Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-01-26
PRESENT COUNTIES
ARE SUFFICIENT
In Pecos Valley
New Ones Not
Desired
PROTEST FROM LAKE ARTHUR
Grave Reasons Why Lines
Should Remain as at
Present.

Lake Arthur residents are said to
| dlsapproye Of either of the two proDo-
sltions to create new county in the
| Pecos Valley out Of parts of Chayes
and Eddy Counties. They are report
ed to be perfectly satisfied with ex-
isting conditions so far as the coun.
ties are concerned. II the Legislature
Is determined to cut up the two par
ent counties so as to make third,
however, they propose making an eff
fort, to have their town selected as
the new county seat.
When Lake Arthur was laid out a
little over two years ago the promot-
erS with an eye to The future set aside
one whole square block as the site of
courthouse. The townspeople are
not particularly anxious as already
mentioned in having any new county
created in the valley but if there is
they will put in their claims for the
county seat together with Artesia and
Hagerman. Lake Arthur is ten miles
north of Artesia and nine miles south
of lEagerman
Postmaster Boyd interviewed.
Postmaster j. j. Boyd of Lake Ar.
thur is in the Capital for few DAYS
mingling with the Legislators, He
does not make any secret of the OBJ
1ect of his visit here. He does nor
beat around the bush but candidly de-
clares himself as being strenuously
opposed to both Of the plans as now
projected. In the course of an inter
view last evening he stated to a re-
porter of the New Mexican that he
voiced the sentiment of fully nine
tenths Of the people interested in say.
ing that the propositions were unpop-
ular.
Petitions are being circulated pro-
testing against the creation of a new
county in the Pecos Valley at the
present time and these will be sub
mitted for the consideration Of the
Legislative Assembly" he said
These new county propositions which
have sprung up down there are being
supported by only the citizens of the
towns that would be directly benefit
ed. The country Is newly settled and
as a rule the people are not in a posi-
ton to have another county formed
just yet.
Reasons Why Propositions Are op.
posed.
This Artesa County proposition
would be the financial ruin of Eddy
County for the simple reason that it
would take the entire artesian belt out
Of Eddy County. The Hagerman
County plan is to take one tier of
townships from Eddy County and four
tiers Of townships out of Chaves
County and practically leave Chaves
County only the city Of Roswell for
my people authorized me to say
hat if the Legislature is bent upon
making new county in the Pecos
Valley they believe it should take in
equal proportions of both Chaves and
Eddy Counties and have the county
seat located at Lake Arthur. Lake
Arthur would be in the center of this
lew county and we already have site
or court house.
Lake Arthur Still an Infant.
"Our town is little over two years
I'D and has a population at present
If 500. When the townste was plat
ed the promoters saw fit to set aside
| school block, on which an $4,000
brick school house has been built and
/ college block on which we hope to
lave erected this year college build
ng costing about $4,000. We have
'ark a block square in the center of
he town set out with trees and
arge court house block.
Lake Arthur is in the center of
jhe widest part of the artesian belt
which extends FIVE miles east and
hirteen miles west of the town. The
country around there is settling very
asst with prosperous farmers from the
North and East. The inexhaustible
low of artesian water insures plenty
or irrigation purposes and good crops
# all kinds of farm produce adaptible
o the soil are being produced.
Roswell Banker Heard From.
Roswell business men are taking
n interest in the county division
ght received letter today from
! A. Cahoon, cashier of the First Ma
onal Bank Of Roswell in which he
tated that he was opposed to the Gre
ting of new county; and he wanted
is friends in the Capital to know it,"
Mr.. Boyd has been in the city for
everal days and is anxious to return
his home as soon as possible to at
end to pressing personal business
le has talked with a number of men,
ers of both branches of the Legisla.
Ire and is about convinced that there
III be no new county created at the
resent session in the Pecos Valley.