38 



THE CENTRAL RIO GRANDE VALEEY 



Main Canal, Bluewater 

 Project 



The population of Belen is now about 2,000 

 having doubled in two years. The town main- 

 tains a prosperous commercial club, occupying 

 its own building, has adequate banking facili- 

 ties and an excellent public school system. The 

 New Mexico Home for Orphans is located 

 there, also the Felipe Chaves School for Girls. 

 The town is well located, laid out on modern 

 plans, and with its energetic, progressive popu- 

 lation and splendid railroad facilities is destined 

 to become one of 

 the most import- 

 ant towns in 

 the Rio Grande 



valley. Peralta, in the Rio Grande valley, 

 and Laguna on the Santa Fe in the north- 

 western portion of the county, each has a 

 flouring mill and prosperous mercantile houses, 

 while other important settlements are Bibo, 

 Bluewater, Casa Blanca, Copperton, Cubero, 

 Grants, Kettner in the lumber region, Jarales, 

 San Mateo, Seama, Seboyeta and Tome. 



All towns in the Central Rio Grande val- 

 ley are connected by long distance telephone 

 and many farmers now have rural telephone 

 service. 



Looking Across the 

 Bluewater Valley 



The John Becker Store, Belen 



