The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1910-01-01

Deriving its name from long de-
parted race whose castles, though in a
sad state of decay, still stand within
few hundred yards of its city limits,
it will ever remain as monument to
that race. Who were they, this de-
parted race? History can tell but lit
tie of them Discovered at the time
Cortez and his followers made their
first trip of exploration from Mexico,
they soon vanished from the face of
the earth. Historians seem to think
that they were destroyed by a
stronger race while the old Indian
legend, handed down from generation
to generation, says that they were
visited by a plague, that those in the
huts at the time of this plague shut
up all entrances to these old castles
and were there destroyed, while those
who were on the outside were advised
by their Gods to jump into the river
and were then turned into fishes.
However as that may be, the Indians
of this day and generation will not
eat a fish out of the Las Animas river,
Las Animas meaning in the Indian
language, "The River of Lost Souls"
Aztec and San Juan County have
therefore been upon the map of this
wonderful nation since its first dis
covery. What tongue can tell Of its
past glories, what pen has the power
to write of those things and times and
events of which we know so little?
Echo answers none.
So much for the early history OF
Aztec.
Some fifty years ago some intreped
explorers wandered into this beauti-
lui Vallty eApiorine lJ'fOr gold "&ch
was supposed to be here in vast guam
titles. After a thorough search Of
the hills and glades they were disap-
pointed and began to examine some
of the beauties of nature. Every
where were growing flowers, trees and
beautiful plants. The hills were COW
cred with an abundance of long, sweet
grasses, which the horses of these eX-
plorers devoured with avidity, and up
en- which they waXed fat and strong,
The climate was delightful and to
them it seemed as a miniature para
disc, as it is now. Claims and home
steads were staked and these eXplor-
els settled down to the more pleasant
life of a ranchman. Their crops grew
thick and fast, they wrote to their
friends of the beautiful place they had
discovered and soon many more set
tiers were upon their way to the New
Eden" as it was then called. San
Juan county had been discovered and
was coming into its own.
The beautiful valley of the San
Juan River seemed to them to be the
logical location for town, and the
town of Junction City was laid out
and soon these hardy pioneers had
erected school houses, merchants had
opened stores, a newspaper was start,
ed and the resources of this place
we're soon being exploited to the out,
side world. OF course, many years
had elapsed before these many inn
provements were started, the wonder
full growing qualities Of the soil had
been in a measure tested, the climate
had been found to remain delightful
the year round, upon the hills their
cattle had been found able to remain
the year round without shelter and to
be in a first-class condition after the
winter season had passed. What more
could they desire?
Settler after settler arriving, the en-
tire valley was explored in a practical
manner by these new arrivals, new 10
cations we're decided upon. The
great Las Animas valley appealed tc
many and soon the town of Aztec had
been started. On account of its loca
ton, many of the old settlers soon re
moved there, some of those merchants
also removed to it, as did the Sar
Juan County Index, which was ther
under another name, but which is the
pioneer paper of the great San Juar
county. The new town seemed tc
prosper from the start and soon quite
a settlement had surrounded it, man!
of these old-timers still remaining.
Situated as it is upon the eastern
slope of the beautiful valley, 1t wal
and is an excellent location. On th'