Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1907-02-11

LAS VEGAS
THE MEADOW CITY


lee In . pretty and fertile valley
at the western edge of q wiAe Mat
eau or tabieland. stFrlcGing n.any
miles eastward and as the foot os the
main range % the Rocky mountains.
occupying II commanding site in q
commercial as well d ciimatieal re-
spect. It's history commences defin-
itely with the year isas. when a col
ony was established there by the
Republic Of Mexico. A grant Of
land comprising nearly sos. 900 acres
in extent was given 10 the cummuni-
~ Of Las Vegas for Homestead and
agricultural purposes. and through
colonization the population gradual"
~ increased and the town or com
munlty was permanently established
Las Vegas Of today. which Is a mod
ern city. Is 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 vide and well graded.
while cemen, sidewalks line most Of
them, az do growing trees. Three
parks, with lawns and trees. add 70
the beauty OF the place, Al 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 sanitar-
ium. The air Is pure, dry, rarefied
and highly electrified. a certain cure
for consumption. " 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 as that OF central Tennessee,
while the altitude Is nearly $500
feet. This combination gives q 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 ever more. On the other hand. In
the summer the heat Is never op
pressive in the shade and no night Is
too warm for comfortable sleep I'M
der one or two blankets. This. with
the dryness of the air. caused by the
slight precipitation Of moisture, the
~resinous aroma coming from the
~pine-cladd mountains. the large
amount of electricity in the air, an
the ozone resulting from the altitude
as well as its location. land-locked by
mountains and mesas. combine t.
produce an atmosphere which il {
balm to the respiratory organs affec
ted with disease.
In the way of health and pleasure
resorts. the town does well. 1t has
racing park and an annual fair ant
race meets. In a radius OF 20 miles
in romantic mountain glens, are 10
Gated many picturesque health re
sorts. Among them are Las Vega
Hot Springs, Harvey's Resort, San
doval's Mineral Hill Romero Ranch
Blake's, Sparks, Sapello and Rociada
There one can enjoy all outdoo
sports, such as trout fishing, hunt
Ing. etc. The lover OF nature ha
here the opportunity of 'iewir
SOME of the grandest mountain seer
cry in all the Rocky mountain n
gion, the scenic highway at presen
being under construction across tn
Pecos forest reserve to Santa Fe.
Las Vegas affords satisfactory et
ucational advantages, having hv
public schools, one being a han'
some stone structure costing $25
600. and the Territorial Norm;
school. which has an advance
course of study. These schools en-
ploy upwards OF twenty-one teacher
with an enrolment Of 1900 childre
and students. Among other schoo
are the Academy of the Immacula'
Conception, conducted by the Sister
of Loretto: the Christian BrotheI
have a flourishing institution calls
the La Sale In%stitute: a Presbyte
ian mission, a Methodist trainin
manual and commercial school
connection with the Normal Unive
sity. as we'll as several music schoo'
The city has a Carnegie library.
Las Vegas is the headquarters
the New Mexico division of the Sa
ia Fe railway system and has ra
road machine shops, railroad Office
t;a.proaeryinp works and Stockyart