USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume II > Part 41
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County Officers .- The first meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Otero county was held April 18, 1800, and the first officers. appointed by Governor Otero, were as follows :
1899-1900 :- Probate clerk, W. S. Shepherd: sheriff, George Curry; assessor, Casemeria C. Candelaria : superintendent of schools, Louis Vigil ; surveyor, J. H Lucas : treasurer. D. M. Sutherland.
The officials elected have been :
Probate Clerks :- 1901-4. W. K. Stalcup: 1905-6, H. H. Major.
Probate Judges :- 1901-2, Jose L. Torres ; 1903-4. Rosalio Lopez: 1905-6, Fran- cisco Borunda.
Sheriffs :- 1901-4, James Hunter : 1905-6, A. B. Phillips.
Assessors :- 1901-4. Thomas F. Fleming: 1905-6. J. J. Hill.
Treasurers :- 1901-4. I. N. Jackson : 1905-6, J. C. Dunn.
Alamogordo .- This, the county seat of Otero, although a place of 3.500 people, is not an incorporated town, but is governed by the Board of County Commissioners, which is an anomaly in the history of large towns. One reason for this state of affairs is that the place has grown rapidly, and contains a majority of the population of the county, and as the county government is in operation it is more economical to employ it in the conduct of the affairs of this community.
The existence of Alamogordo is due to the building of the El Paso & Northeastern Railroad in 1898-99, whose primary design was to de- velop the coal fields at Capitan, Lincoln county, and ultimately to con- nect with the Rock Island system east. Charles B. Eddy was the chief mover in the enterprise, he and others conducting it under the name
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of the New Mexico Railway & Coal Company. Although after the road was constructed the Capitan coal lands did not prove productive, Alamogordo was founded and is flourishing, because situated in the midst of an unusually rich country-rich in lumber, fruit, alfalfa, marble, onyx, and various kinds of building and ornamental stone. In May, 1905, the railroad was sold to the Phelps-Dodge Company, and the town site is now owned by the Alamogordo Improvement Company. The railroad shops were among the first buildings to be completed at Alamogordo, but there is now (1906) a prospect of their removal.
The town site is an arid plain, but was surveyed by the railroad en- gineers into fine, wide streets, and a great number of the rapidly growing cottonwoods planted everywhere. Both the company and citizens vied with each other in the planting of this variety of shade trees, and christened the place Alamogordo, which, translated, is "fat cottonwoods." It was found that an abundance of water for irrigation purposes could be obtained at a small depth-from 30 to 150 feet-and the surface flow from neighboring canyons was plentiful. So, even without an artesian supply, the problem of irrigation was never a difficult one for the people of Alamogordo. At the present time water for domestic use is obtained chiefly from Alamo canyon, southcast of town, in the Sacramento mountains, and for the irriga- tion supply dependence is placed largely upon La Luz canyon, a few miles to the northeast. The latter has been dammed, and probably will become the site of a government reservoir. If properly developed, it is believed that there is the probability of a great water power at this point. A short distance west of Alamogordo borings have progressed to a depth of 1,000 feet, but the anticipated artesian flow has not yet been tapped.
With an imperfect development of the natural water supply, however, agricultural and horticultural progress has been marked. The fruit land is of the finest quality, and the climate is also favorable to apples, pears, plums, prunes, peaches, apricots, grapes, figs, quinces and cherries. Experiments with wheat indicate that prolific yields are possible, while alfalfa is already an almost inexhaustible source of wealth.
The continuous development of the fruit and alfalfa industries, with the lumber, lithographic stone, marble and onyx of the Sacramento moun- tains, is the chief cause of the substantial growth of Alamogordo. The town now contains a reliable bank, two newspapers, several churches, fully attended schools, the railroad shops. lumber mills operated by a company subsidiary to the railroad company, an ice factory and a company devoted to the preparation of lithographic stone for the market. The New Mexico Institute for the Blind has recently been established at Alamogordo.
