon and carriage factories; sad
die and harness factory; q foundry,
electric light plant, three planning
mills. and other enterprises Of less i'm.
portance.
A city hall. four public school build.
hugs. courthouse. Masonic temple. op-
era house. Territorial Normal school
and Territorial insane asylum and pub
lie buildings, constructed Of red and
white sandstone, unsurpassed In beau
ty by similar edilces In any town, Of
equal size. In the states.
The latitude IL about the same ~
that Of central Tennessee. while the al.
titude is nearly $500 feet. This com ]
bination gives . peculiar. but most
happy. result. In the winter, during |
the day. the thermometer seldom falls. |
in the shade. below forty degrees. |
while It often runs m the sunshine. to
sixty.nve d~egrees-or even more. On
the other hand. In the summer, the
heat 10 never oppressive. In the shade. |
and NO night ID too warm for com.