Albuquerque morning journal., 1907-02-14
SCENIC BEAUTY OF
LAS VEGAS LINE
UNEQUALLED
Street Railway Journal Pub
fishes Handsomely IIIustrat-
ed Write Up of Model Trolley
System of the Meadow CITY,

ed Write Up of Model Trolley
System of the Meadow City.
Especial Correspondence Morning journal. |
East Las Vegas. n. NJ. Feb Ia
The Street Railway journal, a newsy
magazine published in the interest OF
the street railways and intcrurban sys-
TENS of the United States, chntains a
splendid write-un of the electric street
car line of Las Vegas, which is one of
the best equipped in the west. The ar
ticle Is ACCOMPANIED by fine nhoto-
graphs of the scenery along the sys-
tenn, the 9'ant and scenes in Las We
gas. Part of the artic.a follows:
Las Vegas, New Mexico. although
having hardly over 900 Inhabitants.
y Of much more i'm bOrtancc than its
size would lead the stranger To sun
pose. 1t isOf industrial importance as
tho center of a district from which
great quantities of limestone, gypsum
and wool are exported, and in recent
years 1t has become great health re-
sore. The mild, dr. climate of this
part of New Mexico has brough,
thousands Of health seekers to and
nave come { Oa!d in the development
of the southwest
Clear evidence of the progressive
ness of this bustlinp town is afforded
by the success of the Las Vegas
Railway & Power company, when
Is, giving Las Vegas electric rail
way light and power service.
PREVIOUS to the organization of
this company the stree; railway was
operated b" the Las Vegas & Hot
Springs Electric railway, Light &
Power company. and the electric light
and power business by the Las Vegas
Light & Fuel Company. Upon the or
ganization of the Las Vegas Railway
ronpany the two functions were COM
bihed and now power plant was con-
structed on site well adapted both
for the railway and the electric Ugh,
and power business.
The Route.
The rlilwa., line starts Ia Las We
rae from the Santa re station. ana
Within few minutes has left town To
trgverse one Of the most pictaresuuo
routes In the country The vicinity or
Las Vegas has several greet heaIth re-
sorts. Among those reached hv the
railway are the territorial hospital for
the insane. the hospital oWand by the
employees of the Santa Fe railway and
the MonteZuma hotel. Here there aro
somo hot SPRINGS which. together witt
the hotel, have not been c~ploited Cor
the last two years. desDite the rae.
that the location is very hedlthful anf
the springs are considered to ho
among the best in the country. There
appears to be little question anon"
Las Vegans that this could be built
ub into a great health and pleasure
resort by a good hotel man. Before
reaching the Montezuma the line
passes by one of the finest race tracv
in the southwest and along Gani1., :
nafk.fa well cared for grove fuii OF
shady paths rustic seats. hidden
springs and an artif ia' ,akc. TIE
great charm of the ride, however, Is
Afforded by the more rugged beauties
Of nature. which come into view after
leaving the Monte2uma when the line
turns abruptly through thc canve
mAdg hv the Gallin9s river. Here tho
tracks follow the now rapid stream
through deep clefts and yawnng
%orecs in tho shadow OF the rocky
cliffs hundreds of feet high.
On the right, the passenger NAV
look at the broad scenic hlphw:. Y
in its tortuous course to the mountain
side. while on the left the narrow
stream Is seen to broaden now apt1
then to lakes with steep wooded
shores. In fact. the southern slopes
are SO high that in winter the lake
surfaces are not warmed by the direct
rays Of the sun, so that a thick coat
OF ice Is formed. 1t is a unique vet
frequent picture here to see skaters
dashing on the ice under the shadow
nf INa nlt r. hi 10 To-, 4.
shine on the northern banks bows are
running barefoot A view of one of
these skating parties is shown in one
of the accompanying Illustrations of
scenes along this route.
After leaving these picturesque
lakes the railway terminates at a
large ice house within slght of the
Sangre de Cristo range
Freight Business and Probable
Extensions.
In the Gallinas canyon there are
allstold nine large dams and as many
ice houses, The so-called ice harvest
takes place the later part of Decem-
Der and in January and February.
During the ice harvest the company
handles about fifty cars of ice per day.
These dams are from six to eight miles
from the city of Las Vegas, and the
average grade on the run is about 9
per cent, and in some cases, at the
upper end of the canyon from to 6
per cent. The electric locomotive on
Grated by the company usually hauls
from fifteen to twenty empty freight
cars per day During the ice harvest
the company Is compelled to have
steam locomotive from the Atchison,
Topeka e Santa Fe railroad to help
ha hn1 ~ he Id,
needed. Coming down no assistance Is
needed. the electric locomotive taking
thirty-nve to forty cars in one string.
loaded with ice. This ice is distributed
by the Santa Fe along its various ic-
ing stations, as far east as Dodge City.
Kas., and as far west as Phoenix.
Ariz.
Another interesting feature Is the
fact that there is some very valuable
farm country and timber as well as
coal lands thirty-hve to forty miles
from has Vegas. anXiously waiting to
be entered by some railroad. The in
habitants In these localities as we'll
as those of Las Vegas have been so ur.
gent in their demands for a railroad
In that country that the company has
practically made W. its mind to tap
this valuable part of New Mexico by
extending its electric line some forty
to fifty miles. New plans have not yet
been definitely decided on, but will be
very shortly. The new line will also
cover one of the finest scenic routes
In the United States.
Track and Rolling Stock.
The Las Vegas Railway and Power
company has approximately three
miles of track in the city limits and
nine miles outside. Practically all of
this track is of recent construction.
Sixty-pound Trail Is used throughout
with No 0000 copper bonds placed
between the angle har-and the rail.
The new rolling stock purchased
consists of three complete car equip