1883. | Mining Regions of Southern New Mexico. 149 
THE MINING REGIONS OF SOUTHERN NEW 
MEXICO. 
BY F. M. ENDLICH., 
EW regions, perhaps, attract so much attention at present as 
the southern portion of New Mexico. Three factors com- 
bine to render this section of country interesting to the inhabi- 
tants of more civilized domains. Within the past year large 
areas have been rendered accessible to travelers and investors by 
the completion of an overland railroad ; the discovery of mineral 
wealth in regions where heretofore it was barely suspected, has 
imparted the usual energy to the influx of labor and capital, and, 
lastly, the sporadic appearance of raiding Apaches and their allies 
has called special attention to the region containing their battle- 
fields. 
Upon leaving the railroad traveling assumes a somewhat prim- 
itive aspect. Coaches or “jerkies,” which latter fully justify their 
name, are substituted for palace-cars, and “ natural roads” supply 
the place of carefully-ballasted tracks. As a rule the country is 
well adapted for travel, but little work being required in con- 
structing good roads. All points of prominence can be reached 
by stage from the railroad. On one of the routes a representa- 
tive of the immortal “ forty-niners” handles the ribbons with 
consummate skill. “Jim” is a well-known character ; the ease 
with which he guides his team on its daily trip of sixty-five miles, 
the accuracy with which he steers the coach through anarrow, rocky 
cañon after nightfall, and his efforts in behalf of the comfort of his 
passengers, render the drive with him an agreeable recollection. 
Along the road small, circular or straight walls, hastily thrown 
together, may often be seen; they mark the spots where unfor- 
tunate travelers fought their last, desperate fight against raiding 
Indians. Even to-day, although danger is rapidly diminishing, 
. tle. interior of a stage-coach full of passengers emulates the 
= racter of an arsenal. However cumbersome the transporta- 
i of murderous weapons may be, it is well not to forget the 
frontier maxim : “ Look out for Indians when you don’t expect 
therm.” : ; 
_ In days gone by mining was carried on in the copper-bearing 
~ Ocahties, and active operations were long ago pursued in the 
O ies Silver City and Georgetown. Argentiferous strata 
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