The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-06-11

Roswell, New Mexico, is an oasis
in a desert. The visitor to this de
lightful spot is assumed to be a Grim
inal, and is condemned by the Santa
Fe railroad to endure torture before
he reaches his destination. You may
approach it from the north by way
of Amarillo, Texas, or from the south
by way of Pecos. Whichever route
you take you will wish o had ia
ken the other. There is even another
avenue of approach from the west by
stage, and rough as it is. l was as
sured that it is preferable to the rail-
road. The splendid Santa Fe system
ought to be ashamed of it's w repu-
tation to force it's patrons to ride on
cattle trains when they go through
the Pecos Valley.
But once there. you forget the stuff
fly coaches with broken back chairs.
and the creeping gait they make and
the bumps of the switching cars and
the odor of the cattle, for you enter
a yernal paradise. In every direction
from Roswell and it's environs there
| stretches a desert for hundreds OF
miles-a naked plain, hot and parch-
ed, t~reeless and shrubless, and now
| CRASHES, for no rain has fallen in
the valley since last June. Cattle are
| dx,;D1 bv tho fhoucandc On thoSa arid
wastes. AS fast as lambs are born
they are killed to save, if possible.
the dams, there not being nourish-
ment enough to keep mother and lamb
alive. l was told of one large ranch
man who killed 10000 lambs this
month on his ranches. 1t is terrible
to think of. The cattle that are alive
are gaunt skeletons that excite pro-
found pity, their hollow eyes seeming
to mutely implore relief. The loss
to the country is already enormous,
and unless rain falls soon will be far
greater.
But this is true only of cattle that
run al large on the range. Right here
in the midst of this arid region sci
ence and enterprise have created an
| earthly Eden. The dry and lifeless
soil only needs moisture toiwork mir
acles. What the Mormons have done
in the Salt Lake valley is being done
here in the Pecos Valley. BY a sys-
tenn of irrigation, these lands are be-
ing brought under cultivation, and
the results are astonishing. l drove
for miles through lanes shaded by
great trees, on either side fields OF
alfalfa waist-high, or apple orchards
bending with fruit, or deep meadows
on which browse the finest blooded
horses, cows, sheep, and hogs that
America can boast. The Slaughter
Ranch" with headquarters near Ros.
well, carries $4,000 head of cattle. An
other ranch feeds 5000 head of hogs
Another has apple and peach orch
ards that yield $50, 900 worth of fruit
a year. On these green alfalfa farms
are lovely homes, with fountains and
streams Of sparkling water, which
make an almost tropical ~luxurianct
of verdure. and with all the comforts
and conveniences Of the most advanc
ed civilization. This of the country.
Roswell is the cleanest, brightes
and most delightful town I have
found in the west. Its wide, shady
streets, its handsome stores. its beau
tiful private homes, its attractive
churches-above all. its cultured, hos
pitable, energetic people-make it
singularly charming place. There arr
about 5000 people there. and thu
town is growing rapidly. l lecturet
there three times, addressed the Va
Verde Camp of Confederate veter
ans, about a hundred strong. and
preached twice on Sunday to congre
lgahons that packed even the aisles
and that could not be excelled In OLD
LVireiniA for~inteligence and attention
to the Word.
What has been done at Roswell 1
being done at other places. and tn
'fday Is nee distant when the whole O
the Pecos Valley win be dotted witt
these oases- !. stoppsd ct one Q