Among those who have been chiefly instrumental in the development of the town and the surrounding district may be mentioned Andrew J. King, manager of the Alamogordo Improvement Company, the Alamogordo Water Company and the Alamogordo Real Estate Company, and trustee of the Territorial Institute for the Blind, who is an able and enterprising busi- ness man of fortv-two, and came in 1900, soon after the founding of the place ; R. H. Pierce, W. S. Shepherd ; Mr. Rhomberg, jeweler and first postmaster : George Carl, proprietor of the ice factory; Dr. C. H. Wald- schmidt ; Messrs. W. L. Peeler, Goode and Smith, attorneys; Mr. Pelman, whose ranch is seventeen miles away, and who was an early clerk at the Indian agency ; and Charles B. and J. A. Eddy.
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The future of Alamogordo largely depends upon the development of the irrigation resources of the country naturally tributary to it, as well as upon its proper exploitation as a health resort. Adjacent districts are admirably adapted to the alleviation and cure of lung troubles, especially the country in the Sacramento mountains, about twenty miles south, of which Cloudcroft is the center.
New Mexico Institute for the Blind .- In 1904 the Territorial legis- lature made an appropriation of $10,000 for the erection of a suitable build- ing for the education and care of the blind. The United States government donated 50,000 acres of land, located in various parts of the Territory, for its support, and these tracts are now leased for grazing purposes. A tax of 8/10 of a mill has also been levied by the legislature; but up to date nothing has been received from the Territory. The structure is to be of brick, with a capacity of forty patients, and its total estimated cost, exclusive of furnishings, will be nearly $18,000. Work upon the main building was begun in September, 1905; with the addition of the contemplated dormi- tories the capacity of the institute may be doubled.
The brick of which the main building is constructed was manufactured at the Territorial Penitentiary, and it, as well as the lumber, was hauled by the railroad at cost.
The present officers of the New Mexico Institute for the Blind are as follows: A. J. King, president, Alamogordo; R. H. Pierce, secretary and treasurer. Alamogordo; other trustees-Oscar Snow (Mesilla Park), Dr. Charles W. Gerber (Las Cruces), Jacobo Chaves (Los Timos).
Standard Lithograph Stone Company .- Incorporatd in 1904, this company is engaged in the exploitation of lithographic stone, its quarries being at High Rolls. H. W. Fleming, of Cleveland, organized the company, which has already spent about $15.000 in the enterprise. Shipments have been made to Toledo and other points, and the prospects of the company for making an enduring success of the project are bright.
Tularosa and Its Water Privileges .- Among the earliest settlements in the Territory were those made at Tularosa and vicinity. In 1858 Mexicans came from the Rio Grande to this district, but were driven back by the Indians. But the former returned in 1860, and settled on the site of Tula- rosa, the town being platted by surveyors of the United States government in 1862. About the first work accomplished by the colonists was to appro- priate the waters of Tularosa river, building canals and ditches from the foot hills, erecting dams at proper places and concentrating them and dis- tributing them among their lands as best they could.
During the Apache troubles of later years the Mescalero Indian agency was established, and in the prosecution of the various agricultural and in- dustrial experiments with the dusky wards of the government it was neces- sary to use the water privileges partially organized by the settlers of Tula- rosa in the upper streams of the river. First, there was an experimental garden to be cultivated for the benefit of the Indians. Dr. Blazer, owner of the flouring mill, secured the right from the colonists to use water power, provided he conducted the water back to the stream. Other settlers located along the canyon and took advantage of the irrigation improvements of the early settlers, while the irrigated area in the agency continually in- creased-despite the protests of the Tularosa colonists. Upon one occasion
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some Mexicans from the town visited several new comers to notify them to let their water alone, and four of them were killed for their interference.
In 1905, the people of the town instituted legal proceedings against the national government to restrain the use of the water by the Indians, under the direction of the agents, beginning with Captain Stoller. An injunction was issued through the United States Court, early in the year, but it was dissolved in the summer, and the entire matter has been reopened and re- ferred to a referee.
During and after the Civil war many soldiers connected with Califor- nia volunteer regiments served throughout New Mexico in the campaigns against the Apache and Navajos, and not a few of them became settlers in the country with which they became so well acquainted. Of those who located at Tularosa were Wesley Fields, John Waters, H. C. Brown, An- drew Wilson, George Nesmith, Robert Dixon, "Paddy" Ryan and David Wood.
