El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-27
BLENDING Of THE OLD AND
NEW IN WILLARD SECTION
About the Ruins of La Gran Quivira Dry Farmer Has
Come Into His Own Upon the Rich Soils of That
Section Some History About These Ancient
Ruins, Just Dedicated as National Park
by the President.

Willard, N NJ. Jan. Ella Gran
Quivira, one of the famous Seven Cities
Of Cibela," has been declared a national
monument by president Taft. The citi-
zens of Willard, the closest important
town to these historical ruins, have
worked, in conjunction with archaeoIogi-
cal societies, for severa; years with this
object in view, and are now congratulate
ing themselves on the success Of their
labors-
La Gran Quivira, destined to live in
history as one of the most romantic
spots in New Mexico, is about 20 miles
south of willard, on the Mesa de los
Humanes. Many tourists reach it from
this point. where an automobile line
has been established for their convent
ence. 1t can be reached from here by
automobile in an hours time
Indians Made the Road.
The road from Willard is the same
that was used for untold ages by the
Pueblo indians when going to and from
the pueblos of the ManZano mountains,
which lie west of this town, to those
of the Mesa de los Humanes, which rise
precipitously from the prairie five miles
south from here. This same road, which
rises gradually through a broad and
the mesa. was travelled, time and again,
by their implacable foes, the Apaches,
when raiding the Pueblo towns. This
road is destined to become an historical
landmark, as il is so closely interviewer
with the traditions of the rise and fall
of La Gran Quivira. Over 1T passed the
superbly equipped legions of Coronado,
composed of the most daring and chiVaI-
rous blood of Span.
Along tbs road is the survey of what
will be the shortest railroad line be-
tween Denver and FL Paso. 1t is cur
rently believed that work on this road
will be commenced at an early day This
road. entering this valley from the
north. will radiate from Willard, one
branch extending to Roswell. thence into
Texas The other branch viii go by
way of La Gran Quivira TO the Carl
zozo valley. thence to Ell Paso- These
surveys were made by the Denver d
Rio Grande.
Pure Water a Plenty.
Willard and the country about it, hav-
ing an abundance of the purest water,
will be the center Of this railroad &C
tivity This road was hobby or the
late Col. Frost, editor of the New Mex
lean. and he prophesied, time and again,
in the columns of his paper, that It
would be built some day, as the indus
made it imperatiyely necessary to con-
meet Denver and Ell Paso by the shortest
possible route. The completion OF this
line will bring the ruins of La Gran
Quivira within easy riding distance OF
Ell Paso.
The town of Willard is at the junction
of the Belen cutoff OF the Santa Fe and
the New Mexico Central, and many peo-
pie now visit the ruins Of La Gran
though comparatively new, is substan-
TALLY built, and has excellent hotel IA
cilities.
County Seat Fight.
There is county seat fight on at
present between Willard and Estancla,
the latter town being Il miles farther
up the valley from here. This war has
been waged for several years. and still
goes merrily on. It has been fought
with varying success before the legis-
lature at Santa Fe, and now the editors
of the two towns have locked horns on
the question. with the result that they
are beginning to give out secrets which
will surely make some of the big poll
ticians of the territory sit up and take
notice 1t is difficult to say how this
battle will terminate, but just now the
advantage seems TO be with Estancia, as
she has possession Of the county seat,
and possession is nine points in law,
according to an old law.
Beautiful Ride.
The ride to La Gran Quivira from
is an inspiring one, as there is
an ever changing view Of towering
mountain scenery on all sides. One OF
the surprising features to the FL
Pasoan, accustomed to a sight of the
barren mountains that surround the
Pass City. is the amount of timber that
covers the mountains which look down
upon La Gran Quivira Many sawmills
are now at work in the mountains, cut
ting down this timber and shipping it
to markets in all parts of the country.
Shipping points of considerable magni-
tude for this lumber have been estab-
lished at Mountainair. Willard and Es-
tancia.
The indians who blu 1t the pueblo Of
La Gran Quivira followed the custom
Of their people and placed the site on
an eminence which rises abruptly from
the floor OF the mesa. From this ele-
Tation the tourist may see the ManZano,
Sallinas and PedernaI mountains,
which are close by. Off in the distance
nay be seen the Sierra Blanca, the Ell
Captain, which towers above Roswell,
and to the north the lofty peak of Old
Badly. which stands guard over the
capital city of the territory
The Ancient Ruins.
The ruins denote that La Gran Qui-
7ira was the largest and most powerful
pueblo east of the Rio Grande in its