davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14
What HAS Been Done Since
the Development Era Opened

The Mesllla valley has been dc
V%eloping steadily for the Inst four or
five years. but II is not until within
the past eighteen months. since the
government irrigation works have
been assured that the fun swing OF
veldpment has started. within that
time marvellous things have been ac-
cOmplished and no whore is the rams
formation more apparent than in Las
Cruces. II used 20 be possible 10 GO
to sleep in q shady spot ON the Side
walk of the main street of Las cruces
and never be disturbed. A man who
can go To sleep anywhere on that
main street now. inside or out. during
business hours. is possessed OF cast
iron nerves. for Las Cruces Is actually
noisy. It rs bustling. Things are do
ing All the time. The stores are busy
their show windows are clean ana
decorated with the care thet always
indicates business. The people no
longer nmble ~leisurely from one store
front 10 another They hurry. Tint
surest sign Of prosperity, the real cs-
tate office. rs everywhere Ia evidence.
The best locations I'm town are occu-
pied by real estate firms. They 0c-
cupy elegantly Furnished offices and
they are not engaged in hiding their
lights under "a bushel.
Their signs strike n as soon as
he turns the corner and The real estate
men themselves strike him before he
has progressed very far
There was % time. as some OF us
who are not exactly pioneers can re-
member. when an inquiry about Las
Cruces brought the spt reply. "A
quaint old town
Ask e Las Cruces man about his
own town now aud see what hc does
to YOU; First thing he does VIII be
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14

the valley. heretofore under irrigation
will have a steady and dependable
supply which nothing can disturb;
SO while the Elephant Butte reservoir
Is being constructed. the development
OF the valley can proceed not only
without interruption but with the sti-
mulus OF what IL has never had be
fore-a water supply which can al
ways be counted on. The L%easburg
diversion dam as it is called, cost
$500, 600 To- build It's value to he
valley, however, II beyond estimate;
for in the fourtor five years while the
greater project Is under way, this dam
will supply the water by which that
considerable portion of the valley al
ready under irrigation. a be brought
to its highest stage OF Development;
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14
Of the Elephant Butte Storage Reser-
voir---the Worlds Greatest Irrigation
Project; Rush Of Homeseekers to the
Garden Spot Of the Great Southwest

ground. and once there they stayed,
while more came and more are COM
ing. rich and poor. all of them md
ing the opportunity for which they
have been seeking. IT It is hard for
the old resident and the veteran New
Mexican to realize what Is going on
at home. it is an easy matter for the
newcomer to see il and the newcomer
isn't holding back.
While il is probable that the peo-
pie of Las Cruces and the lower val
ley do not yet realize the full breadth
of the development To which the pre-
sent activity is going to carry them,
the have a pretty fair Idea that
something is doing i'm the develop
ment line and they are taking hold
with an energy and a push n enter
prise which gives final proof hat all
the people of New Mexico need Is a
chance. The man who had any DOUBT
of the energy and enterprise which
has taken hold of once sleepy Las
Cruces should have attended the meet
ing there on Wednesday when the
businessmen Of Las Cruces and the
farmers of the valley put their Shout
ders to the big wheel which Is 10 car
~ the irrigation congress to success.
IL Was not necessary To ask these peo-
pie for assistance. They were there
waiting to offer 1t. realizing fully
what the congress meant to them
and their interests and eager to get
into the work with their brains and
their money for the good OF their val
ley and the territory.
II would be a mighty good thing
for New Mexico II every town and
every district in the territory could
send a delegation of its citizens TO visit
Las Cruces and the Mesilla valley
right now. II is stimulating II shows
Just what can be done In New Mex
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14