Cloudcroft and Other Summer Resorts .- The beautiful Sacramento mountains are becoming famous as a district of health resorts. Cloudcroft, the center of this picturesque and health-giving country, is a little village perched among the mountains 9,000 feet above the level of the sea. Leav- ing Alamogordo, on the Sacramento road, one passes through fields of alfalfa, orchards of peaches, apricots and apples, and vegetable gardens. The train gradually ascends the verdant sides of the forest clad mountain, and as the journey progresses the way becomes more tortuous and the scenery more rugged and magnificent. Finally, Cloudcroft itself is reached, overlooking a splendid expanse of country. It is quite a pretentious village, with good stores and settlements of neat summer cottages, within the limits and for miles around. The place was founded in 1900.
The Lodge, the leading hotel, is unique and comfortable, and for out- side amusements there are tennis courts and golf links, and bowling alleys and billiard parlors are provided for indoors. Driveways lead out in va- rious directions over the mountains to charming retreats in the midst of the fragrant. invigorating forests of pine. It is noticeable, also, that the air is so sufficiently laden with moisture that the elevation does not affect the visitor, even if he have any heart trouble, so that all are able to take long walks and drives with the best results.
Near Cloudcroft are located many setlements and summer resorts on a smaller scale, among which are Mountain Park, several miles to the north and at an elevation of about 7,000 feet ; and Weed, Mayhill, Elk, Avis, Russia, Lower Peñasco and Felix, all lying west. These are also villages of more or less business enterprise.
A. P. Jackson, president of the Jackson-Galbraith-Foxworth Company, dealers in lumber in Alamogordo, has been one of the most active business men of the town since its establishment in 1898, and his efforts have been of a practical beneficial nature, far-reaching in their extent, scope and re- sults. He is a native of Texas, having been born in Denton county in 1866. He was reared to farm life and educated in the public schools. In 1892 he became connected with the lumber trade, and from that time until 1898 operated lumber yards in Texas. Upon the founding of the new town of Alamogordo he embarked in business here in June, 1898. He had a stock of lumber shipped to this point and unloaded from the first train entering the town. He was here two months before the railroad was built this far.
A.G. Jackson
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LOCAL HISTORIES
Most of the frame houses of the town have been erected from lumber fur- nished by this company. The business is conducted under the name of the Jackson-Galbraith-Foxworth Company, and was incorporated under the laws of New Mexico in January, 1904, with a capital stock of two hundred thousand dollars. The officers are A. P. Jackson, president; H. W. Gal- braith, secretary ; W. L. Foxworth, vice-president, and J. H. Williams, treasurer. The company is doing an extensive and constantly growing busi- ness, now operating yards in Alamogordo, Santa Rosa and Tucumcari, New Mexico, and in El Paso, Dalhart, Channing and Stratford, Texas, and Tex- homa, Oklahoma. Mr. Jackson and his associates operate along modern lines of business, and the progress made by the company has been most sat- isfactory, bringing a large measure of success, and at the same time con- tributing in a substantial way to the business activity of the various cities in which the plants are located. Also they have two wholesale lumber com- panies, known as the Logan Lumber Company, at El Paso, and the other at Texarkana, Texas.
The town of Alamogordo, now scarcely eight years old, has been equipped with all modern industrial and commercial enterprises known to the older east. George Carl is among those who have instituted an im- portant plant in the town. He came here in the summer of 1898 with the building of a railroad, and erected an ice factory, since which time he has engaged in the business. He is a native of Germany, but has resided con- tinuously in America since 1866, and came to New Mexico from Colorado. Since establishing his ice plant he has supplied the railroad with this product, as well as meeting the demands of a large local trade. He erected a plant, put in modern machinery and has since conducted the business with. constantly growing success. This is the only ice factory between El Paso and Dalhart, Texas, and its capacity is twenty tons per day.
Mr. Carl was married to Miss Ellen Spearman, who was reared in Minnesota. She has in her possession a gold medal inscribed, "The only lady operating a Linde Ice Machine. From the Fred W. Wolf Company." This was presented to her by some of the citizens of Alamogordo.
In addition to the manufacture of ice, Mr. Carl has become an able exponent of the possibilities of southeastern New Mexico as a fruit-produc- ing center. He is now successfully engaged in the raising of peaches. Six miles from La Luz he owns a ranch of four hundred and eighty acres, upon which he has fish lakes, which, in 1901, he stocked with rainbow trout. He also has large alfalfa fields, and in his orchards raises pears, apples, peaches, apricots and quinces. He is a great believer in the future of the valley surrounding Alamogordo as a fruit country, and in his business is demonstrating its possibilities in this direction, his ranch having already become a paying investment, while his ice plant, too, is a source of gratify- ing profit.
