478 
the Territory, of 500 miles, averaging 5 miles in breadth. Its waters, 
like those of the Nile, contain a rich sediment, amounting to 20 per 
cent., by weight, of the whole. But little engineering enterprise is 
necessary to render its waters subservient to irrigation. Such irriga- 
tion is equivalent to a heavy deposit of organic manures. El Paso 
Valley has been cultivated for two hundred and sixty-five years. 
Grape-culture finds very favorable conditions, especially warm, dry 
summers for the elaboration of the fruit, while the frosts of winter are 
only sufficient to killa number of noxious insects. Alli sorts of vege- 
tables grow finely, and the temperate and subtropical fruits are gene- 
rally successful in different parts of the Territory. Not one-tenth of 
the valleys of Rio Grande and Pecos is yet occupied, although the settle- 
ments are chiefly confined to these and a few other valleys. The Me- 
silla Valley, 70 miles long, has land enough for 560 farms, of 320 acres 
each, of admirable fertility. Farmers who settled there ten years ago 
without any capital are worth $50,000 to $60,000 to-day. Its tempera- 
ture is genial and its atmosphere salubrious. The Rio San Juan region, 
90 miles by 60, embraces a vast area of excellent land, and is now attract- 
ing the attention of settlers. This region lies about 100 wiles northwest 
of Santa Fé. : 
The population, at the close of 1874, was 121,250; it is estimated, in 
1876, at 135,000. This population embraces 7,648 Pueblo Indians, a 
peaceful, honest, law-abiding people, owning and working farms accord- 
ing to civilized laws. Their lands were ceded them in 1546 by the Empe- 
ror Charles V. 
Vital statistics, especially those of the last two United States Census 
Reports, show that New Mexico returns the lowest death-rate from 
tubercular disease of any State or Territory in the United States. Bron- 
chitis is scarcely known, while many cases of tubercular consumption are 
known to have been cured by residence in the Territory even after con- 
siderable lung cavities have been produced. Thereisa marked absence 
of malarial affections, but for rheumatism and other diseases of the heart 
the climate cannot be recommended, as it tends to enhance valvular diffi- 
culties. For general debility and nervous prostration it is claimed that 
no more perfect sanitarium exists on this continent. 
Manufacturing facilities are excellent, though almost totally undevel- 
oped. Anthracite and bituminous coals have been found in immense 
masses, while deposits of iron-ore are abundant and rich. Materials fof 
the manufacture of leather are also abundant. The public-school sys- 
tem has been thoroughly organized. ; 
Stock-raising seems destined to be the great productive industry of 
the Territory. Animmense area of pastoral lands, covered with nutri- 
tious and abundant grasses, awaits occupation. The grama and mes- 
quite grasses are especially valuable, as a natural process of curing in 
the dry season renders them available for winter-feeding. All kinds of 
stock thrive upon this diet, and cattle become almost as fat as if stall- 
fed. Merino sheep were introduced from Spain three hundred and thirty- 
six years ago and have grown with very littleeffort atimprovement. Yet, 
though they have degenerated in size and quality of fleeces, their mutton 
isexcellent. Judicious crosses have been made with encouraging results. 
The increase of lambs amounts to about 100 per cent. of the number 
of ewes. A flock of 5,000 ewes and 100 rams may be expected in one year 
to amount to 10,100, of which 7,500 will be ewes and 2,600 rams and 
wethers, the increase being nearly equally divided between the sexes. 
The wool-clip from the 5,000 sheep, at 14 pounds per head, amounts to 
7,650 pounds, which at 22 cents a pound brings $1,683 for the wool- 