Columns and columns have been
written about the Elephant Butte stor-
age reservoir and its effect In the de-
velopment of the southern Rio Grande
valley in New Mexico, known as the
Mesilla Valley. since the govern re-
elamation service definitely announc-
ed its determination TO build that
great irrigation project. Other col
umns, quite equal in number, have
been written concerning the imme-
diate effect upon the Mesilla valley
of the completion of the diversion dam
at Selden: and yet other columns and
columns have been written dealing
with the development Of the Mesilla
valley under the stimulus of capital
and modern farming methods.
Practically everything that has been
written and said in connection with
the development and the future of
this valley is literally true for Il is
almost impossible to overdo IL,
yet 1t is doubtful IL one man in "a thou
sand in New Mexico has any adequate
conception of just what the future
holds for me Mesilla valley or Of
there. II H.. indeed. extremely doubt
ful II the people who have made their
homes in the Valley for many years
and who live there now, realize Just
what has been done and what is GER
tain to be done in this marvellously
fertile region which alone Is capable
of supporting a population great
enough to entitle New Mexico to ad-
mission to the union.
But II the people in the valley do
not realize what they have at hand
they are going to realize IL very quick
~. for the Mesllla valley Is just now
experiencing an awakening; lis peo-
pie are being stimulated to an activity
which is going to carry the valley to
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14

so. As "a rule. the literature of a
randy developing community is over
drawn. a. little lurid and often hyster-
fcaf in its enthusiastic booming The
pamphlets one receives in Las cruces
are simple. well written statements
of facts which one can prove 10y walk
ing halt "a mile Ia amy direction They
are beautifully illustrated. but n can
find the original of the illustration
by q little drive into the valley. The
boom IN Las Cruces n the Mesilla
valley Is not "a boom In the accepted
sense. 1T is "a natural and inevitable
working out OF conditions, conditions
which nothing short of d volcanic
eruption could have prevented from
producing prosperity. The land, OF all
most unbelievable richness and pro-
ductivity. the water, ample and GER
tain. the sunshine, the fresh air, the
scenery. all are there now Ia the right
proportion. II Is "A combination hat
cannot be blocked.
1t is to be expected that Las Cruces
should be first to feel the advancing
prosperity Of the valley. and Las Cruz
ces feels II aud reflects II. The old
main business street, familiar TO every
pioneer in New Mexico, II lined now
with attractive business blocks and
clean well kept store fronts. II is
still a very dusty street and the side
walks aren't on grade as yet; but one
cannot expect every thing over night.
and Las Cruces has just been incor-
porated az a village for n little time.
That, by the way, Is something TO
think about: Las Cruces, with a popu-
latlon for years larger than almost
every town in the territory az time Of
Incorporation. has lust blossomed out
with a f~ull-fledged village govern
ment. But now that the thing has
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14

are two banks both Of them busy and
prosperous and entirely u-nconcerned
az 10 whether the effete east Is strug-
CLING with clearing house certificates.
A need was expressed a few days Tor
a steam laundry and one learns that
the necessary capital was subscribed
within two or three hours. There Is
"a modern electric light plant and the
coming summer viii see an ice and cold
storage plant In operation. And there
are new homes. This Is n of he
most convincing signs Of the times.
In town and out OF town, cottages un-
der construction. building sites laid
out. 1t does not take a population
chart to convince one that Las Cruces
ana the valley are growing.
Just as an indication, the Town H.
soon 10 have It's first addition with a
building restriction. An enterprising
real estate firm has bought a tract.
until recently profitable only for al
falfa. which has been cut up into lots.
Continued on Next Page.D
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14
Some OF the New Things
in Old Las Cruces

The man who would refer to Las
Cruces these DAYS as a quaint old
town" would probably get severely re-
~prlmhndcd. Las Cruces has one OF the
finest court houses Ga New Mexico.
The county has Just finished q hand
some modern jail I'm the rear Of the
larger building Las Cruces has n
new public school building, one OF the
MOST attractive in the territory. There
aro two good hogeis ana a man with
money is on the ground with The an
nouncoment that he is ready to build
"a third. al q cost % S3S,000. There
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14

means $50, 200, 600. 600 gallons of VA
teri think of the bare fact that to
haul the cement alone which will go
into this dam will require a freight
train Of standard box cars thirty miles
long. And when you ave thought
about these things. go and look at
one of the irrigated farms near Las
Cruces: then loo at the thousands of
acres of bare land lying along side.
inst waiting for the completion
OF this dam to be transformed
into irrigated farms. when you have
done this you begin to get an idea
of what the future holds for this val
ley. After one has come to realize
the bigness of the Elephant Butte pro-
ject and after one has seen what is
inevitably to be accomplished through
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14

