Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-07-28

the father. Bert Olney, spent his
eighteenth birthday shortly before
he left home for college Here, as
( children, the father and mother had
played In childhood fshed. made
mud pies" burned hon fires and the
grandfathers and grandmothers pre-
pared camp and set up chuck by the
WAGON load Here the old log house
had been built, the bountiful table
spread, In the wild woods. at the old
camp.house, surrounded by the rugged
mountains.
What more attractive or appropriate
place for the fifth birthday OF the
son and grandson?
| SO, ont In the early morning as the
sun first kissed the mountain tops,
we started. Six short miles and We
were at the Hot Springs on the IA.
nous scenic road building from San.
Ia Fe to Las Vegas, on to Ration anG,
II Is to be hoped. thence through Col
orado to Denver.
What matchless piece Of work
manship! Built, 1t is true, by men in
bondage for their crimes, but directed
| by master hand.
AS many as fourteen years ago Rus.
sell B. Rice Of this city pointed out to
the county commissioners that such a
road could be built, but beginning
further up In the canon.
The project then died the death Of
the forsaken.
Whether as an original idea or
otherwise, ] Go not know, F. II. Pierce
took the matter up, carried 1t through
the legislature, began the road
under much criticism, with the re-
suit that today this yet unfinished
work Is the finest mountain road IN
the United States.
1t Is wide. of easy grade. absolute
| ly substantial and affords a view
which for beauty and grandeur is not
surpassed in the bounds of the nation,
Every man and woman in this city
should take trip over the scenic
route before the autumn closes
On the return trip at a medium
gait, one hour only was required to
drive from the Trout Springs to the
Mont@uma park.
At the summit Of the route In going
our party unloaded and took in the
magnificent view.
Then, forward was the word, and
soon we reached "the old camp
! ground" and began an inspection OF
the old hooks and corners which had
been the center of memorable events.
The shady grove where Ransom, the
colored cook, broiled the kid and
made lemonade for the children, spot
which ! am sure all the campers of
that occasion will remember the
spring near which Rev. Brush and his
party pitched their tents, and Dr.
Papin took his bath. the place where
the u ca einsynoy y. II ~sasbe s--ssNt9Gd ~
1anT tie bis Iong difiihg table held fts
load of mountain trout, came in for in.
spection.
| What, then, picnic dinner spread
Ot the grass OF course. There was
Doc Olney, wife and Marie, the sub
scriber and his frau, Bo, Teresa
Mary Long Olney, the little mother
ard her two boys, Tom, the five-yCar
old, and Elliott, te baby, representa-
tives OF three generations. all hale and
hearty, not an ache or pain, or a
drop of headache in the crowd. We
spread the picnic dinner between the
river and the spring. at the very spot
where we camped last year, under the
shade of grand old trees, in the
shadow of the great mountain looming
Iup over us.
! While the camp fire Of 1904 was not
burning, the rocks and blackene(
ends of old logs were there, the frame
work Of last years table where Mr.
and Mrs. Gise and Robert joined US
in few square" meals, where the
party from the Harvey resort made 1
day memorable by their jolly visit
was in its place, recalling recent ant
pleasurable events.
And there little Tom, the five-year
old, enjoyed bounteous dinner OF
his birthday, and we all enjoyed 1t witt
him.
|, Bo constituted himself chef, made
the coffee and cooked the eggs, whil'
Dot and Marie were efficient assist
ants.
, 1t was a beautiful day, lovel.
, place, and to, us an interesting oe
: casion. Now, if it sould be givel
i to Tom to enjoy his eighteenth birth
: dag at this place, as his father di'
before him, am wondering what will
conditions be then.
: That will be thirteen years ahead.
How many events may occur in tha
period, almost half an active life time
| hope by that date that those VIII
are here may see a railroad up tn
, valley to Ell Porvenir and a magnif
a cent hotel there worthy of the .entel
!, prise of its founder and the beauty c
the surroundings, that the valley {
the Gallinas may be full of beautif,
e cottage homes and, improved pleasur
!, places, occupied by public-spirite,
e progressive citizens. the scenic route
e finished work from Santa Fe via La
g Vegas and Ration, through Colorado [
r Denver, the Montezuma hotel owe
flowing with guests, the Fratern
n City haven of rest and recovery Il
a thousands, and Las Vegas then appr
o ciated Throughout, the land as beir
a what those of Us now here know
y to be, teh most healthful and deligh
full home residence on the continen
home residence on te coutinen-.