west of Topeka are located here and furnish regular employment to some 600 men. These shops are being steadily enlarged, and it is said to be the intention of the company to have all of its work done here for all of that portion of its system west of the western line of Kansas, which will render necessary the employment at this place of about 1,200 men.

There is an excellent system of waterworks, furnishing the purest of water in great abundance, both for domestic use and for lawn irrigation, and at very low rates. Light is furnished by gas works and an electric-light plant, the streets being lighted by electricity.

All the streets are graded, and most of them are paved with a natural cement obtained from the neighboring hills, and laid upon a foundation of cobblestones, making a thoroughfare very firm, smooth, and durable. Excellent sidewalks line all the principal streets of the place, the popular material for this purpose being an artificial stone made of sand and Portland cement upon a foundation of gravel. This makes a walk as hard and smooth as natural stone, and apparently quite as durable.

The manufacturing interests of the town, in addition to the railway works above named, are represented by a foundry and machine shop, which turns out large quantities of work, especially for the many mining camps in various parts of the Territory; a brewery and two ice factories, which ship their products to all parts of Mexico and west to the California line; two flouring mills, two mineral-water establishments, a planing mill, four brickyards, a cigar factory, a broom factory, and many smaller establishments.

There is an excellent opening here for a canning factory, to handle the fruits and vegetables which are grown in great abundance in this vicinity, and a beet-sugar factory.

Nearly all lines of business, commercial, mechanical, and professional, are represented in Albuquerque, and it has, in addition, a considerable population composed of persons not engaged in any active business, who seek the mild, dry atmosphere of this section, especially during the winter season, for health or pleasure.

There are two daily papers in the town, one issued in the morning and the other in the evening; five weekly papers, and one monthly publication, the last named being devoted to the interests of the mining industry. The town also possesses the largest and best free public library in the southwest, which is maintained by a special tax levied by the city council for that purpose.

CHAVES COUNTY.

In point of natural resources from which are rapidly being developed conditions that are soon to support a prosperous, wealthy people, Chaves is the banner county of New Mexico.

As originally organized in 1899 from a portion of the county of Lincoln, it was approximately 100 miles from north to south and 110 miles from east to west. The legislature of 1899 added territory on the southwest about 36 miles square. The greater part of this large area is grazing land, pure and simple, excellent grass lands which sustain thousands of cattle and sheep the year round and which, with the further development of water, which is quite practicable, will sustain even more. A great deal of the range area is held by cattle owners who have title, in many instances, to land on which are found springs and lakes, or on which they have dug or bored wells and put up wind

mills and, owning these improvements, are able to control, in a manner, the range contiguous. But there are large areas of grass lands on which no water is found during a very dry season, and it is in such localities that the development of water is most important, since without water the range, although covered with the best of feed, is practically well-nigh valueless. To this matter, the finding of a water supply, a great deal of attention is being devoted, at a heavy expense in some cases. cases. Large well-boring machines, worked by gasoline engines, are being used, and the work is being carried on, slowly but surely, by men of means who understand the importance of procuring an adequate supply of water. The open-range stock interests were the original mainstay of the county and continue to be the most important in point of tax-paying ability. But the glory of Chaves County, at least at present, is the magnificent alfalfa farms with their herds of fine cattle-Herefords and Shorthorns-and their flocks of Shropshire sheep. Two large farms, one of 1,000 acres and another comprising 13,000 acres in both alfalfa and natural-grass pastures, are devoted exclusively to the Hereford industry, and have on them as fine animals as could be purchased from some of the leading breeders of registered Herefords in the United States. In fact the owners of these farms have among their fine stock many prominent prize winners. The owner of Sir Bredwell, who paid $5,000 for him, has lately purchased a 500-acre alfalfa farm 2 miles east of Roswell at a cost of $25,000, and will spend thousands of dollars making it a model Hereford home. The two farms referred to above are a surprise and delight to all who see them and the fine stock on them. Chaves County will soon be known as one of the most prominent, successful Hereford breeding grounds in the United States. The pioneers in the industry here are men of ample means who have "set their mark high" and whose dictionary does not contain the word "fail." Their friendly emulation and that of others to follow will result in a few years in placing Chaves County in the front rank of fine whiteface breeding centers. The breeders of Herefords at present are devoting their attention largely to the raising of young bulls. The home demand-the range-cattle owners-has so far taken all that could be raised. Inquiries are being made by large cattle owners from Old Mexico for young bulls with which to improve their herds, and they will be good customers.

