The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-15
KAISER BRINGS
DEMING, MEXICO,
into LIMELIGHT
Villa Has Also Helped Says
Lisbon Boy In DescTib-
ing Quaint Place
ALL OUT AFTER
SAMMY'S MONEY
Dark, Sullen-L Looking Mex
leans Always Gazing
at the Troops

Dallas A. Barber. of Lisbon, with
the North Dakota field hospital
corps at Camp Cody, Deming, New
Mexico. says that Deming. perhaps,
owes its prominence to the kaiser OF
Germany, and that upon second
thought, villa may have helped
somewhat in bringing the town into
the limelight. His letter follows:
"Deming is a typical southwestern
town placed In one Of Gods lone
some spots. II is about IS miles
west Of FL Paso and the country be-
tween is SO dry that it cannot boast
of single town. 1t lies about 40
miles north of the border and is
therefore situated very well for a
military camp. Because of this adj
vantageous situation, Deming has
succeeded in obtaining one Of the
great military camps.
Land Of Sunshine.
New Mexico is O land Of almost
perpetual sunshine and because of
the, sunshine there is lack Of vege-
tation, as we see II in the north. For
a day and a half before arriving at
Deming, we rode through long
stretches of white sand. The vegeta-
ton seemed very curious to US of
the north. Tall yucca plants stood
like sentinels in the sand. Gray
bushes covered the ground in many
places and occasionally a sort of
purple sage showed itself in con-
trast to all OF the rest. Once in a
while we could see buildings, mostly
made Of adobe and always a wind
mill to furnish water for the people.
the stock and the little garden adj
joining the house.
Suddenly, one afternoon, we came
upon Deming. The trees. which are
made possible because of the water
pumped from many wells, made il
seem as though we had certainly
come upon an oasis in a desert. AS
We came to stop at the depot, we
looked out upon a greatly mixed
group of people. Dark. suilen look
ing Mexicans gazed at us with ex-
pressionless faces. Indians lounged
about in the shade of the cotton
woods. Newly arrived soldiers hur-
ried here and there, bent on business
and pleasure. Well dressed Ameri-
cana civilians intermingled with the
crowds.
Ready to Receive Soldiers.
AS we passed through the town
we could see the results OF expected
inflow OF troops. New places of busi-
ness, some hurriedly erected and
others well put up, were in evidence
on the business streets. Over hang
ing shades protected the pedestrians
on the sidewalks from the beating
sun. High booted cowboys in front
n 4hen SCI era nd a. Vrnv wyfN
we passed. WeIl-dressed promoters,
and hangers-on gazed out at US from
these cheap business places and sure
thing games. Deming was indeed
ready to receive the soldiersl Three
months have passed and in that time
have seen a little camp grow
into q large we'll regulated camp. /
have seen thousands OF men come I'm
here now and develop into we'll
trained soldiers. Between camp and
town two or three hundred service
cars are continually at the disposal
Of the enlisted men. Every evening
a long string Of cars move between
camp and town and the streets of the
town are always crowded to their ut
most. The sleepy, southwestern cat
tie town has awakened from its
lethargy and taken on a new lease Of
AAAGs NAOhAAAE pAGNuIG SnOWSs EdUdfGLSs
clothing stores and cheap jewelry
stores are all out after the Sammy's
Burlesque shows featuring fair
women are much patronized and even
the root beer stands thrive. Business
blocks have risen greatly in valua-
ton and houses for rent are not to
be had by one Of average means.
Single rooms are renting for as much
as $25 a month and even they are
scarce.
'.Deming. is on the map. 1t owes
its prominence to the kaiser Of Ger
many. Villa has also helped some
what, in bringing the town into the
limelight. The little town OF 1000
population has come into an un-
thought Of prosperity. 1t has all
happened SO quickly that II seems
like a dream, but it is a dream real
lied, Deming has gained a place in
the history Of our country.
DALLAS A. BARBER.
Field hospital 1876, Camp Cody,
'Deming, New Mexico"