TO hand yuu 60 bundle OF literature
and a map of the valley then he'll X
plain ID all To YOU and if YOU Will let
him, he win take YOU out 10 see 1t
all. Las Cruces hats a chamber Of come
merce that Is much more tina name,
as It's literature testifies. 10 IS a live
organization ana the real estate firms
are live and progressive and they am
have literature for distribution. am
other surest sign" shat the works
have started, For the most part II IS
conservative literature. surprisingly
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14

started. the people are talking about
Incorporating AS a city and it Is a safe
prediction that his step will follow In
a very little while. And so. while the
main street Is still dusty IL viii not
he SO long. the sidewalks ASill come 20
grade and this historic old street Will
become one at the show places of New
Mexico. % has an the settings. II
has the Organ mountains for ~ back
ground and one end Is closed by the
beautiful now Spanish mission build
ings of Lorettn academy, az institu-
ton which Is fairly shining with the
new prosperity.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14
What the Elephant Butte
Storage Reservoir Means

So much for the spirit now %
ing in the development ~ the Lower
Rio Grande. 10 g. worth while 70 con-
slider the things which have set that
spirit to work First. OF course, - the
Elephant Butte storage reservoir II
III dif0cult 90 keen away from writ
ing and talking about this great pro-
ieet. There IS a poetic fitness about
H. construction in this fertile valley
where irrigation systems existed ne
fore Columbus opened up this section
Of the universe. there b. a bignes-
about 90 which sfaggers while h fascin-
afes Think OF the greatest irrigation
project in the worldsright here in New
Mexico. i~rrigatiug 10000 acres OF
land. costing seVen and a halt million
dollars fu build. with a storage ca
nacity Of two million acre feet (which
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14
Some Alfalfa Scenes; Fields Like This Line the
Roadsides in the Mesilla Valley

leo when the American spirit and en-
terprise and brains get 90 work ana
o. would be worth dollars lh reauy
money to any section oi q teIIltoIs
II, y, down there and catch the spirit
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14
The Great Awakening Of the Mesilla Valley

I'M Lower Rio Grande, After Years Of Disheartening Struggle
II Against Adverse Conditions, Has Now Come Into Its Own;
Las Cruces No Longer QUAINT Old Town" Of Early Days
But a HustGng, Prosperous City, With an Eye to the Main
Chance; Dozens of Important Development Projects Follow on
Heels Of the Leasburg Diversion Dam, Backed by the Promise
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-14

continued on Next Page.)
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-04
HOUSE A "HOODOO"
TRAGIC HISTORY OF OLD WASH
lNGTON STRUCTURE.
Remarkable Series Of Disasters Fot-
lowed Residents Of Building That
Once Occupied the Site of !!
the Russian Embassy.

In addition to it's architectural beau
ty and the brilliant life for which it
furnishes a setting, the Russian en-
bassy, in I street, facing Farragut
square, is one of the historically inter
esting dwellings in Washington. Until
the present owner of the mansion
leased it to the Russian government a
curious superstition prevailed that
since the early days of the civil war
the property has suffered from a hoo
doo"
When New York city was young and
Gen. Tracy failed to capture the may
orally of the city as then constituted
there were persons in Washington
ready with the Il told you SO" Of de-
feat, who boldly asserted that the po-
litical i'll luck was part of the misfor-
tune which overlook the general when
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-04
BUTTERFLY LUNCHEON GOOD.
Decorations Easy to Make, and A.
ways Effective.

