An evidence of the healthy growth of Las Vegas can be had from the fact that not less than fifteen new commercial enterprises have been opened here in the past six months.

Respectfully yours,

Hon. MIGUEL A. OTERO,

Governor of New Mexico, Santa Fe, N. Mex.

CLIMATOTHERAPY AT LAS VEGAS HOT SPRINGS.

W. C. REID.

A remarkable combination of natural advantages of a health-giving nature exists in and about Las Vegas Hot Springs. Its location in this regard is peculiar. Situated in the northern portion of the county, it lies on the southern slope of the Canadian Valley, the course of whose waters, differing from that of either of the other valleys of the Territory, is directed toward the Mississippi. The main range of the Rockies forms the western boundary of this valley. A limb of the Rockies extends at about right angles east and west along the Colorado and New Mexico boundary line. The Raton Range is a part of this limb, some peaks of which are 8,000 feet in height. This high western and northern barrier protects the valley in question from the severe storms which arise in the great Northwest, and hence materially modifies the climate which exists within this basin. The protection of Las Vegas Hot Springs is also materially enhanced by the fact that it lies at the western entrance of the Gallinas Canyon, the high hills of the latter forming almost a complete circle about it. The range of hills forming this canyon farther west become mountains of considerable magnitude. All are covered with a heavy growth of yellow pine, pinon, and cedar trees, together with minor vegetation. There is no sufficient dust or sand upon these hills and mountains in condition to be disturbed by winds; hence, at Las Vegas Hot Springs sandstorms are unknown. Its distance from any center of population is such that it is undisturbed by the dust of streets. Through the Gallinas Canyon flows a small river by the same name, and in its immediate vicinity, close to the edge of the stream above referred to, within a confined area, the soil is penetrated from an unknown depth by some thirty hot mineral springs. Within the same field whence arise these springs lies an extensive peat bed, an antiseptic decomposition of vegetable matter, invaluable as a medicinal agent.

If one will study the atlas of 1894 by the Weather Bureau department of the Government, compiled from all the reports of the Weather Bureau stations from the organization of each to the end of 1891, he will observe that Las Vegas Hot Springs is in the center of what is known as the "dry belt of the West." This dry belt, with an irregular, constantly varying outline, extends north and south from the northern part of Texas through Mexico and into Colorado. Following the monthly charts in the atlas above referred to, one will observe that in January the storm line is the farthest away from him, extending about midway between longitude 95° and 100°. The general monthly precipitation throughout this area does not, then, exceed an inch. In February the storm line is seen to approach a little farther west; in March still farther. It is the rule that the western edge of the storm line has reached central New Mexico and Las Vegas Hot Springs in June. This storm line begins to recede in September; by October it has passed out of New Mexico on its eastern course, and the precipitation has again been reduced to a monthly average of only 1 inch. It is noticeable, then, that this dry belt has a rainy season,

during which time a large portion of the average annual precipitation falls. It is observable in studying this storm line that north of the Raton Range, which is the northern boundary of the Canadian basin, it is greater. The storm line more quickly reaches Colorado and more slowly disappears from it. According to these Government reports, the average annual precipitation at Las Vegas Hot Springs is 12 to 14 inches, most of which falls during the summer months. It is further observed that there are few, if any, habitable portions of the United States having an average annual precipitation of less than above. That there should be some precipitation must be recognized as essential to life and comfort.

A study of the latitude of Las Vegas Hot Springs is interesting in this connection. Its latitude is 352°, the same that exists in the northern part of Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, and Tunis, and also in the northern part of Arabia, portions of the world known to be ex traordinarily dry.

While the location of Las Vegas Hot Springs is so favorable as regards its minimum amount of precipitation, it has not the high temperature that is generally found upon such latitude. This is explainable by its position in regard to the Rockies and its altitude, it being 6,767 feet above sea level. It is generally known that the impression prevails among people who have read of this place, but who have not personally visited the same, that because of its southern position the summers are extremely warm; because of its altitude the winters are severe. Life at the springs convinces one that the opposite is true. The southern position, added to the fact that a spur of the Rockies extends east from the main range along the Colorado border, protects it mainly from the northwestern storms and modifies the temperature of the winter months, so that in truth it is usually mild and delightful. The intensity of summer heat prevalent in southern latitudes does not exist in this location, because of the great altitude. It is thus seen that Las Vegas Hot Springs, together with other portions of New Mexico, has a favorable all year round climate.

