Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-09


what kind OF money Is used, what
customs dues are charged and wheth-
er the laws are sufficient FOR the
safety of life and property. The IN
habitants would like 10 change the
name OF the territory. too, That Is
one of the greatest inducements Tor
ioint statehood with Arizona. Then
everybody would know that this Is u
mart of America and Albuquerque
would not object 10 having the cap
i,al of the new state located here, II
IA already the metropolis OF New Mes
leo and probably has a larger popuia'
ton than any other city In the TWO
territories. ono
According 10 the census OF 1900
there were only G,S26 here at ina
time. but It Is claimed that the
Grafton was imperfect, that incompe'
tent men were employed to DO the
counting. and that at least one'third OF
the population was missed. There are
two towns. old Albuquerque (which
dates back TO the time Of the Spanish
occupation and Is entirely Mexican.
with the exception Of a few saloon
Keepers and laborers), has about l,2oo
persons. New Albuquerque Is an en-
tirely modern and up to date town
The business blocks and residences
are as fine as a be found IN any
city of It's size In the world, n II
has all of the novelties and improve
NETS The population, according 10
the school census. Is now ABOUT ~
OOO-all Americans except a rev ricn
Mexicans and the usual proportion OF
laborers and domestic servants. Inc
secretary of the chamber OF COM
merce estimated the present popuia'
ton of the two cities at about l5,ooo.
Albuquerque spreads out over a
good deal of ground, but you can get
about easily by means OF trolley cars.
There Is a neat modern schoolhouse
in every ward. and one OF the most
artistic high school buildings IN the
country. While it Is not a pious town
nv any means, there are Twelve
churches. Of which the most imposing
IS a Jewish synagogue. the Jewlsn
community Is unusually large n
rich and controls the mercantile trade.
The Mexican Is not a tradesman or d
mechanic: he is either a farmer OF a
laborer. and nearly all OF that rae
are engaged in herding cattle OF
sheen. The professional men and me
chanice are Americans.
II is pleasant to see the different
Religious denominations dwelling TO-
gether in unity. The Methodlsts heid
their Sunday services in the synago'
que until their own house OF worship
was finished, and the Presbyterians'
who are putting up a handsome Du'io'
ing are now using the opera mouse,
which is as pretty and convenient an
auditorium as you will find anywhere
lin the country, and Is owned pv the
jElks. who have a clubhouse ADJOINING
Tbe finest building in the city belongs
|to the Commercial club, which Is
l~social organization and a board q
trade at the same time. It was es'ap
|,ished in 1892, and is composed o.
labont two hundred business men =
hooms the town on all occasions an.
takes the lead in everything, stimulat
mo the public spirit Of the cltlzens
ond doing effective team work IN Sc
Touring new industries and rallroaas
and promoting trade. The bulidlhs IL
an unusually good one of red SAND
stone. with a dancing hall, reaoihs
rooms, cardrooms and a number OF
bachelor suites, which are occupied py
some Of the members. 1t IS a tenn
lnerance club, however. There IS nc
bar or buffet. Members whose thirs'
lis insatiate having individual lockers
with keys, in which they can keeI
medicine, liquors, hair tones, iace
powders, or anything else they Ike
and may help themselves at VIII.
Albuquerque Is one of the few towns
7 have found lately without a Carnegie
library. 1t has a fine building, now
ever, and a good collection OF BOOKS
which were presented to his FELLOW
citizens by Joshua s. Reynolds, form
erlv of Canton, O., who has been ou'
here since he was a boy and is n Of
the richest men in the territory. He
has a string Of banks along the Santa
Fe railway between Las Vegas and +
Paso and is an influential, pubic
spirited citizen. The library is main
tained by a special tax.
Albuquerque has two daily papers
both %enterprising and newsy, and ST.
weeklies. two of which are printed II
the Spanish language. Ut has a mum
her of banks with large capital; TN
combined deposits at present amour
to more than four million dollars. I'm
trade territory almost exclusivel
contributory to this city Is perhap'
larger than that Of any other com
mercial center in the world, having
radius of 200 miles and covering al
area of 1905 900 square mi|es-large
than New England and New Yorl
combined. 1t comprises practicall
the entire Rio Grande valley, the mos
fertile and %populous section OF NeV
Mexico. with at least three-fifths Q
the population of the territory. Their
is some manufacturing but no minin
OF n Importance. The larger pol
tion of the people are native Mexican
land thew are engaged In raising shee
and cattle and farming in a sma'
way At least five million hounds Q
wool are handled here annually. Their
are several wealthy Mexican rancf
men.
Solomon Luna, president OF IN
Int. 80 Coyoyparon 10 tha richest an