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THE COMMERCIAL CENTER OF THE MESILLA VALLEY

The Story of the Rise of Las Cruces ("The Crosses")
By O. WETTLAUFER. JR.

IN the eastern edge of the fertile Mesilla Valley, on the main line of the Santa Pe Railroad, 43 miles north of El Paso, Texas, and 210 south of Albuquerque, N. M., lays the little city of Las Cruces (The Crosses). It is the metropolis and seat of government of Urn Ana County, and without exaggeration has made more progress, in the past five years, than any other city or town in the Great Southwest.

Las Cruces is the natural shipping point of the Mesilla Valley. It is situated at an altitude of 3875 feet above the sea level, with an atmosphere as pure arid dry as the rarest wine, in a country of perpetual sunshine, possessing every element conducive to good health. It has miles of paved streets, cement sidewalks lined with beautiful shade trees; a beautiful park centrally located, with plenty of benches and an abundance of trees, affording both comfort and recreation.

Las Cruces schools, both public and private, compare favorably with the best in the country. The public schools are directed by n superintendent and a corps of fifteen teachers, who are most carefully selected. There are three modern school buildings, and the town is divided into three school districts. Graduates from the public schools in Las Cruces are admitted to the preparatory courses ot the Agricultural College of New Mexico, without examination.

Main Street Las Cruces, NM

Of the private schools and colleges, the Agricultural College of New Mexico, supported by the United States Government and the territory, and the Loretto Academy, an institution under the direction of a Sister Superior, and twenty capable sisters of the Loretto order, are perhaps the best known.

The Agricultural College was established by an act of the legislature on February 28, 1889. The purpose and scope of the institution are set forth in the words of the; act of July 2, 18ti2. which provides for a grant of land to each state or territory for the establishment and maintenance of "at least one college where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture, etc."

Improvements have been made from time to time, until now the college campus and buildings compare most favorably with those of our well known Eastern colleges.

Public School, Las Cruces, Irrigation Ditch in Foreground

The Loretto Academy occupies a large convent, thoroughly equipped, on the south side of the town. It is a school for girls, and one of the best of its kind.

Las Cruces has a fine volunteer fire department, thoroughly equipped, waterworks, electric light and power plant, ice factory and cold storage plant, a steam laundry, a number of flour mills, a moving picture theatre, a fine brick armory building of beautiful design, equipped to be used jointly as an armory and opera house, and four excellent hotels, besides a great number of up-to- date office and bank buildings.

There are two banks—the Bowman Hank & Trust Company and the First National Bank, both of which are managed by men of well known ability and integrity. A third bank has been organized by a number of the leading citizens, to be known as the First State Bank, the building for which is now in the course of construction.

All the various religious organizations are represented in Las Cruces. The Catholic Church is a quaint but handsome structure, and has in its archives records which date back many hundreds of years while the various Protestants maintain several churches and missions.

The Masons, Elks, Odd Fellows, Woodmen and all the most important fraternal societies are well represented. The Masons have lately acquired land on which they will build a temple; the Elks also have bought land and will shortly build a home.

The resources of Las Cruces are many. Besides being the commercial center of the Mesilla Valley, from which thousands of tons of alfalfa and immense quantities of fruit, melons and canteloupes are shipped yearly it is, in reality, the shipping center of the mineral district. Although the mineral resources of the adjacent mountains, known as the Organ Range, are in a somewhat semi-developed state, enough intelligent development has been done to demonstrate clearly that some very rich deposits of gold, silver and copper ore are hidden here. The best known and most valuable of the claims, such as the Torpedo and Stephen- son-Bennett, are well known as reliable and steady producers, although the lack of transportation facilities has been a great drawback to this industry. But the granting a short time ago of a franchise to build a railroad into that district will help to a considerable extent.

Five weekly newspapers are published in Las Cruces—two English and three Spanish. The Rio Grande Republican and the Las Cruces Citizen are looked upon as the official county organs.

The history of Las Cruces and the surrounding country is the history of the Rio Grande Valley. Before the advent of the Spaniards under Marco de Niza. in 1539, this territory had been the home of untold generations of Indians, as the many ruined pueblos and houses of stone in the rocky cliffs attest.

Las Cruces was laid out in the year 1818 at the close of the Mexican war. by United States army officers stationed at Fort Selden, 18 miles north, and practically lay in the arms of Morpheus, a qnaint and picturesque Mexican village of adobe huts and shacks, until the beginning of the twentieth century. ' Then, with the advent of young and energetic blood, it has grown as if by magic to a new and modern town of 5000 people. It was incorporated in 1907 under the laws of the territory of New Mexico, and is governed by a board of trustees, who appoint a chairman from among their number whose duties correspond to those of mayor of a city. It is not exaggerating to say, that when the census man comes around again he will hang the figures "20,000" opposite Las Cruces.

