Las Vegas optic., 1912-07-25
The MOUNTAINAIR
CHAUTAUQUA is
POPULAR
LARGE NuMBERs OF PEOPLE
ARE ATTENDING THE LEG
TuREs AND CLASSES

Mountainair, N. NJ, July 25.-Situa-
ted on the divide" in the mountain
range of the Manzano mountains that
separates the Rio Grande from the
Estancia valley is the beautiful little
city of Mountainair. commonly called
the Queen City OF the Ozone Belt"
This little city is just now enjoying
the reputation of being the metropolis
Of the wheat belt" Of New Mexico, as
may be evidenced by big wheat crop
inst being harvested. The yield will
be about 20 bushels per acre. Other
crops are about as promising and
abundant. The citizens Of the town,
as wen as the surrounding communi-
ty are intelligent, progressive and In
dustrious. Their enterprise and hos
pitality are recognized in the many
public institutions they are promot-
ing. It is the local seat of learning
and is fostering the only Chautauqua
in the state, entertaining the teachers
institute, which has large and grow
ing attendance and the Sunday school
and Christian endeavor societies Of
the state. On the whole, too much
can scarcely be said in praise Of the
public spiritedness and hospitality OF
the people of this little city.
The preliminary exercises of the
Chautauqua began Saturday night.
July 20, with small attendance, but
Increased next day in numbers and
enthusiasm, and closed Wednesday
night. The teachers institute open
ed it's annual term Monday morning
at $3.50 a. M, with an attendance of
about so members present Profes-
sor T. w. Conway and Miss Leona
Logue are in charge as principal and
conductor, and Professor Burt of Tor
rance as local manager. This insti-
tute will be in session about ten
days. They have an interesting and
instructive program.
The local management are making
every effort to make this session of
the assembly as pleasant and profit
able as possible to all. To this end
arrangements have been made for
trips to the following places of chief
interest to visitors: Historic ruins,
Gran Quevira, 24miles; Abo. IL miles;
cearai. z IeilS-s fatigue, 20 miles;
miles; Pueblo Blanco, % !
Mezuma, % miles, and Man
rings with its orchard of un-
sn age, which is still bearing as
fine and delicious fruits as any young |
orchard in the country. These trees
are known to have borne fruit for a
period of 200 years and still bearing. |
Mountainair is almost in the center
of these marvellous scenes, and it is
the desire of the management to Sc
cure large attendance to this as
sembly to give tourists and visitors
an opportunity to enjoy trip to
these historic places, that they may
better appreciate the archaeological
feature of the Chautauqua. Next Sat.
urday will be Archaeological day here
and large crowd will be expected,
as low rates will be allowed on all
roads.
One of the most interesting feat
ures Of this place and community
will be the study of the ancient ruins
found in these deserted towns of
centuries ago. Buildings intended as
structures Of defense, built of adobe.
with portfolios in the sides and
strong walls, which suficed at that
time, before modern warfare was
known. Mountainair enjoys the dis
tinction of being in the center of this
group Of interesting ruins and any
one visiting at this time will receive
interesting information on these sub
jects for smaller cost than in any
other way.