SHEEP-FARMING IN THE WEST. 127 



Hon. J. Francisco Chaves, of New Mexico, writes : 

 " Without having the data before me, and only judging 

 from what I know of the Territory and of the large sheep- 

 owners in it, I am satisfied that I do not overestimate 

 the number in stating them at 1,500,000 head of ewes. 

 The climate is extremely temperate and salubrious, no 

 diseases, much less those affecting the skin or hoofs, 

 being known. Sheep in our Territory are herded and 

 grazed from one portion of the Territory to another 

 during the same year, thus adopting what may be 

 termed the migratory plan. The climate is dry and 

 the soil is gravelly, producing the most nutritious 

 grasses and shrubs. Of the former the gramma and 

 bunch grass, of which there are two or three different 

 varieties, and the latter, the various kinds of sage, which 

 make the best and most nutritious of browsing, and a 

 large amount of underbrush and seed-grass in the moun- 

 tains. Were it not for the insecurity of life and prop- 

 erty caused by the wild marauding tribes of Indians, 

 especially the Navajoes, but a few years would elapse 

 before New Mexico's hills and plains would be literally 

 covered with fleecy flocks. It is but a few years back, 

 and actually within my own personal recollection, when 

 nearly 1,000,000 of sheep were annually driven to 

 market to Southern Mexico from our Territory. At 

 that time sheep were worth but 25 cents per head, and 

 all those engaged in the business made money. That 

 prosperity in the history of New Mexico was superin- 

 duced by twelve years of unintermitted peace with the 

 Navajoes. A sheep-raiser in New Mexico can safely 

 calculate on an increase of 80 per centum at least. A 