THE COMMERCIAL CENTER OF THE MESILLA VALLEY The Story of the Rise of Las Cruces ("The Crosses") By O. WETTLAUFER. JR.
IN the eastern edge of the fertile Mesilla Valley, on the main line of the Santa Pe Railroad, 43 miles north of El Paso, Texas, and 210 south of Albuquerque, N. M., lays the little city of Las Cruces (The Crosses). It is the metropolis and seat of government of Urn Ana County, and without exaggeration has made more progress, in the past five years, than any other city or town in the Great Southwest. Las Cruces is the natural shipping point of the Mesilla Valley. It is situated at an altitude of 3875 feet above the sea level, with an atmosphere as pure arid dry as the rarest wine, in a country of perpetual sunshine, possessing every element conducive to good health. It has miles of paved streets, cement sidewalks lined with beautiful shade trees; a beautiful park centrally located, with plenty of benches and an abundance of trees, affording both comfort and recreation. Las Cruces schools, both public and private, compare favorably with the best in the country. The public schools are directed by n superintendent and a corps of fifteen teachers, who are most carefully selected. There are three modern school buildings, and the town is divided into three school districts. Graduates from the public schools in Las Cruces are admitted to the preparatory courses ot the Agricultural College of New Mexico, without examination.	Main Street Las Cruces, NM
Of the private schools and colleges, the Agricultural College of New Mexico, supported by the United States Government and the territory, and the Loretto Academy, an institution under the direction of a Sister Superior, and twenty capable sisters of the Loretto order, are perhaps the best known. The Agricultural College was established by an act of the legislature on February 28, 1889. The purpose and scope of the institution are set forth in the words of the; act of July 2, 18ti2. which provides for a grant of land to each state or territory for the establishment and maintenance of "at least one college where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture, etc." Improvements have been made from time to time, until now the college campus and buildings compare most favorably with those of our well known Eastern colleges.	Public School, Las Cruces, Irrigation Ditch in Foreground
The Loretto Academy occupies a large convent, thoroughly equipped, on the south side of the town. It is a school for girls, and one of the best of its kind. Las Cruces has a fine volunteer fire department, thoroughly equipped, waterworks, electric light and power plant, ice factory and cold storage plant, a steam laundry, a number of flour mills, a moving picture theatre, a fine brick armory building of beautiful design, equipped to be used jointly as an armory and opera house, and four excellent hotels, besides a great number of up-to- date office and bank buildings. There are two banks—the Bowman Hank & Trust Company and the First National Bank, both of which are managed by men of well known ability and integrity. A third bank has been organized by a number of the leading citizens, to be known as the First State Bank, the building for which is now in the course of construction. All the various religious organizations are represented in Las Cruces. The Catholic Church is a quaint but handsome structure, and has in its archives records which date back many hundreds of years while the various Protestants maintain several churches and missions.
The Masons, Elks, Odd Fellows, Woodmen and all the most important fraternal societies are well represented. The Masons have lately acquired land on which they will build a temple; the Elks also have bought land and will shortly build a home. The resources of Las Cruces are many. Besides being the commercial center of the Mesilla Valley, from which thousands of tons of alfalfa and immense quantities of fruit, melons and canteloupes are shipped yearly it is, in reality, the shipping center of the mineral district. Although the mineral resources of the adjacent mountains, known as the Organ Range, are in a somewhat semi-developed state, enough intelligent development has been done to demonstrate clearly that some very rich deposits of gold, silver and copper ore are hidden here. The best known and most valuable of the claims, such as the Torpedo and Stephen- son-Bennett, are well known as reliable and steady producers, although the lack of transportation facilities has been a great drawback to this industry. But the granting a short time ago of a franchise to build a railroad into that district will help to a considerable extent. Five weekly newspapers are published in Las Cruces—two English and three Spanish. The Rio Grande Republican and the Las Cruces Citizen are looked upon as the official county organs. The history of Las Cruces and the surrounding country is the history of the Rio Grande Valley. Before the advent of the Spaniards under Marco de Niza. in 1539, this territory had been the home of untold generations of Indians, as the many ruined pueblos and houses of stone in the rocky cliffs attest. Las Cruces was laid out in the year 1818 at the close of the Mexican war. by United States army officers stationed at Fort Selden, 18 miles north, and practically lay in the arms of Morpheus, a qnaint and picturesque Mexican village of adobe huts and shacks, until the beginning of the twentieth century. ' Then, with the advent of young and energetic blood, it has grown as if by magic to a new and modern town of 5000 people. It was incorporated in 1907 under the laws of the territory of New Mexico, and is governed by a board of trustees, who appoint a chairman from among their number whose duties correspond to those of mayor of a city. It is not exaggerating to say, that when the census man comes around again he will hang the figures "20,000" opposite Las Cruces.