Albuquerque morning journal., 1913-12-22
MAY
JOIN RANKS Of
DRY TOWNS
With but a Single Thirst
Quenching Emporium, an
Almost Prohibitiye License
May Force This One to Close

lspte'Al roaRrsroHDrReE 70 MORNING JovHrAll
Alamogordo. ". ~, Dec. 2i.-Ala-
mogordo. which has always had but
one saloon. Is now facing probable
ity-grave for some, interesting for
others--of having that single and well
known life saving station closed up.
It will cater to the thirsty public for
a few weeks yet, but after a certain
date. as set not definite. 1t may close
us doors In which case it is believed
by many of the people here that Ala
mOgordO Will then be a dry town.
After taking over the management
Of tho Aiamogordo improvement COM
pany's interests here, Col. w r. Eid-
son. the new manager, investigated
the town license which the saloon was
paying and also checked up the busi-
ness done there and il appeared 70
him that the license was eXorbitant-
at least out OF proportion TO the
business being done. The license de-
manded and paid for the first year Of
the towns Incorporation. as fixed by
the town board is $l,S00 per annum,
A check of the business done showed
that after paying this license and the
other expenses Of operating the sa-
loon, a miserably meagre profit was
shown for the years work. While he
Is willing 10 do what he considers as
fair, Mr. Edison thinks a larger re-
muneration should be banked or the
business and he made the town
board a proposition to pay them $1,000
per annum. as a license, and consented
at the same time 10 continue paying
his occupation tax for his various
companies. amounting 20 something
over $50 per annum. as well as a very
large sprlnkling tax The town board
met few days ago and after a brief
consideration Of Mr.. Eidson's propo-
sltion, tabled it unanimously, thereby
standing for the saloon license OF
$500 per annum. Mr. Edison being
absent from the city at the time the
town board took this action, he could
not be interviewed as to what his
plans would be in the future with
reference 10 operating the business,
but Mr. Guy Watt, the cashier OF
the company was inclined to believe
that after the stock Of wet goods on
hand had been sold. the business
would be closed up.
Within the townsite Of Alamogor-
do on only one lot that now being
occupied by the saloon, can the busi-
ness of dispensing ardent liquors be
carried on. All other lots have been
sold. and are being sold, with posi-
tive prohibition against the sale or
OF Intoxicating liquors
either as a beverage or for medicine,
thereon. In 1903, when the concession
OF the saloon here was in the hands
of Henry Pfan. Of FL Paso. the busi-
ness was such as TO make other would
be caterers green with envy; in fact
il is said, the rattle of the dollars on
the mahogany sounded like a Nylo-
phone solo. Wanting 10 get in on this
wealth, Houck < Dieter Of El Paso,
endeavored to open a saloon in a
building belonging to Otto Olsen. In
junction proceedings were immediate
lv Instituted before Judge Parker at
Las Cruces by the Improvement com
pany. and later several residents OF
the place. beside school district No. l.
interyened and asked to be made par
ties plaintiff in the action. One sa-
loon was all the people wanted. Pub
lie opinion became so intense, the par
ties who had endeavored to Kick
against the prlcks, refrained from
further proceedings in court and a
decree pro confesso was entered up
against them and in favor Of the inn
provement company and allied PLAIN
tims on February 3, 1905, by Judge
Edward A. Mann, now of Albuquer-
que, who was at that time the presid-
ing Judge OF tho then, new Sixth Ju-
dicial district court.
In the fall of 1910. during the adj
Of the first town incorpo-
ration, with Judge Byron sherry as
mayor. the town council fixed the IL
cense of the saloon here at $4,000.
The saloon was closed when it refused
to pay this tax, and little later it
was opened by the late Harvey David
son. who committed suicide here last
week. and on a habeas corpus hearing
before Judge M. G. Mechem, acting
because of the illness Of the late Judge
Afford w. Cooley, the license was de-
clared to be exhorbitant As a conse-
quence the town received no revenue
from this quarter and a short time
by a strong vote of the
residents, Alamogordo became an un-
incorporated settlement.
The present town board believes
that the saloon will not close that
the business warrants the license as
sessed against 1t, and that in case it
does, the prohibtory clause in the
deeds Of the company can be beaten
in a legal hearing and that saloons
can be opened on any lot within the
town limits.
Another proposition has been dis
cussed By some of the citizens to the
effect that a company be formed for
the purpose Of renting the present
saloon site and business at 500 per
and after paying the expenses \
of its operation. turn into the town
treasury Az the balance for the bene-
fit of the town no license, under this
arrangement, being collected from
the business.
At the present time neither the I'M
provement company nor the town
trustees are saying much. II is a game
OF wait, with the possibilities Of a
spirited bivouac in the near future and
the probability Of local option cleo
tion which will win In a walk.
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