1883.] Mining Regions of Southern New Mexico. 151 
try which now is gradually developing into a series of mining 
districts. In the spring and fall, as the grass grows and as it 
withers, the restless bands follow this trail, murdering whomever 
they can surprise, fighting when safely concealed behind boulders 
and rocks, running away when pushed into open country. In- 
creasing settlement and the present distribution of military forces 
under the command of General McKenzie, will have the effect of 
speedily quieting any further disturbance. Everything is so 
arranged that a raid can be speedily intercepted, and it is scarcely 
probable that the scenes of last year will be reénacted. 
Within the past year especial attention has been directed to- 
wards the mining developments of the Black Range and several 
of the subsidiary mountain ranges. The Cuchillo mountains, 
the San Andrea, San Mateo, Caballo, Organ and other isolated 
groups, have been prospected with more or less success, and 
work is being prosecuted at many points. At the very borders 
of a Sierra system which culminates in the Black Range, the 
mining region of the Lake valley has made the most marked 
progress. The extent of its deposits, the richness of certain 
occurrences and the accessibility of the district have directed 
general notice towards the young camp. 
Topographically the entire region is very simple; great areas 
of plateau land, reaching an altitude of 4000 to 5500 feet above 
sea-level, are traversed by narrow, monoclinal ranges which 
trend approximately north and south. They generally owe their 
most elevated portions to the existence of erupted material. 
Broad expanses of rolling plains or mesa-like highlands separate 
the ranges from each other. Water asa rule, is scarce. Within 
the mountains small streams and springs are abundant, but the 
Majority of them sink upon reaching the open country. Long, 
narrow valleys, enclosed by undulating hills or steep bluffs, fre- 
quentky contain lakes or marshy places where water can be ob- 
tained by sinking but a short distance. These ctenegas afford 
admirable ground for cattle-raising, being supplied with luxu- 
Tious grass and plenty of shelter. Oak, cedar, piñon and yellow 
rie are distributed in conformity with elevation and supply of ` 
moisture. — 
Along those streams which attain sufficient volume to with- 
stand the absorbent qualities of the valley-soil, notably the Mim- 
bres and the Cuchillo Negro, Mexican settlements eke out their 
i. 