Meanwhile the old "standby," the Shorthorn, is not being neglected. There are three herds of 400 to 500 each, two of which are being bred straight, while the other, some 500 Durham cows, are being crossed with Hereford bulls. These herds are also owned by men who are able to breed the best and will do so. The result will be watched with interest.

For the breeding of both Herefords and Shorthorns in the arid region the alfalfa farm is a necessity, and as that wonderful forage crop can not be raised successfully without irrigation Chaves County, with its abundant supply of water, possesses advantages superior to any other portion of the Southwest.

WATER SUPPLY.

The irrigation systems of Chaves County at present obtain their supply of water from three sources:

First. The immense springs in the vicinity of Roswell, fed by subterranean streams of artesian origin. From these five beautiful, limpid streams of water flow, known as the North Berrendo, Middle

Berrendo, South Berrendo, North Spring River, and South Spring River. These streams are the fishing grounds where disciples of Isaak Walton find rare sport catching black bass, which are abundant.

Second. The large number of artesian wells, for which this locality is becoming famous. The first artesian well in this county was drilled in the summer of 1891 and flowed about 10 gallons per minute. The last one, developed in the town of Roswell, was drilled in five days to a depth of 285 feet at a cost of $550 and flows over 2,000 gallons per minute. Of these wells there are now over 100 in the county, and the aggregate flow of water from them is already an important addition to the supply for irrigation, in addition to its use for domestic purposes. A large number of wells are utilized for piping water into dwellings and business houses, the strong pressure making it practicable. A recent successful experiment by a citizen of Roswell has demonstrated the fact that this pressure is ample to operate a small hydraulic ram, costing $20, by which water can be forced into a large tank 30, 40, 50, or more feet above the ground and furnish an abundant supply of water for the second, third, and fourth stories of buildings. The artesian-well development and its uses, including the furnishing of power for machinery, is in its infancy here, notwithstanding the satisfactory results that have already been obtained, and it is confidently believed that further developments, when test wells shall have been drilled to much greater depths, will make present results seem small. The deepest well so far is 950 feet and flows water much softer than any other well known in this region.

Third. The flood waters from the great watershed of the White Mountain region, which extends for nearly 100 miles west of Roswell. The most of this supply goes to waste for want of storage reservoirs, which some day in the near future will be built, and these flood waters will then be used to make productive from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 acres of rich, fertile land which now produces only grama grass for pasturage. Plans for the building of these reservoirs have been under consideration for some years and need only brains, energy, and capital to carry them into effect and practical operation.

SHEEP AND WOOL.

This important industry has grown remarkably in the past two years owing to the favorable conditions existing, making it highly profitable to flock masters. The number of sheep in the county is estimated by well-informed persons at fully 250,000 head. The reasonable tax rate, ample range, and other favorable conditions have caused owners from other portions of the Territory to move their flocks to Chaves County, and the business has become one of the most important.

ROSWELL.

Roswell, the county seat of Chaves County, has a population of 2,500, which is steadily increasing; excellent graded schools, superior to those of many a larger, older town in the States; the New Mexico Military Institute, fully mentioned herein, an ice factory, telephone system, one bank, prosperous churches, a flourishing commercial club of 65 members, and nearly all lines of business, represented by live, energetic men. As these lines are written, the board of town trustees have just received the report of an expert on the estimated cost of a sewerage system for the town, amounting to $27,000, a 20-acre farm for the proper disposition of the sewage having been donated for that