The springs, the peat, the freedom from dust and heavy winds, the forests of pine and cedar, the natural scenery, the opportunities for out-of-door life, render this place, in particular, especially favorable for such people as are in quest of health. The medicinal value of the springs has been long recognized; their constituents are generally of the saline element. They vary, however, to a considerable degree, sulphur predominating in one, iron in another, lithia in another, sulphureted hydrogen gas in another; free carbonic-acid gas exists in most of them. They are of unquestionable value in numerous affections peculiarly favorable for their use, either external, internal, or both. The temperature of the hottest is 144° F.; most of the springs range in temperature from 122° to 138°. Combined with the peat in about equal proportions, a union is formed inestimable in certain diseases when prescribed in the form of baths.

All these facilities tend to make of Las Vegas Hot Springs what it is endeavoring to become a health resort upon an extensive scale. It invites pleasure seekers as well as invalids; those who desire a rest from overwork and those who desire recuperation from some long illness. Its climate must be recognized as most favorable for such as have contracted incipient tuberculosis; those who wish to escape the affections due to a heated term of the lower altitudes; those who wish to escape the rigors of winter; those who wish to avoid suffering from hay fever; its waters invite such as are affected with diseases gen

erally benefited by hot mineral springs. Its sanitation is perfect. Malaria does not exist; sunshine predominates, thus encouraging out-door life and sports of all kinds; therefore to the pleasure seeker as well as to the invalid Las Vegas hot springs offers attractions unsurpassed in the West, and is the property of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad System, which system has erected numerous buildings at a great cost for the convenience of visitors, and the work of improvement is still progressing. The main building, named the "Montezuma," is a large structure of sandstone, beautifully situated on a commanding eminence overlooking the picturesque Gallinas Canyon, as it opens out toward the rolling meadows, which meadows give the name to the town of Las Vegas, 6 miles distant. From the broad verandas, extending the entire length of the front, east, and west sides of this building, a delightful view is obtained; on the one hand are mountains with their massive shoulders outlined against the skies; in front the little hurrying Gallinas River rushes along filling the air with the distant murmurs of its waters; in another direction the valley is seen to stretch far out to the horizon; little Mexican villages with their adobe houses are scattered on both sides of the stream. In many respects the surrounding country reminds one of Switzerland, and to those fond of tramps and excursions among the mountains it offers an endless variety. Another building just completed is a hospital for the care of those invalids who need quiet and such attention as can not be given in the Montezuma. The bath house and the peat house are prepared for such as require treatment there. Numerous cottages scattered about the plant, along the confines of a large park, are held in readiness for those who desire home life. The Springs Branch of the Santa Fe Railroad affords constant and easy communication with Las Vegas, where it connects with all through trains on the Santa Fe route.

There are other springs and artesian wells near to Las Vegas besides those at the Las Vegas hot springs; the two most celebrated are the Macbeth mineral wells, owned by Peter Roth, and the Onava alterative water springs, owned by Charles Wright; the first, the Macbeth well, is an artesian well of a depth of 338 feet, geologically speaking, in the lower part or bottom of the Jurassic formation and immediately over the Triassic formation, the Triassic forming the bed and bank of this ancient extinct Jurassic sea by curving from under to an antiincline or uplift at this immediate location. The salts in the water are derived from a bed of seaweeds formed on the coast of this ancient extinct sea by a leaching through the ashes of the decomposed marine plant for ages, extracting therefrom a natural mineral which analysis shows to be a pure sodium or trisodium compound of salts from the algae and fucus marina, namely, in proportion of sodium chloride, 35 grains; sodium carbonate, 9 grains; sodium sulphate, 1 grain; or 45 grains to each quart of water. These are the principal ingredients or elements of the salts found in the Macbeth mineral water. The water is absolutely free from the other alkalies, such as lime and magnesia, which renders all waters hard and unfit for drinking purposes. It is a most pleasant and palatable mineral water to the taste, and to which the most fastidious do not object; really a beverage after becoming accustomed to it. The trisodium compound is a solvent of mucus in catarrh of the stomach and biliary ducts, also solvents of albumen in the urine and found in Bright's disease of the kidneys; it also corrects the acidity of the blood, of the stomach and urine, such as lactic acid, uric acid, and lithiæma found in dyspeptics