Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-03-05

]. S. LAND OFFICE IS ASSURED
I'M. c. Mechem Tells of New
Enterprises and Rapid
Progress.
| A U. S. land Office virtually assured
ut, large ice making and cold stor
age plant projected, chemical engine
hose cart and other fire fighting appar.
atus ordered, and a modern theater
soon to be built. Tucumcari is enjoy
ling healthy boom and is fast putting
on metropolitan airs. In fact it is rap.
idly developing into one Of the largest
and liveliest of the newer towns that
have sprung up in eastern New Mexi.
ico. At Its present rate Of progress 1t
is destined to become an important
railroad center and market for pro.
ducts Of the farm and ranch.
Attorney Merit c. Mechem of Tu-
cumcari who has been in the city for
several days on legal business and re.
newlng acquaintances in the Capital,
is one of the wideawake boosters of
the thriving seat of Quay county. He
located in the little town soon after
at was founded and has seen 1t grow
to Its present satisfactory proportions.
He feels sanguine it will have doubled
its population by the time of the next
federal census in 1910. In speaking of
the speedy growth Of the town and the
new enterprises coming into 1t Mr..
Mechem said:
Land Office Will Be Great Convent. :.
ence.
"Tucumcari is not exactly booming
but it is advancing very satisfactorily.
and there is every indication that it
will continue forging ahead. The mer.
chants are prosperous and are doing a
good business in spite of the lull In
commercial activity prevailing as an
aftermath Of the recent financial panic.
Homeseekers continue to take up
homestead claims in the country dis.
Itrlcts tributary to Tucumcari and
preparations are being made to place
an extensive area in the vicinity of
the town under cultivation this sea.
son.
"The proposed creation of a new
federal land district with Tucumcari
as the headquarters will prove great
convenience to the new settlers in
Quay and Guadalupe counties. Incl.
dentally it will serve to relieve the
Ioverworked clerks Of the Clayton land
Office by cutting of part of their
district. We are confident that the bill
now pending in Congress providing
for the creation Of the new land dis
Itrict and establishing the Office at Tu.
cumcari will pass without any Difficult.
Guilty as it is recommended by officials
/ of the general land Office.
Town viii Have Fire Department.
"The town council at a recent meet
ing purchased a chemical engine and
hose cart together with 5000 feet Of
hose, and will have ample fire protec.
tion now that the water company has
completed its plant. The II new fire
lighting apparatus is of the very latest
model and would be credit to town
twice the size Of Tucumcari The
chemical engine is two-cylinder af-
fair. 1t will be used for extinghishing
fires in their incipiency. With the
probable exception Of one or two paid
|firemen, the fire department will be
volunteer organization. Horses will
be procured to draw the apparatus to
fires instead Of having them pulled by
the firemen as in most volunteer fire
departments in the smaller towns.
First Class Theater Projected.
"A thirty thousand dollar theater
will soon be erected at Tucumcari and
It's people will be able to witness the
same class of shows that play at Ell
Paso. The stock for the new opera
house has all been subscribed, the
plans and specifications prepared and
|all is ready for letting the contract.
The building will be Of pressed brick
and will be Of handsome appearance-in-
side and out as we'll as being commo-
|dious and convenient. 1t will be known
las the T. w. Heman opera house, nam
ed after the late Colonel Heman.
"The Tucumcari Ice and Fuel com.
pany has just organized with capt..
|al Of $4,000. Most Of the stockholders
are residents, Of Oklahoma. J. W. Corn
will have the management of the new
plant. The building is now being erect.
ed and the machinery has been order
|ed The plant will have a capacity Of
thirty tons Of artificial Ice daily which
will be sufficient to supply the needs
Of the town. A small Ice plant with a
capacity of five tons daily is now in
Operation.
Business Mems League Organized.