The Montezuma Hotel, Santa Fe, N.M. March 4, 1912
Dear Bess:
We are in the ancient historic capital of New Mexico. It is everything they say it is, so far as peculiarities of people and architecture are concerned. I haven't seen much of this town yet but I saw some mighty pretty and very no-account country today.
Willard is situated in the most beautiful valley I ever saw. On the west is a range of mountains called Manzano, which means apple. They are called Apple Mountains because there is an orchard at the foot of them which has been bearing for three hundred years and is still doing business in the usual style. Bears, deer, wildcats are said to be plentiful there. They tell a story of a black bear having been run into the town of Mountainair by a freight train. He got on the track and couldn't get off. Citizens of the town killed the bear.
On the south of Willard at about an equal distance as the Manzano is a range of straight up and down hills about a thousand feet above the plain or plane. Then to the north, the valley extends just as far as you can see.
We took the New Mexico Central R.R. at Willard this morning and came here. It splits the valley from north to south. The view from the back end of the train was fine. We were about twenty-five miles from those said Apple Mountains and in going north we left them behind, but more took their places. We came to the Ortes group - a few peaks extending about twenty- five miles from north to south. They belonged to Stephen B. Elkins and Robert Ingersoll. They obtained them in settling the Star Route Graft. There are gold, silver, copper and lead in them in large quantities. They have been mined by the Spaniards for over 150 years.
To the north of the Ortes mountains are the Pyramid (hills I'd call ‘em) Mountains. They belong to Tiffany, and the finest turquoises in the world are mined from them. One old man told me that Tiffany controlled the market in those beautiful stones by having these New Mexico mines. When the supply is large he closes the mines and when they are in demand the mines run.
We also saw a range of mountains belonging to the Amalgamated Copper Co., another range called Sandea, which means watermelon. It is named on account of the shape and not the melons raised there.
As we came up the valley from the south the sun shown on us, but in front it was raining-the most beautiful rainbow was in front nearly all the way. I wanted to get off and chase the end of it down, thinking perhaps it really might be on a gold mine out here.
It is raining to beat Sam Hill here this evening. The legislature is going to meet-I guess that's the reason. I hope tomorrow will be a nice day for we want to go to the old missions and the penitentiary (how do you spell it). If we don't have to stay there, we are going to start home tomorrow evening. If no bad luck occurs, we'll be in K.C. Friday morning. So be ready for Orpheum and G.O. on Friday.
Maybe you've seen all I've told you but I had to inflict it upon someone and of course thought of you first. Now you owe me a letter, don't you?
Hoping to see you Friday. I am
Sincerely, Harry