Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-07-24
National FraternaI Sanitarium
Depicted by Capable Writer
One Of the best Write-ups Of the Institution Yet
Made Every Detail Worked Out Step by
Step-Not Out of the World When Out in Las
Vegas.

. - i'hs ~ VNhN' Nv a'' ~ saw
Springs. situated about six miles from
the city of Las Vegas. When Las
Vegas was chosen as a battle-ground
by the fighters against the white
plague. II occurred TO the railroad
officials that the Springs would make
an ideal sanatorium. and they gen.
erously donated the entire property,
comprising cottages, power and bath.
houses and a monster modern hotel
valued at 81 200, 900. which gives the
invading army Of consumptives a com.
Portable home ready 10 hand. In ad.
dition to the gift above mentioned
there was a donation OF 10000 acres
of land. so that the Fraternal City
has space enough to offer a RENDEZVOUS
for all the sufferers In the Union
should they come.
Las Vegas Hot Springs, the site Of
the sa~natorium, takes its name from
q group Of springs some forty In num-
her which vary in temperature from
almost ice.cold 10 boiling hot. OK.
amples of each etreme being found
within a few feet of each other. The
waters are alkaline-saline, and their
wonderful curative powers We're
known to the Indians and to Uncle
Sans frontiersmen. Half a century
AGO a United States army hospital was
located here. Altitude is a prime
requisite. and the Las Vegas springs
meet this requirement admirably. be.
ing located among the foothills or
the edge of the forest at an altitude
of about 1000 feet,
In view of the fact that this navel
Gus region has $40 cloudless DAYS in
the year and that so per cent Of the
patients who reach New Mexico on
their feet are permanently cured Of
tuberculosis, it is not too much TO
expect that the Fraternal Citg will
speedily become the chief national
fortress against the spread Of the
great white plague. The formal a3di-
cation of the Fraternal City will take
place about October I. As has been
explained, most of the buildings. m.
Guiding a hospital and administration
/ BUILDINGS are already in existence.
The others will be completed by early
autumn Many cottages are now I'M
der way. and orders have been placed
for an immense number of tents which
will form street after street Of dwell
,ines for the more robust. Already
many churches and orders have indi-
Gated that they will erect special cot
tages for their own patients.
So great is the pressure Of applica-
lions unon the societies affiliated with
this project. and which have a com
hinna membership Of 5000. 900. that It
is ~evpected that the Fraternal City
will have 1000 inhabitants ere 1t is a
vear old. Tho new community viii
be conducted. strictly on the municipal
ownership basis with no surplus prof
its. Trade will be countenanced only
to the extent Of sunplving the patients
with the necessary conyeniences, all
goods to be sold at cost. Whisky and
cigarettes are barred, but every out
door amusement conducive TO health
will he encouraged.
As is the case at all sanatoria. II Il
to be expected that hundreds of per
sons will take M their residence In
the city of Las Vegas in order to nc
near relatives who come to make
their temporary or permanent home
at the Fraternal City and for the bene
fit of such prospective pilgrims to the
southwest I have made a careful II
vestigation of conditions at La
Vegas. Just here it may be said tha
there Is no cause for anyone to shet
any tears over the thought thar HI
may be called uDon TO spend tho re
mainder of his life in this city Isa'
Vegas has over 10000 inhabitants:
splendid hotel: a daily newspaper tina
would do credit to a CITY of twice tn
size, and other metropolitan advant
ages. to say nothing of a Mexican
!, population with old churches an
!. quaint adobe houses that render !
one Of the most picturesque places !
Uncle Sans domain.
The cost of living is decidedly 10y
in proportion to the value received !
health and endowment. A charmingl
, cosy cottage of four or Ave rooms
. frame, brick or stone constructio
may be purchased for from $1,000
. 81, 1000, or rented for from SIS 10 81
per month. These prices contemplat
a lot of 50 feet frontage by $50 fec
O depth. If the householder has $500
: or $4,000 to spend he can secure nor
a land and a more ~pretentiOus hous'
q AS in most western cities 1t Is deci'
q edly preferable to rent a house. ina
much as the stranger Is likely to I
asked say $1S a month for two room
! in a rooming house. Taxes IN La
Vegas are 6 per cent. The water su
n ply comes from springs in the moui
tains. and the water rental Is Sl4 II
3 a four-room cottage and $3.50 for eat
4 additional room. Electric light cos
h 81 per lamp per month, and the tel
q phone rate for residences Is S1.5O ~
month.
The climate Of this n~ewly-select'
L. consumptive battle-ground is calc
" lated to charm a person In perfe
IS health. Residents of other sectioI
of the country are prone to hin
IL the southwest as a region of intolf
le able summer heat. but they forget z
re altitude which places the lowest pa
III of New Mexico as far above the $
" as the highest peak of the Adlronda
& mountains. In Las Vegas the thern
~ meter seldom rises to 80 degrees