Samuel E. Pelphrey, a contractor and builder of Alamogordo, New Mexico, is a native of Johnson county, Kentucky, in which place his boy- hood and youth were passed. Attracted to the southwest, with its growing opportunities, he went to Texas in 1880, and, in 1881, entered the employ of the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company, remaining in the service of that corporation until coming to New Mexico, in 1889. He took up his abode in Carlsbad and, recognizing the fact that the rapid growth of the Territory gave excellent opportunity for operations as a contractor and builder, he
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began business in that line. In 1892 he removed to Roswell, where he erected many handsome business blocks, and, in 1894, he went to El Paso, where he engaged in contracting until 1898. In that year he came to Alamogordo, the railroad being extended to this place, and built the court- house and annex and many other business blocks, school buildings, public structures and private residences. He now owns and operates a planing mill in connection with the conduct of a general contracting business, and his labor has always brought so beneficial and capable a service that he is enjoying a very large and gratifying patronage. Connected with the fron- tier, he has contributed in large and substantial measure to the upbuilding and progress in the various localities, and Alamogordo has profited by his work, for he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who, while advancing individual interests, also contribute to the general good.
Mr. Pelphrey and his family maintain their residence in Alamogordo, and are well known socially. He is a member of Sacramento Lodge No. 24, A. F. & A. M .; Alamogordo Lodge No. 7, K. P., and is active in educa- tional matters, serving as a school trustee and doing all in his power to promote the cause of public instruction.
J. E. Bochtel is general manager of the Alamogordo Lumber Company and a prominent and enterprising business man, operating extensively in this industry. He entered the employ of the company in 1899, and his capability and readiness of business resources led to his promotion, from time to time, until, in July, 1904. he entered upon the duties of his present responsible position as manager.
The Alamogordo Lumber Company was founded in December, 1898, and was incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey. The first mill was completed in 1898 and the second in September, 1899. There are now two modern band mills, with a capacity of two hundred and thirty thousand feet of lumber per day. There is a modern timber preserving plant, and two cylinders with a capacity of sixty thousand ties a month, made by the Burnetlizing or Welhouse process. Thirty per cent of the raw material handled by the company is made into railroad ties, while the remainder is converted into vard stock. The market extends north and east to Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska, also to Colorado, El Paso and Ari- zona. Originally the company owned about forty-five thousand acres of timber land in the Sacramento mountains, adjoining the Mescalero Indians reservation, and about ten thousand acres have been cut there, with four hundred thousand feet of lumber remaining. This company has carried on operations on a very extensive scale, having a splendidly equipped plant and manufacturing lumber according to modern processes, and its business has reached mammoth proportions. Mr. Bochtel, in his connection as manager of the business, ranks among the prominent representatives of industrial interests in the Territory.
W. E. Warren, druggist of Alamogordo, is a native son of Texas, and was reared in the place of his birth. He came to Alamogordo in 1898 and opened the drug store which he has since conducted, having now a well appointed mercantile establishment. in which he has obtained a liberal pa- tronage. On the Ist of January. 1905, his brother, G. E. Warren, was admitted to a partnership. Mr. Warren belongs to Alamogordo Lodge No. 7, K. P., and is in thorough sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the order.
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Alonzo J. Buck, engaged in the undertaking business in Alamogordo, was born in Canada in 1856, but was reared in New Hampshire, and, in 1876, when twenty years of age, came to Texas. He resided in the Lone Star state for about twenty-two years, being largely engaged in the stock busi- ness in Edwards county. In 1898 he came to New Mexico and did the first photographic work in Alamogordo. In 1901 he established a livery business, which he conducted successfully until the 22d of December, 1905, when he sold out to T. L. Bean. He was practically the author of the livery law which was passed by the last legislature. In connection with his livery business he established undertaking parlors and has since continued in this line. He also owns a farm eight miles from the town, on the old Malone ranch, one of the oldest ranches of the valley, its location being west of La Luz, and his varied interests have been capably conducted, each pos- sibility for success being well utilized and bringing to him the desired re- turn.
