El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-18
Hot and Medicated Waters
to Be Turned to CONNER
cial Use by Company.

At Old Fort Selden on the Rio
Grande, II miles rOrth of Las Cruces,
n. NJ. and 60 miles north of FL Paso,
hot mineral springs Durst forth from
the foot of the volcanic butte afford
ing a bOuntiful supply of the healing
waters at temperature of from 1S5
to 2l2 degrees Fahrenheit. Nearby is a
cold water well This water has an
analysis almost identical with that of
the famous Pluto waters of French Lick
Army Men Knew the Springs.
Fort SeIden was established as q
military post in 1866 and occupied as
such for q years. The officers of the
springs, and among numerous old time
citizens who were guests of the officers
were Maj W. J. Fewel. and Edward
Piper, a civil engineer, both prominent
citizens of FL Paso. Indeed so enthu-
Siastic was Col. Bliss, at one time in
command of Fort Selden, that he earn
estly urged the government not to
part with the title to the springs and
the land around them but to retain
them, the same as had been done in
the case OF the Hot Springs of Arkansas
and in other localities. But the lands
and springs finally passed into the
hands Of private owners
Easily Accessible.
The location is on the Santa Fe rail-
road. The Canine Real the state high
way, now being built by New Mexico
from Colorado through the state to
Texas. passes directly by these springs.
At the recent election in New Mexico,
an issue of 100000 in state bonds was
authorized partly for the purpose Of
Completing this great highway. From
I'll PaSO, when the road is completed,
the springs can be reached in two or
"Borderland route" for transcontinen-
tai automobile tourists passes near
Fort Selden.
A Bit of History.
The springs lie 1000 feet ahOVe sea
level Across the Rio Grande from
Fort Selden, the CerrO Roblero rises
5000 feet higher, or 1000 feet above sea-
level. From the top of its highest peak
on Dec. 2. 1882. party of United States
astronomical engineers observed the
transit of Venus which proved to be
the only successful observation made
IN the United States; the stone house
they built and the iron column they
Ell ected are still standing on the top
Of the mountain.
From the summit of this mountain
the vista is beautiful. The country here
abouts is full of historic interests, and
the sweep of the eye includes a circle
OF 100 miles radius except where ranges
and peaks interpOSe.
All around are relics of an interest
ing history Plentiful remains of abb
original pottery are found on the
mountains and at the springs. Close
by is the old trail traVersed by the
early Spanish explorers when they in
Vaded New Mexico. over this same road
passed the famous expedition of Col.
Doniphan and his soldiers during the
Mexican war, when they marched from
Missouri into old Mexico. Immediately
below the springs is the old ford
across the river, where Victoria and his
band of Apaches crossed in 1879, when
they escaped from San Carlos reserva-
ton, Arizona, and went to eastern New
Mexico, to enter upon their last great
raid in these parts.
To Develop the Springs.
Citizens
Mexico, and others, have taken over
the hot springs and a tract of land
around them and will erect a hotel and
bath houses; in addition they will
grade streets and form parks. tennis
courts, golf links and ball grounds. An
automobile road from Fort Selden to
the summit of Cerro Roblero mountain
Is projected
The president of the new company
to develop the springs is II. D. Bowman,
president Of the Bowman Bank and
Trust company, of Las Cruces; Edward
Medler, district judge of the third Ju-