Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-03-25

Staked Plains, even in a comfortable
Pullman car, when the wind is blowing
40 miles an hour and when it hasn't
rained for six months, is not altogeth-
er a picnic Even when there Is lull
in the wind, it is quite evident that
this is the country where one can see
further and see less than in any other
portion of the American continent. A
fellow who was hauling water five
miles into Bovina, when asked why
he didn't dig a well instead Of going
so long distance, replied. 'its just
as far to water one way as The other!"
Yet, as Florence Wilkinson puts it in
March McClures:
what seest thou on yonder desert
plain,
Large, vague and void?
| see city full of flickering streets;
I hear the hum of myriad engine beats.
What seest thou?
see a desert plain,
Large, vague and void.
On this desert, larger than an Euro
pean kingdom, there have sprung up
within the past few years cities,
towns, villages, churches, school hous-
| es, homes and windmills. From ANA
rillo, bustling city so new that it
hurts the aesthetic to look upon it,
down to Carlsbad, the Beauti III, there
is one town after the other, Canon
City, Hereford, Bovina, Texiop, Por-
tales, Elida, Roswell, Hagerinan, Ar
tesla, Carlsbad and Pecos. several of
which have grown more the last three
years than Santa Fe has in the last
300. The Pecos Valley and Northeast
ern Railroad is at the bottom of this
transformation wrought within most
recent time Although 40 acres are
needed for each cow, yet cattle are
the main wealth of that section, in
cluded in the Staked Plains, while in
the Pecos Valley at and southaof Ros-
we'll, it is water that is kins5, t'f oush
the cattle industry too is mainstay.
1t is quite by coincidence that the ap-
pearance of the Staked Plains changes
as the New Mexico line is crossed.
Texico, struggling little town is just
on the present boundary line, al
though eventually it is hoped to have
a final survey place it two to three
miles on this side. Just beyond Text
co the land becomes more rolling and
is cut by white sand dunes. The
Spanish dagger becomes more proml-
nent in the landscape. The drouth
has left marks and so have prairie
fires. Cattle do not look as sleek as
they will after the rains shall have
set in. 1t is only in favored spots
where there are patches of green and
the cowboys scan the murky, yellow
sky with anxious eye. Towards Por'
tales the range is in better condition
and there appear sinks and draws fill
ed with water. 1t is no longer coun
try where one can see farthest and see
less than anywhere else. Windmills
break the sky line and on almost ev
cry quarter section of land around
Portales stands neat frame farm
house. Portales is a growth of few
years and while it isn't pretty, yet ii
| SlN0S luG cSolOA Ol bOlllS Pi'Si ~
sive and community that means
business. Had it the picturesque sur
roundings, it would, with it's many
windmills, be counterpart of Deming
but as it is, it looks much like Tucum
f carl. In fact, all of the new towns II
, eastern New Mexico and western Tex
, as appear much alike. The houses are
of frame. neat and cosy; the streets
wide and at right angles, while a few
) business houses, noticeably always
! bank, are of brick or stone. Ate
! passing Portales on the way to Ros
: we'll, Elida, is the only other settle
> ment of consequence. Noticeable from
> the depot is the Office of the Elid
q News, looking like long wooden boz
q set on ends, around which the scor
Il or more houses of the village ar
q grouped. To the northwest, 80 mile
= looms up the ridge in which the Urto
reservoir site is located, to which
o is intended to construct canal fror
n the Pecos River at Fort Sumner, Leor
It lard Wood County.
How land and water hungry tne p0'
) pie are is shown by the fact that a
7. soon as it became noised about tina
e the national government intended {
y construct the Urton reservoir. ever
It section of land not withdrawn froi
e settlement or pre-empted. was take
re up and it is curious sight from I'd
If train to- see tent pitched on In
If plains, with large sign: Unite
le States Commissioner and Notary Pu
L. lic." There isn't house, or a win'
le mill IN sight for miles, and yet, the el
y terprising newcomer is reported to l
N doing q land Office business. Thus tn
is Staked Plains are being settled fir
,e the railroad, next the printer and II
ut land agent, ana then, 10! over night,
town!