Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-01-20
THINGS WISE AND OTHERWISE
Arixona's Vote.

The Joint statehood will call out q
huge vote, SO that In all probability
their next vote will be close TO 10000.
Now let me make q prediction and
you men who believe Arizona wants
joint statehood stick a pin right here.
II II comes TO q vote for or against
joint statehood Arizona will not cast
5000 votes for the bill. And I'd al.
most be willing "a make It q bet that
It won't be 1900.
Sidewalks.
We brag a good deal about our fine
sidewalks here In Las Vegas. but hon.
est Injun. we are so far behind Ration
and Albuquerque In this matter that
we hardly Get into the 'also ran"
class. In Ration you can walk all over
the city and get your feet mud
dy, and the same In Albuquerque.
while here In Las Vegas. outside OF q
few crossings In the business part OF
the city. there might as well be no
sidewalks, for after going q block
ON a good clean cement walk you
mire down at the very first crossing.
We have climate, water. scenery
and several other things that nature
furnishes free gratis for nothing. but
when II comes to our street crossings
they are q disgrace to q third class
country town.
And the worst Of It Is that the city
itself bets the poorest example Of all.
for there's not q park plot In the
whole city that has q foot OF sidewalk
beyond what anture has furnished.
It certainly does seem strange that
the citizens are made to toe the mark
SO promptly while the city property
Is untouched. One has but to look at
the two strand barb wire fence hang
Ing from an occasional post around
the library park like some old, desert
ed ranch on the prairie and with no
sidewalks around 1t or across 1t to
wonder II civic pride Is so dead here
In Las Vegas that 1t can v be re-
suscitated.
A Law Breaker.
l wonder what ought u lappen to
a city official who has q contagious
disease In his family and never pla'
cards his house, notifies the city ply
stefan or takes any steps to keep his
neighbors and friends out OF hts home
And this Is the second time he has
done the very same trick, too.
Projecting Steps.
And while I'm sort OF kicking on
city affairs, Id like to ask by whose
authority those steps project out al
most entirely across the sidewalk or
Main avenue wnere the lots have been
dug down for the sidewalk. BY actuaI
measurement one pair, OF the steps
occupies all but one foot Of the walk
They are an elegant trap for pedes
TRANS to fall over on q dark night
and | know OF one citizen who took a
header over one Of them not SO many
nights ago while hurrying home, much
to his discomfort, and who was led to
use several barrels OF profanity over
them.
Some one will hurt himself ON
them some night and then there will
be a damage suit for to settle.
Pedro Perez.
The death OF Mr.. perea removes
from the scene OF New Mexico politi-
cal life one OF our Oldest and fore
most figures.
Like the late Colonel Chavez. Mr..
Pcrea had been a leading man in New
Mexico for many years. Sheriff, legis-
lator, delegate to congress and many
minor offices has he held with credit
to himself and party.
His death Is a distinct loss to the
territory and he will be missed In the
party, too. for Mr.. rerea was a power
In republican politics.
The accounts Of his death brought
to mind a fact that has often occurred
TO ME In connection with our native
population here In New Mexico. Mr..
J Perea was born, reared and died In
the same small village. and almost
under the same roof.
It Is a Characteristic nature Of these
| people. their .ove for and attachment
10 their homes and the homes OF their
forbears.
A New Mexican Trait.
Where else in the cnited States
will you read death notices such as
can almost daily be read In New Mex
leo papers OF persons seventy and
eighty years OF age who have recently
died and who have all their lives made
their homes in the one town or VII
lage In which they and their fore
fathers were born. To my mind II
speaks volumes for the love Of home
and the permanency OF New MexicoS
native population. II Il 4 trait that
We who love TO call ourselves Ameri.
cans are strangely losing. With opr
restless discomfort of SURROUNDINGS.
our longing to see what's just over
the range" our crazy unsatisfied am.
billions to tear down the old and bmild
anew. no matter how haIlowed the
surroundings. II Is In a way a pleasure
to know and mingle with people and
men who are content with their faith.