NOTES ON HISTORY AND CLIMATE OF NEW MEXICO. 323 

 CLIMATOLOGY. 



Formerly a journey across the plains, a distance of 700 miles from 

 the frontier of Missouri, requiring a life in the open air, traveling with 

 a wagon-train, amid hostile Indians, from May to July, was necessary 

 to reach Santa Fe. Many pulmonary invalids came out, living on game 

 and buffalo-meat, gradually ascending day by day to the level of 8,000 feet 

 in the Eocky Mountains. They were undoubtedly in the great majority 

 of cases benefited, while many recovered from threatened consumption. 



Two railroads now have advanced to within 220 miles of Santa Fe, at 

 El Moro, near Trinidad, and it is expected that by May 1, 1877, the Den- 

 ver and Eio Grande Railroad will be completed to Fort Gnrland, 150 

 miles from Santa Fe. The line of daily stages now runs from Santa Fe 

 to El Moro in 30 hours. 



Now the traveler passes over the plains on the railroad, and at once 

 begins traversing the Eaton Mountain chain and then the spurs of the 

 Eocky Mountains. The old-fashioned trip across the plains is deprived 

 of many advantages to the invalid above mentioned ; although in some 

 cases it is (especially to the timid valetudinarian) compensated by an 

 earlier and more comfortable transit. 



The altitude of Las Animas, (Fort Lyon,) 4,000 feet, and of Trinidad, 

 5,000 feet above the sea, has been quite beneficial to such as require a 

 gradual approach to a higher level. 



They are accessible by railroad, and comfortable accommodations are 

 to be had at both places. 



After reaching Fort Garland, nearly 8,000 feet above the sea, or 

 Santa Fe, 6,816 feet, any less degree of elevation can be obtained by 

 going southward down the valley of the Eio Grande toward El Paso, 

 3,600 feet of altitude ; and at every step southward a milder summer 

 climate will be found. 



A portion of New Mexico, the Mesilla Valley, acquired in 1848 under 

 the Gadsden treaty, has of late years developed features of unusual 

 interest on account of its mines, minerals, pasturage, fertility and 

 climate. It is between the thirty-third and thirty-first and a half par- 

 allels of latitude, is about 70 miles long, from 1 to miles wide, and 

 contains about 28^ square, miles ; embracing the towns of Dona Ana, 

 (population 1,000,) Las Cruces, (2,000,) Mesilla, (2,000,) and others of less 

 size. 



The air is mild, snow being very rarely seen, with a bright daily sun- 

 shine in about 360 days of tlie year. Vegetation dries rather than rots ; 

 meat is cured without salt in the oi)eu air; and it presents to the inva- 

 lid the advantages of a very moderate altitude, varying from about 

 4,000 feet near the Eio Grande to about 7,000 feet in the high cattle-ranges 

 of the Guadaloupe and other mountains. The valley is protected by 

 the mountains from the cold winds prevailing from the north. 



1 know of one asthmatic patient who abandoned the Pacific const to 

 join a friend in Mesilla, who, similarly aflected in every other locality. 



