150 NATURAL RESOURCES SURVEY 



state are already either growing fruits or are held by their 

 owners at high rates. It seems probable that the ranch of 

 diversified farming will follow the main river valleys north- 

 ward, leaving the broad, upland, level tracts in the northern 

 part of the state for the larger ranches while mesas fill their 

 role for sheep or cattle pasturage. 



MINING AND FORESTRY 



Considerable has been said already concerning the valuable 

 forests which blanket every mountain range of average 

 elevation. By the exercise of some discretion in- their use, 

 and education in controlling them, these forests may become 

 more and more valuable as time goes on. 



There has never yet been any true estimate made of New 

 Mexico's mineral wealth, partly because so little is known of 

 what is here. It known, however, that there is plenty of coal 

 and probably considerable of the more precious metals. Her 

 true status as a mineral state has not as yet been reached or 

 dreamed of and the future will reveal only by a systematic 

 study of the Geology of the state, what is today Nature's 

 secret. The lithological framework of the state, is, in the 

 fundamentals, similar to the great mineral states of the west 

 and in many ways New Mexico has a larger variety of condi- 

 tions. These conditions mean much for the role which New 

 Mexico is to play as a mineral state in the future. The eyes 

 of the mining world are upon this mining locality and nearly 

 every day inquiries are made as to natural products which 

 the state affords. It is hoped that in the near future a 

 thorough investigation and reliable statistical report may 

 be made of at least some of the most important ores thei/ 

 location, nature and mode of occurance, theory of origin, and 

 desirability of development. 



