Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-12-19
PeCOS PARK
An Isolated Land and q Spohsmaa's
Paradise.


about the headwaters of the Pecos
river. In New Mexico. Is a tract OF
land extending eighteen miles east
and west by about thirty north and
south. The tract Is known as the
Pecos river forest reserve. These
mountains form the southern termi.
aus Of the Rocky mountain chain,
and are the highest and most in.ac.
desstble In the southwest
The Pecos river forest reserve was
established by President Harrison,
~ executive proclamation, dated
January IL. 1892. Following the rec
ommsndation OF Secretary of the In.
terror. John w. Noble. based upon In.
vestigations made In the field by Of
hccra OF the department BY execut.
i've proclamation, dated May a. 1893.
President Mckinley changed the boun.
saries OF the reserve.
The object OF the reserve is 10 pre-.
serve the timber surrounding the
headwaters of the pecos river. thus
regulating the flow OF water in the
river and preserving the water supply
.; the Pecos valley by shading the
ground and heavy snowfails about the
sources OF the river and affording pro.
lection against the drying action OF
the san and wind.
The timber also by protecting the
earth from washing away. maintains
storage layer. into which rain AMI
snow water soak and are stored for
mo dry seasons, when snow and rain
are wanting
The wisdom of this course, SAYS a
writer In the Galveston. Texas News
h shown by the success OF the Pc.
eos valley of New Mexico and Texas
hs IN agricultural center.
The Pecos is the Nile OF America.
a. almost its entire length of coo or
700 miles flows through an arid coun.
Try, and upon II ne farmers OF the en-.
tire southeastern New Mexico
and northwestern Texas are depend.
ent Tor their water supply. All
through this section the rainfall is
very sparse. and should the pecos
follow the example OF the other
streams and sink into the Shylock
90 nds the country would be a desert
That II hasn't done so is due entirely
b. the preservation of the young tim.
Der about It's headwaters As IL Ia the
waters of the Pecos have made the
desert To blossom.
In establishing the Pecos river
forest reserve its founders "buiided
better than they knew. In addition
to the everlasting benefit to the arid
desert lands they nave preserved
sers park Of natural beauty and
sranduer which the hand of man
erected. The reserve is protected by
force of range riders. whose duty is
to protect the reserve and game 10 he
found there from the depredations of
Sire and man.
II 10 isolated. being far from the
line OF travel. and It's beauties are &C.
eessfbie only by Journeys on horse
sack over rough mountain trails. On
CHS account comparatively few people
save enjoyed it's wealth 81 yarie,
scenery, its delightful climate, health
giving waters, magnificent canyons.
Dfty peahs ana myrlads OF jewel-like
lakes. II offers the most decided con.
sast TO the arid deserts OF the south.
west. yet enjoys the same perennial
sunshine and dry climate. IL In the
daisy blooming on the dung hill
Its peaks rear their heads far into
she clouds being the highest In the
southwest Countless streams have
sheif sources among them, and each
one rises In lake far above the
clouds. To the sportsman IL Ia n
paradise, the brooks TEEN with Rocky
mountain trout. and the woods abound
win deer, wIL turkey, bear and
mountain grouse. Before the present
prohibitive game laws, this was a
stronghold OF the market hunter.
Until the last few years there was
no road of any description leading
INTO these mountain Businesses or
recent years Henry Winsor. rancher.
who has taken up iann there before
Me setting aside OF the reserve and
who had done all his travelling by
srail, has constructed an apology for
road as far as his place. Il In n
rough ana rocky apology, but Il is
she only way In except by trail across
the divide.
In point of wildly picturesque
scenery. varied natural beauties. and
health-giving climate, this compari.
lively unknown region. which has lain
snhearlded. cnhonored, and unsune
sclipses any on the continent. II has re.
mained thus 80 long because II has
lacked the proximity to the railroad
70 make Il accessible to the people.
ana the highways TO make II acces.
sible to tho hailroad II has lacked
the sorbid greed Of man, who adver.
tises for his own gain. Philadelphia
Ledger,