Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-06-24
BEAUTIFUL VALLEY
OF A LAKES
Unrivalled Region Of Virgin Forest, Grassy Mead
ows and Magnificent Mountains

We had been driving all day through
the narrow, rocky canyon OF the Coy,
ote and, at last, by a hard pull had
surmounted the long, rugged. heavily
timbered slope leading away from the
creek, when, as We came over the
crest, there appeared before us a scene
SO different, so contrasting, so unex.
pected as to cause explanations OF
surprise from each of us,
There lay a long oval shaped basin,
green as a garden, bordered by smooth
rolling hillsides bearing reaches Of
timber, the aspen mingled with the
pine. grouped In parklike symmetry
upon their gentle. grasj slopes. these
rising on either side in1b high. dense,
" wooded mountains which close the
view excepting at the north where
the mighty, snow-crowned, peaks of
Taos soar against tf1e sky. Lying
deep in the tall grasses Of the long,
meadow hollow cleaned the waters
of the Harrow lakes, not black now
but sparkling. Here and there, gent
" flowing little sreams pour their con
tributions to the lakes and through
a break in the rounded hills on the
westward these same waters empty
themselves again into a deep rocky
gorge forming thus the Coyote river
that tumbles downward to the wales
and fields and plains below giving
drink to a thirsty land,
The impression made upon the eye
and the mind by suddenly entering
this region Of pastoral beauty after
many hours of travel first through
dry and barren mesas, then through
deep and rugged canyons, is n not
to be forgotten. The character and
aspect Of the country is in fact quite
different from that surrounding Las
Vegas. Its mountains have not the
same ~steepness, its hill slopes are
more smooth and gentle and all its
surfaces generally clothed with grass.
without weeds or shrubbery. It's
distinctive feature is of course the
great sweep Of meadow covered with
tall, richly green grasses among which
are those lakes Of living waters that
give name to the locality.
But the forest surrounding these
r.ci ntain meadows is something 10 de-.
=; BIT the eye of the whet.slnan. The
pines are Of N : study growth
al ! more widely brarcIrg than in the
lbs Vegas mountaias, though not as
tall. possibly, and noticeable is the ali
selce Of underground. thus giving that
beautiful parkIike appearance 10 the
" cded landscape which Is particular.
III T,easing; and here the lumlernian's
az has never YET mrtilated the face
CT nature.
Evening was ~ reaching when We
skirted the long line of fence enclos-
ias the great meli vs. When near
I'M, their northern md TWO horsctnen
earnt racing tow il cross wide
##HWh &iM HHM Wy
They greeted us and inform
y, u that they " the SONS Ct Don
sayerino MARTINEZ, tc whose house we
werr destined % lodging that night
Thes pointed the roll we should take
ard then gallope1 ava. like two young
ceIiaurs.
MI found the Mattlnez home, q bret
til. well built al neafiy finished
81 nrture set upo1 b sio2ing hi.i a!tsys
the broad sweep Of green IielGs, I nj
mn ding a view VI wonderful beatty
Above It are the sta lss ani yar,ls per.
taiaing to a stock rsGeli, aaJ sill high;
err stretches a long. smooth surfaced
pine topped hill that shelters the
from the north and east.
"A flock Of fat, heavy.Wooled sheep
graaed near BY and many cattle
feeding in pastures skirting the
timber, while a group Of sleek
horses was gathered about the water.
Ing trough.
Severino Martinez Is a son OF the
late Pascual Martinez of Taos. well
remembered by all the old-timers.
Eighteen years ago be settled on q
government claim here In Black Lakes
and little by little. has acquired the
lands surrounding, until now, nearly
ali this fine valley belongs to him.
His cattle and horses r Of well-grad-
ed blood and his sheep OF Improved
1t is particularly interesting
10 note the docility Of all the animals
about the premises. The noble Perch
,ron that heads The horse herd Is rid.
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