Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1907-02-14

LAS VEGAS
THE MEADOW CITY



ants. situated on bHA sides q the
Gallanas river and Is the county
sea u San Magael county. IL
Lee In a pretty and fertile valley
Al the western edge Il a vide uiat.
eau o. tabie-land. stretching many
miles eastward aEd M the foot Of the
main range Ut the Rocky mountains.
occupying "A commanding site In a
commercial as Well as elimaiical re.
specL. Its history commences defln.
itely With the ysar 1886. when . col
nny vas established there by the
Republic Of Mexico, A grant Of
land comprising nearly 500. QUO acres
In extent was given 10 the c0mmunl.
~ Of Las Vegas fur homestead and
agricultural purposes. and through
colonization the population gradual.
ly increased and the town or COM
munity was permanently established,
Las Vegas Of today. which In a mod.
ern city. IL composed. strictly speak.
ing. Of the Incorporated city Of Las
Vegas and the town. also incOrpora.
ted. lying west VI the river. The
streets are wide aud well graded.
while cement sidewalks line most OF
them. as do growing trees. Three
parks. with lawns and trees. add to
the beauty OF the place. a do hand.
some and well filled stores. elegant
residences with attractive environ.
ments and nice lawns.
A tent city has been established at
and adjoining ST. Anthony's sanltar-
ium. The air Is pure. dry. rarefied
and highly electrified. q certain cure
for consumption. II the cure be taken
in time. The mineral waters OF the
hot springs nearby are a specific for
liver. skin. rheumatic and blood dis
orders.
The water supply Is good and Is
taken from the Gallinas river In the
canon. about seven miles above the
town. The latitude is about the
same az that OF central Tennessee.
while the altitude Is nearly G,500
feet. This combination gives a pecu.
liar and beneficial result. In the
winter the thermometer seldom falls
below so degrees In the sun, while
IL often runs up to 95 degrees
or ven more. On the other hand. In
the summer the heat Is never op.
pressive In the shade and no night 10
too warm for comfortable sleep un.
der one or two blankets. This, with
the dryness of the air. caused by the
slight precipitation of moisture, the
r~esinous aroma coming from the
p~ine-cladd mountains, the large
amount Of electricity In the air. AMI
the resulting from the altitude,
as we'll as its location. land-locked by
mountains and mesas, combine to
produce an atmosphere which is a
balm to the respiratory organs affec
ted with disease.
In the way OF health and pleasure
resorts, the town does well. 1t has a
racing park and an annual fair and
race meets. In a radius of 90 miles.
in romantic mountain glens, are To-
Gated many picturesque health re,
sorts. Among them are Las Vegas
Hot Springs, Harvey's Resort, San
dovars Mineral Hill Romero Ranch.
Blake's. Sparks, Sapello and Rociada.
There one can enjoy all outdoor
sports. such as trout fishing. hunt
ing, etc. The lover of nature has
here the opportunity Of Viewing
some of the grandest mountain seen
cry in all the Rocky modntain re-
gion, the scenic highway" at present
being under construction across the
Pecos forest reserve to Santa Fe.
Las Vegas affords satisfactory cd
ucationai advantages, having five
public schools. one being a hand
some stone structure costing s25,
600, and the Territorial Normal
school, which has an advanced
course of study. These schools en-.
ploy upwards Of twenty-one teachers.
with an enrolment of 1900 children
and students. Among other schools
are the Academy Of the Immaculate
Conception. conducted by the Sisters
of Loretto; the Christian Brothers
have a flourishing institution called
the La Sale Institute; a Presbyter-
ian mission. a Methodist training,
manual and commercial school In
connection with the Normal Univer-
sity, as we'll as several music schools.
The city has a Carnegie library.
Las Vegas Is the headquarters Of
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