The butterfly is symbolic of the
resurrection, and the hostess seeking
something new can have butterfly
luncheon. Butterflies are easily made
from paper decorated with water col
ors, gold and silver paint, or from
crepe papers and tinsel cords. Sus-
pend a number Of these fairy-like cre-
ations by very fine thread from the
chandelier over the dining room table
and the effect is wonderfully pretty.
Candle shades and place cards may
be in the same shape, the latter poised
upon wire. For the centerpiece use
spring flowers, there is new pointed
flower holder which is most adaptable
for low centerpieces and short-stem-
med flowers. If this contrivance can
not be found I will send name and ad-
dress by mail if stamped envelope is
sent, for it is the most practical thing
have seen for low or high decora-
tions; really boon to hostesses.
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-04
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bcwles-

(Mrs. Charles D. sigsbee, wife of Ad-
miral sigsbee of the United States navy,
is the daughter of the late Gen. Lock
wood. She has been much at sea and
her kindly interest in the sailors has
given her close insight into their lives,
as the following article discloses.)
Comparing the modern sailor with
those who enlisted on board our men
of-war so or 60 years ago we see that
Jack nowadays fares far better than
in those good old times
In the early days of the nineteenth
century and until about 1S45 fogging
was administered for even minor Of
fenses. The "cat," scourge with
nine tails, used on the bare back, was
one of the instruments Of torture. All
the ships company were required to
witness this degradation of their com
rades The "colt,'' or ropes end, was
frequently kept coiled in the caps OF
the boatswain's mates ready to be
used at moments notice on the luck.
less offender.
Now what a change! Confinement
in the brig" on bread and water for a
stated time or deprivation of liberty
on shore is the punishment for small
offenses, while for the greater a sum.
mary or general court-martial is held
according to the gravity Of the wrong
doing.
. In former times the ships library
consisted of few old-fashioned books
too dry mostly for Jacks taste-es
says, lectures, sermons, with a sprink
ling of poems and lives of notable peo
pie. These were kept in cask OF
barrel commonly, which was capsized
whenever volume was to be selected
Now Jack has a good library, com
prising tales. of travel and adventure
the newest novels, as well as the
standard works, histories, poems-i1
fact, the kind of books that he woul6
care to read.
On the batt1esh1ps in summer the
men are called at four o'clock Or 4:30
according to the executive officers or
der book. First the buglers soun6
the reveille. The boatswain's mate:
pipe in unison a shrill call and the1
roar: -
"A-a-a-ll hands! Up! All ham
mocks! Turn out! Lash and carry!
Shake leg! Bear a hand!" =. r.
This in slentorianss tones. The
sleepy occupants: of the hammocks
turn out rubbing b their eyes .ant
stretching themselves. The 5sluggards
receive push und derneath the ham
mock from the master caus
ing the sleepiest to turn. out quickly
Half lothed alread dy-not sleeping ii
pajamas their remaining garments
which are tucked away in their ham
mocks, are soon put on. s=... z=s=s i
They proceed to II ash n their ham
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-04
An April First Party.


The invitations may be cut out in
shape of FOOLS cap, decorated with
sketches of court jester ReqGest
each guest to relate the most fool"
thing he ever did or heard Of When
the guests arrive have the house all
dark, curtains drawn and very little
light visible. When the door is open
ed instruct the maid to say mot at
home.' This is only for a moment,
when she changes her mind and asks
the astonished persons in. If any one
asks for drink of water bring in
lemonade instead
Offer a prize for the best "foor
story. When the prize is awarded the
package or box will be found empty,
the real article to appear later done
up in napkin at the table. The per-
son who declines to tell any story or
the worst one receives the prize at
once. When partners are to be chosen
for supper take ribbons three-quarters
of yard in length and shut them be.
tween folding doors, the men on one
side, ladies on the other. Each per
son takes an end of ribbon, the doors
are opened and the ones holding ends
of the same piece are partners.
The menu served is bouillon, devil
ed crabs, baked potatoes, asparagus,
tomato salad, ice cream, coffee and
cake. The *bouillon" is to be cream
of celery soup in old-fashioned soup
plates. Baked potatoes" will be a
mixture of carrots and peas in baked
potato shells, sprinkled over; with
grated cheese and Drowned in the
oven; they are delicious "Tomato''
salad is a fruit salad in cucumber
salad-just as much of a surprise or
fool as can be made is the scheme
throughout. The ice-cream is custard
frozen in cone shape. to resemble a
fools" cap. The "cake" is to be
| mincemeat baked in puff paste cases
| Needless to say that they will please
| the palate of the masculine members
| Of the party. Pass a cereal coffee
chocolate cigars, cigarettes and pipes
Tiny wands wound with ribbon
tipped with small bells make suitable
souvenirs, and fools" caps will serve
| for place cards.,
For a centerpiece have a court jes
| ter, his arms full of spring flowers
From overhead suspend a number o1
! little bells on the ends of gayly col
ored ribbons. At such an affair al
ought to go as merrily as the proverb
ial marriage bell-for surely "a little
nonsense now and then is relished by
| the best of men,
MADAME MERRT
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-04
Easter in Washinuton.