Mr. Buck is a Mason, having attained the Royal Arch degree in the fraternity. Moreover, he is a public-spirited citizen who does everything in his power to promote the business interests of the community, and his labors are of a practical and beneficial character.
William K. Stalcup, engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Alamogordo, was born in Tennessee, but, when two years of age, was taken to Missouri, where he was reared, acquiring a public school educa- tion there. At the age of twenty-one he went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and spent six years in the office of the county clerk. He afterward spent one year in Denver, and in pioneer days made his way to the Pecos valley, where he assisted in the construction of the Pecos Valley & Northeastern railroad, from Pecos to Carlsbad. While residing in the latter place he was chosen deputy county clerk of Eddy county for a two-years' term, and was also for two years justice of the peace there.
In 1898 Mr. Stalcup came to Alamogordo to assist in founding the town and aided literally in its building, and has since been closely associated with its development and progress. At La Luz he was bookkeeper for Charles Meyer. He was afterward elected county clerk of Otero county upon the Democratic ticket, in the fall of 1900, and his capable service during the first term led to his re-clection. Since his retirement from office, on the Ist of January, 1905, he has given his attention to his present busi- ness, conducting a real estate, insurance and abstract office. His clientage in this line has already reached gratifying proportions. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, and is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias Lodge.
F. C. Rolland, who is engaged in the drug and curio business in Alamo- gordo and is serving as county commissioner of Otero county, a fact which is indicative of his prominence in public affairs as well as in commercial cir- cles, came to this city in March, 1900. He was born in Fenton, Michigan, and was in the drug business as clerk in Fenton and Saginaw, Michigan, for seven years. Coming to Alamogordo in March, 1900, he entered the employ of Aragon Brothers, druggists, with whom he continued until the Ist of May, 1901, when, in connection with S. H. Sutherland, he bought out his employers and the firm of F. C. Rolland & Co. continued in business until the Ist of May, 1903. when Mr. Rolland purchased his partner's interest, and is now sole proprietor. He has a well appointed store and is enjoying a large trade, drawn from the town and surrounding country.
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HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO
In community affairs Mr. Rolland is deeply and helpfully interested. He assisted in organizing the Alamogordo Fire Department, a volunteer company, and has co-operated in many progressive public movements. In November, 1904, he was elected county commissioner upon the Republican ticket, having supported the party since attaining his majority. He became a charter member of Sacramento Lodge No. 24, A. F. & A. M.
Hal H. Major, probate clerk of Otero county and a resident of Alamo- gordo, is a native of Pennsylvania. He remained in that state until the summer of 1899, his attention being given to railroads. He then came to New Mexico and was in the employ of the El Paso & Northeastern Rail- road Company until July 1, 1904, being first employed in the auditing depart- ment, while later he became general storekeeper. Eventually, however, he resigned and entered upon the real estate business. In 1905 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, a half mile north of Alamogordo, and is now irrigating it by means of wells. He is making his home thereon, giving his time and attention to the improvement of the property, which he intends to devote to the raising of fruits. He has a wife and two children.
In his political affiliation Mr. Major is a stalwart Republican, and his personal popularity is indicated by the fact that, in the fall of 1904, he was elected probate clerk in a strong Democratic county. Progress and patriot- ism may well be termed the keynote of his character, a fact which indicates that no mistake has been made in selecting him for office. He is a prom- inent Mason, belonging to Sacramento Lodge No. 24, A. F. & A. M., and he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is also a member of the Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Albuquerque.
R. H. Pierce. a merchant of Alamogordo, who is also secretary and treasurer of the board of trustees of the New Mexico Institute for the Blind, was born in Virginia and, in early life, went to Texas. He was after- ward engaged in business in Desdemona, that state, and thence went to Seven Rivers, New Mexico. Soon afterward he established a general mer- cantile store at Carlsbad in Eddy county. He was one of the founders of Carlsbad, and the citizens of that town erected there a brick building, allow- ing him to use it, rent free, if he would conduct a store. His business capacity and enterprise were important factors in the substantial upbuilding and improvement of that part of the Pecos valley. For years he had been a warm personal friend of C. B. Eddy, promoter of the town of Eddy. after- ward Carlsbad, and was associated with him in his numerous enterprises.
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