<elevation of 6,000 feet, and here the railroad begins the ascent of the 
mountain, following the winding of a small stream. Near the summit 
it passes through a tunnel, then emerges in New Mexico, and rapidly 
descends to the town of Raton, which is at an elevation of about 6,700 
feet. Here the plains recommence, stretching eastward to the east line 
of the Territory, thence into the region called "No Man's Land " and into 
the u Panhandle" of Texas. Southward they extend through the Terri- 
tory, but undergo a considerable change in character after reaching 
^boutthe thirty-fifth parallel of latitude, or about 140 miles from the 
northern boundary. 
The western boundary is the base of the Rocky Mountains, which 
trend somewhat to the southwest, thus giving a greater breadth in the 
southern part, but the average breadth from the mountains to the east 
line may be reckoned at more than 100 miles. This is the best large 
body of grazing land in the Territory. The elevation along the base of 
the mountains at the west is greater than it is in Colorado, and along 
the railroad the altitude is over 6,000 feet. 
The mesa slopes eastward gradually to the line of the Territory, where 
the altitude is about 4,000 feet. This region is almost entirely covered 
toy several Mexican land grants, particularly those known as the Max- 
well and Mora grants, and is included in the counties of Colfax, Mora, 
and San Miguel. Little or no agriculture has been attempted except 
with irrigation, and that is generally pursued by the native Mexicans, 
who are generally contented with a few acres each on the watercourses. 
In some of the valleys among the foot hills, however, are fertile spots 
where some cultivation has been successfully attempted without irriga- 
tion. According to the statement of Mr. Clarence Gordon in the census 
report for 1880, there were in that year about 220,000 head of cattie in 
these three northeastern counties, or over 60 per cent, of all that were 
in the Territory. Mr. Gordon estimates that there are 11,500,000 acres 
of available pasturage land in this portion of the Territory, which would 
give an average of abo^t 52 acres to the head of stock ; but the ground 
is also shared by a large number of sheep. Colfax County was the most 
fieavily stocked, and gave an average of 24 acres to the head, while Mora 
County gave 35 acres to the head, and San Miguel County 55. That 
portion of the mesa near the Raton Range is so elevated as to be only 
serviceable for cattle pasturage during five months of summer, and is 
chiefly occupied as a sheep ranch. 
The grasses of this region are mainly the same as prevail in Colorado, 
viz, gramma and buffalo grass, in variable proportion, but the gramma 
generally greatly predominating. Several other kinds occur in certaiu 
localities, as on rocky hillsides and on bottom land, but form only a small 
proportion as compared with those prevailing on the mesa. These will 
be noticed in another place. The quantity of grass upon the ground 
varies with the situation and soil. In the west part of the Mora grant 
there is a wide stretch of most excellent grazing laud. On bluffs and 
