Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-10-08
Belen on Eastern Railway of New Mex.
leo Destined to Be Very Important
Railroad and Commercial Gen.
ter---Extensive Yards and
Terminals -.-Fifteen
Hours Time
Saved.

kinds of railroad rolling stock. Among
the other improvements will be ele-
waited coal chutes containing forty
eight pockets which is just double the
capacity of those in Albuquerque.
"There will be fifty tracks for the
accommodation of the large freight
traffic which will eventually be han
died at Belen. 1t is figured that there
will be seventy mics of trackage in
the yards with capacity Of six thou
sand cars. The work of laying the
tracks is being pushed forward rapid
ly. Considerable filling in has to be
done and the dirt is being hauled from
the west end of the cutoff where the
right of way Is being cut down thirty
feet. Several wells will be bored to
secure a good water supply and in
hopes of striking an artesian flow.
1T is expected that the Eastern Rail
way of New Mexico will be completed
some time next March and that
through trains will be running by the
first of May. One of the officials of
the company informed me the other
day that nine-tenths of the Santa Fe's
business was routed through and this
immense traffic will, In the future, go
by way of the Belen cutoff. The COM
pany is figuring on saving fifteen
hours in the run between Chicago and
California points by cutting out the
steep grades over the Ration and Clio.
rieta Mountains. The highest on the
cutoff is not over one-sixth of one
per cent, and it is expected that the
fast limited trains will attain a speed
of between seventy-ive and> eighty
miles an hour between Belen and
Texico which Is distance of 30S
miles.
"The line is now laid and regular
trains are running between Belen and
Vaughn. Vaughn is fifteen miles east
of Epris and one hundred and twenty
five miles from Belen. 1t will be the
eastern division of the cutoff. The
western division will be Winslow,
which is one hundred and fifty miles
west of Belen and the present divi.
sion point on the coast line of the
Santa Fe. Trains have been running
for the past four months from Texico
to Sunnyside, so that the only gap
now is between Sunnyside and
Vaughn. A concrete bridge is now be.
ing built at Sunnyside across the Pc
cos River which will cost approximate
ly $250,000 There will be no wooden
bridges on the cutoff. All of the
bridges are being made of concrete
which will make them food proof as
well as fire proof and insure their
permanency.
Some Resources Of Little Town on
Rio Grande.
"Belen is located on the west bank
of the Rio Grande, and has a popula-
tion at present of 1000. 1t is in the
center of large agricultural, sheep
raising and fruit growing district
tributary to the town, and is the larg-
est shipping point for alfalfa, wool,
-four, beans and wine in the Territory.
The Belen Roller Mills has a capacity
of one hundred and fifty barrels of
fine patent -four per day, and the
wheat from which it is made is all
grown in the vicinity Of the town. The
largest winery in the Territory is 10.
Gated at Belen.
"The town also has three mercantile
establishments carrying stocks rang.
ing from $4,000 to $150,O00. The
largest of these is that conducted by
the John Becker Company. There are
several other smaller stores, not to
mention other business and mechan-
ical establishments. etc. The First
National Bank of Belen is capitalized
at $4,000. At present there are
three churches in the town. We have
a fine public school building which
cost 100000. 1t Is two story brick
structure with accommodations for
45O children. In addition to this
school house there is a smaller one
for girls alone, founded by the late
Don Felipe Chaves and which is now
being supported by his son, Jose E.
Chaves. Seven teachers are employed
in the two schools, including the prin.
cipal.
"At the present time there are two
hotels in the town and the foundc.
tion is being laid for another. This
third hotel will be two stories high. II
is being built by Mrs. B. Rrtz at the
corner of Becker Avenue and Second
Street. have just received the plans
for two story building which I will
have erected. The first floor will be
used for the Office of the Belen Town
and Improvement Company, and in
the rear will be the plant of the Beler
Tribune soon to be published. al
ready have the equipment for this
newspaper which will be issued
weekly. A Masonic lodge will be in
stltuted there shortly and will occupy
the second floor I have the names o1
twenty.four prospective members buI
want to secure six more to insure
proper support.
"The Belen Commercial Club Is now
housed in an attractive building
which was dedicated on August 24tf
last. The building and furnishings