In Washington, D. c., children look
forward with keen interest to the an
nual egg rolling 'or Easter Monday,
which always takes place on the
White House grounds.
The sport is participated in by all
the children of the town, there being
no dividing line for rich or poor, black
or white. The little aristocrat from
Dupont circle touches elbows with
newsboy and street gamin; all are
alike the guests of the president. The
Marine band plays in the afternoon,
and from the opening to the closing of
the gates the grounds are one mass
Of happy tumbling, scrambling# young
sters, armed with egg~laden baskets.
The earth soon has the appearanc of
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-04
enuth of Skirts

The walking skirt must escape the
pavement, and if it does so by several
inches it is that much smarter, ones
age and figure permitting. The time
has gone by, however, when the slen-
der figure, best suited by the very
short skirt, is possessed by the young
only, and vice versa. Indeed, looking
about in society, one finds almost as
many very plump young girls as stout
middle-aged women, while the older
women sometimes possess not only
the slenderness but the thinness that
so often characterizes the immature
and undeveloped feminine figure.
The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-04
Front of Russian Embassy.

as member Of Benjamin ~Harriiso1's :
cabinet he decided to live in the house
which then occupied the site of the
Russian embassy.
All went well for while and the,
haunt" was orgotten-thought to be
"laid," no doubt, by the gayety and
cheer that characterized the secre-
tary's home. And then one morning
Washington was Mortified by trag
edy that annexed to the history of the
premises a chapter of disaster that
was written in letters of fame. This
was no other than the terrible con-
dagration in which Mrs. Tracy, Miss
Tracy and one maid perisheG. The
house and its victims were sacrificed a
little before seven o'clock one morn
ing in the early spring.
Preceding the civil war fashionable
Farragut square was mud hole. At
that time the northwestern section of
the city was regarded as question
able neighborhood. In the uncared for
and gloomy expanse one wretched
hovel tottered in the mire, and here
the spirits of darkness were said to
be invoked by "charmer''-a negress
of forbidding aspect. Following the
improved condition of the neighbor-
hood at the close of the war the shanty
was replaced by more respectable
looking frame building. Its exterior
belied its true character, however.
when the mask of respectability was
removed in startling manner.
That famous piece of statuary, The
Greek Slave" by Powers, had been
brought to this country during the un-
certain times of war. Of sudden its
whereabouts became a mystery, but it
was thought to be somewhere in or
near Washington. The search for the
missing art treasure was diligently
| pursued until public interest in the
| subject was ec1ipsed by a sensational
| report that beautiful captive-either
| octoroon, slave or creole-was confined
in the redoubtable frame dwelling.
Rumor asserted that this exquisite
creature was without clothing and that
| her wondrous beauty was responsible
for her being kept a prisoner. =
Just as. Washington was scanda1ized
to the point of probing the mystery
the late W. w. Corcoran, of Washing
| ton, founder of the Corcoran Gallery Of
Art, who had continued his search for
the Powers statue with unabated per
sistency, traced it to the neighborhood
of muddy Farragut< square.
| The house of ill omen was not
place in which anything of value was
likely to be hidden, but, performing :
| brilliant coup, MT. 1Corcoran, in com
pany with a single member of the Do
lice force, affected an entrance one
night and found the Greek Slave in
marble. and the reported beauty in tho
flesh to be one and the same piece OF
| perfection..- l~..s.S W. - T.
The statue, as well as its owner.
had fallen a victim to the: inmates Of
the haunted house, and had not MI.
Corcoran's suspicious been aroused
the renowned piece of sculpture might
not figure today as one Of the lead.
!! ling attractions in Washington's e,
NOUS gallery Of art. .:Z==.s =s