WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI ETVEE. 917 



by the Canadian and its tributaries; the sections watered by the Colo- 

 rado and Gila Eivers, embracing a strip on the western line of the Ter- 

 ritory varying from 50 to 100 miles in length. 



Although much of the central portion of the Territory is occupied 

 by broken mountain ranges and elevated mesas, a very large part can 

 either be irrigated or used for grazing cattle and sheep. 



The mesas and table-lands in the northwestern part of the Territory 

 are generally about 6,000 feet above sea level. In the central portion 

 of the Territory such mesas attain an elevation of about 5,000 feet, and 

 in the south about 4,000 feet. The ranges generally rise from 2,000 to 

 5,000 feet above mesas and plains. 



For some of the foregoing facts regarding the physical surface of the 

 country the writer is indebted to the 1889 report of Internal Commerce 

 of the United States. 



Governor Prince, of New Mexico, in his report for 1889, states that 

 sheep-owners met with considerable losses both in the winters of 1887-'88 

 and 1888-'89, the number being reduced by that cause and by sales to 

 parties outside of New Mexico from 1,749,150 in 1887 to 1,339,790 in 

 1888. The high price of wool during the present season has done much 

 to make up for such losses, and has given a new impetus to the busi- 

 ness. Wool which brought from 12 to 14 cents in 1888 sold for 18 to 

 20 cents in 1889, a difference that has brought a large amount of ready 

 money into the hands of the sheep-raisers. The grade of sheep and 

 quality of wool are constantly improving, with satisfactory results. 

 And in his report for 1890 he says that no industry in New Mexico is 

 more prosperous than that of sheep-raising. Not only has the favor- 

 able legislation of Congress enhanced the price of wool to an extent 

 which yields gratifying profits to the owner, bat the demand for sheep 

 for mutton has also greatly increased, causing a corresponding advance 

 in prices. 



PAST HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY. 



The pastoral occupation of sheep-raising has been a leading live- 

 stock pursuit in New Mexico with its people since the early settlement 

 of this country and long before it became a Territory of the United 

 States. There is, therefore, much of historic interest attached to the 

 industry in New Mexico. 



The age of any particular live-stock industry in a country does not 

 necessarily indicate perfection of methods or a superior class of stock. 

 The live stock of any country either improve or retrograde, and the 

 history of the sheep industry of New Mexico is a striking illustration 

 of the fact. New Mexico has fortunately outlived the period of retro- 

 gression and is now endeavoring to attain greater improvement and a 

 higher state of excellence, with every prospect of success. Time, pa- 

 tience, and perseverance will accomplish this necessary and important 

 achievement for the sheep industry of this Territory. There were many 



