Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-09-13

ALAMO GERDo, NEW MEX, July 20, '06
EDITOR OF WOOD COUNTY REPORTER.
A. L. Fontaine. Dear Sir: Before
leaving Grand Rapids Jan. le, prom
ised to write to some of the home
papers for the benefit OF my friends.
Something of my new home in New
Mexico.
Location s Topography.
New Mexico has between 81 degrees
S37 degrees latitude and between SO
degrees and lot degrees longitude 1t
is nearly square being 335 from east to
west 367iin from north to south--it is
called a southern state or territory,
but its altitude is that Of the meunt-
ain understanding about 5000 it.
above sea level, and this gives it a
climate mild but incorporating.
AS a whole the territory lies broad
faced to the sun-the sloop being to
the south with slight tilt to the
east, the surface is made up of mount
aims, high table lands, plains. valleys
and deep gorges, here is found the last
Vertebra OF the Rocky Mountains a
few peaks rise to the hight of 1900
| tt. above sea level.
Resources. agricultural mineral
grazing, timber and the beautiful
climate.
Alamogordo, lies at the foot hills of
the Sacramento Mountains and Is
miles to the west lies the San
Andreas Mountains. Between Alamo
gordo and San Andreas Mountains.
about Is miles distant are the famous
| white sands of New Mexico and
think the only sand of the kind in the
world. AS | have never visited them
l am not able to describe them only at
distance, they are always in motion
like the breakers on the Sea-and are
pure white, and are always thought
by strangers and turists to be a large
body of water, which it certainly re-
SembleS.
AlamOgordo is the county seat of
Otero Co. on the Ell Paso. S. N. r. r.
it is now eight years old and has
population OF 5000.
The railroad car shops are located
here and employ about $50 men-our
two boys are both working there
learning their trades-William as
boiler maker and Tennis as copper
smith. They average about $40 per
month each. 1t will take them q
years more to finish their trade. ANY
young man with a mechanical mind it
would seem very good place for them.
l like the country and the people
much better than l eyer thought l
would, and the climate is beautiful,
and 1T seems to agree with me, as 1
am in:excellent health. Also the rest
of the family. The population is a
mixture of course. The natives are
MexicaDS, but l have met people from
every country here, even to the
Ancient Hindo, very bright business
man. The colored population is not
SO large, as the Mexicans and Spanish,
l am rather pleased with the Mexicans
and Spanish, I think them a progress
SiVe race, and not the fierce and re-
vengeful people I had always thought
them, Education has done much for
them in the last few years. They
certainly have one trait that would be
beautiful example for any child to
copy-such reverence and respect they
show to old age and to any one older
than themselves. I am speaking of
the young generation.
But they are taught that from in
fancy and they seem to not forget.
For new town I call it very
orderly and moral one. On July 4, a !
celebration was held in our beautiful
park (the park is the pride of the !
Southwest), and while almost every
nation was represented, did not see
one disorderly, 1t was little anus
ing for me a stranger almost, to see
the different races and secto. The
Indians came down from their reserva-
ton, and the Mexicans were comment
ing on them. The colored people |
were passing their opinion on both |
the Indians and MexicanS, and the |
white element was not one whit be-
hind in making remarks about them
all
They gave free Barb acue dinner
the funds for which were furnished by |
the business men Of Alamogerdo, also |
for the entertainment.
There are several good schools here.
A high school, college, a Spanish and !
a Mexican school; five churches, Cath /
olic of which FIR. Egan, from the Isle
of Celon is pastor, and who is at pre-
sent here for his health, Baptist. two
Methodists and an Advent church.
By the way, there are many Adventists
here. There is large asylum for the
blind Just finished, and two banks
one just Incorporated. For SO new a
town think it would compete with
most any of its size. There is only
one SALOON in the city at present and
never heard there was any other there.
/ will speak of the fruit which grows
here. The most beautiful peaches l
ever saw they have been very plenty
now for about two weeks-Ap ricots,
plums, figs, pears, apples, prunes ard
grapes. For all the town is yet in its
infancy, there are many fine orchards
right here. The little town of La. !,
Luz is the banner town for fruit. 1t |
is six miles north of Alamogordo, was
settled by the Spanish about 10 years
ago.
Most of the fruit and ranches are
watered by irrigation 10 this Sacra-
mento Valley-but the water supply
is endless. its mountain range con-
Stitutes within its borders the head |