The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-11-18


tisements Tucumcari has ever receiv-
ed from the Rock Island railroad was
that printed in the Southwest Trail
November number, which boasts Of a
circulation Of not less than 10000
copies. After printing column after
column Of reading material together
with dozen or more nice pictures
showing beautiful ranch scenes, resi-
dences and farms, we should show our
appreciation to the paper for the ex-
cellent portrayal of the advantages
now to be had in Eastern New Mexi-
co. Many other localities and coun-
ties were given due consideration but
Tucumcari and Quay county were Civ
on especial mention.
Space will not permit us to give
"a half of what was said but we will
reprint the following:
The counties of eastern New Mexi-
co traversed by or adjacent to the
Rock Island Lines are Quay, Guada-
lupe. San Miguel. Union and Mora.
Settlers in these counties will have
ample railroad facilities to take their
products to market. Before the con-
struction of this railroad system there
was practically no railroad transpor-
tation through this part of eastern
New Mexico. The writer spent much
time investigating conditions through
out this district and found settlers
prosperous, comfortable and satisfied
\ gradual change has overtaken this
territory. From n cattle grazing coun-
try IL has become an important grain
and feed producing district, feeding
large territory. Settlers have enter
ed the dairy business with pronounced
success. Cream shipments out of the
small way stations astonish the un-
initiated. Herds Of dairy cows peace
fully Craze on the native buffalo, mes
quite and grama grasses which have
the faculty Of curing themselves into
n most nutritious hay after frost, pro-
viding high grade feed all winter. Pit
silos filled with kafr, milo, feterita
and corn are opened in midwinter and
livestock flourished on this succulent
green feed.
From the train window TO the CAL
ifornia-bound traveller eastern New
Mexico appears to be chiefly graz
ing region. The punches Of bear grass
or yucca which abound in some por-
tions give the indication that the soil
is forbidding and unproductive. This
is not the case. There is no more fer
tile soil in the United States than may
be found in eastern New Mexico. Only
rain is needed to cover the vast
plains and the mesas with carpet Of
green. The soil, decomposed lime
stone mixed with rock and sand par
ticle. and humous from thousands of
years - vegetation and the offai If
grazing herds of buffalo and othc;
herbivor.us an. nsls, is quick to re-
spond to cultivation. The great ran.n
,s, formerly the only peopled spots in
"a vast domain awaiting development.
are gradually shrinking in size and
giving way before the farmer.
Quay County Opportunities
The Rock Island Lines enter Quay
County from the Texas Panhandle
near the northern boundary, the ele-
walton at Nara Visa being 4,l94 feet
above sea level. The land is general
ly level with broken dry water cours-
es and valleys several hundred feet
below the general average. The coun-
ty dips slightly toward the center, San
Jon and Lesbia being about $500 feet
above sea level, difference of almost
400 feet from the high points in the
northern portion. The Canadian river
wends its turbulent course through
the county from the west, following
wide valley picturesquely carved by
water and winds into fantastic shapes
High mesas overlook the river, the
tops of these table lands being of an
entirely different formation than the
valley lands. The table lands are frag
ments OF the original Great Plains,
like Gases in the desert, with the ex-
ception that in New Mexico the val
leys as well as the table lands are
highly productive, provided rainfall
comes normally. The history of Quay
county is intimately connected with
the frontier days of the ranchman and
Indian buffalo hunters.
The valley of the Canadian with its
immense treasure of year-round pas
ture of native grasses attracted cat
tlemen from everywhere. Before the
coming of the railway, Liberty, Endee
and Revuelto were the chief centers
Of cattle industry with their round-ups
and cattle brandings. Following the
Rock Island, settlers began TO pour
into the valley. The town of Tucum-
carl. county seat, was incorporated in
1906. Today IL has a population of
1000 and is one of the most flourish
ing communities in the state. In 1900
the land was thrown open for settle
ment and more than $4,000 settlers
took up homesteads which today are
being farmed. Other important towns
in the Canadian valley are Nara Visa,
Obar, San Jon, Endee, Puerto, Logan,
Montoya. Good roads are everywhere
being constructed and the distant COM
munities are yearly being brought into
closer contact. The main automobile
line Of the famous old Southwest Trail
runs through fucumcari iue cast and