fttisccllmwous. f 
THE SOUTHWESTERN EMPIRE. 
Mines of Untold Wealth. A Letter Up¬ 
on thi* Wonderful Mineral Region. 
The Growth of Commerce. 
MESSRS. HOLMES AND SWEETt,AND. 
[Special Correspondents of the Rctiai.Nkw Yorkbr] 
While in quest of facts regarding the re¬ 
sources of this Southwestern region of which 
there is so little known (comparatively speak¬ 
ing) we would deem our duty but half per¬ 
formed were we to remain silent concerning 
its vast mineral wealth. 
Great mountain ranges running princi¬ 
pally from north to south, rear their giant 
crests far up into the clouds, many of them 
being crowned with snow during the entire 
year. The territory embraced in this review, 
lying, as it does, immediately between the 
rich mineral deposits of Colorado and the 
wonderful silver mines of Mexico, embracing 
many of the same ranges of the Rocky 
Mountains which form the back bone of 
America, must perforce be the depositories of 
untold gold, silver and other minerals. This 
is not premise, but certainty, as the develop¬ 
ments of the last few years have amply proven. 
We will first glance over the developments in 
New Mexico and indicate in general terms the 
locality and character of the deposits, not 
specifying any but the most important mines. 
The upheaval or ridge on the east side of the 
Rio Grande from the Cerillos southward 
through the Territory, is a mineral district 
rich in ores—silver, gold, lead, copper, an¬ 
timony, manganese, iron, and coni. Through 
this section near the Cerillos the coal area is 
some 8,000 acres of fine anthracite. There 
are five veins, each averaging five feet inthick- 
mss. There is an equal aud probably a 
larger area of bituminous coal. These mines 
are extensively worked. This is undoubtedly 
one of the strongest mineral regions of the 
Territory, and is wholly tributary to the Atchi¬ 
son, Topeka and Santa Fe R. R. It forms 
the ' 1 divide” between the Pecos and the Rio 
Grande Rivers. The White Oaks district is 
also a portion of this divide (the Jiearillas 
Mountains) and, still further south, we find 
the Organ Mountains in Dona Ana Co At 
the Cerillos district the ore is very hard to 
handle, being refractory and in some cases 
expensive to work. In White Oaks the gold 
is free and easily disintegrated from the rock. 
Some carbonates are found here. 
In the “new placer section” about 18 miles 
from Wallace, “ Canon d’ Agua” and “ San 
Pedro” mines secured water from the Sandia 
Mountains through iron pipes, but it was not 
altogether a success. The " Ortiz Grant” 
contemplates a line of pipes from the Pecos 
River, 40 or 45 miles distant. Water is a 
necessity for mining, especially placer. Smel¬ 
ters, stamp mills and reduction works are built 
at intervals where water can be obtained, so 
that ore from the mines in most instances 
has to be transported in bulk for sublimation. 
Space forbids mention of the many smelters 
and stamp mills ; but those built away from 
water and timber generally come to grief, 
their silent columns serving as monuments of 
stupidity. The Oscura mines of silver and 
the Oscura copper fields are attracting atten¬ 
tion. 
On the west slope of the Rio Grande we 
found a rich copper country,beginning about 
40 miles west of Bernalillo, which extends to 
the south. There is coal on the Alamo Grant. 
Rich mines are being worked in the Liinetar, 
the Socorro, the Madelena, aud westward in 
the Mogollons and San Mateo. The latter have 
also coal and lead. The Mimbres or Black 
Range and the Conchilla Negra Mountains are 
rich in minerals. The north end of this re¬ 
gion is a species of white quartz, carrying gray 
copper. Through the middle of that range, 
from the Polomus south, there is produced a 
carbonate of lead. This section extends as far 
south as Cooke’s Peak. It is of very interest¬ 
ing character. Georgetown, Silver City, Lake 
Valley and Socorro resemble each other in 
their products, each mining a free milling ore. 
Semta Rita, Hanover and San Jose copper 
mines are producing well and being worked 
now; Santa Rita has been worked probably 
over 300 years. There are extensive milling 
works here as well as at Silver City and 
Georgetown. The latter has been known as a 
“ poor man’s camp,” The former and the 
mines at Lone Mountain are of the chlorides. 
The Peuos Altos country is exceedingly rich 
in minerals. Recent discoveries have been 
made in the Floridas and Tres Hermanos. 
The entire country to the southwest for 100 
miles, and south much farther in New Mexico, 
Mexico and Arizona is rich in mineral depos¬ 
its, which have been worked to a greater or 
less extent. Some of the richest camps in the 
Southwest are located through this district. 
Besides gold, silver and copper, iron and 
lead are also found, though but little worked. 
In the northern portion of the territory mica 
of excellent quality, as well as gypsum, and 
in many places both are met with in ledge and 
powder. Marble is in abundance, zinc run 
ning with gold and silver. On the San Juan 
River there is an abundance ©f kaolin and fire¬ 
clay. 
The extensive turquoise mines near Sauta 
Fe ai-e the only ones upon the Western Hemi¬ 
sphere. Thus the latent aud as yet undevel¬ 
oped resources in mineral wealth are beyond 
computation. The steam servant of capital, 
and the iron bands of commerce are but re¬ 
cent invasions. The total miles of road Jan. 
1st, 1881, were 183; now they number 1,096 ; 
an increase of 913 in one year. With the in¬ 
creased facility for transporting heavy ma¬ 
chinery, and the ease with which immigrants 
can be landed in the very heart of this min¬ 
ing region, in palace cars of the C., B. & Q.R. 
R , and C., R. I. & P. R. R- from Chicago, 
connecting at At hison and Kansas City with 
that “ Colossus of Roads,” the A.,T. and 8. F.. 
we may pre diet a certain «ud rapid develop¬ 
ment astonishing and wonderful. 
In Southwestern Colorado, adjacent to the 
city of Trinidad and Northwestern New Mex¬ 
ico, are immense areas of the finest quality of 
bituminous coal, which, besides being shipped 
in large quantities, is extensively used for 
coking—coke being necessary in all the smelt¬ 
ing works both north and south. Thousands 
of ovens burn nightly, and add their brilliant 
light to the glimmer of the stars. 
Of Arizona, we will make a brief extract 
from a pamphlet upon its resources issued in 
1881 by authority of the Legislature : “No 
truer test of the richness of Arizona mines 
can be found than in the steadily-increasing 
volume of bullion which is finding its way out 
of the country. * * * The yield for 1881, 
reckoning on the basis of the present monthly 
production, will be about $9,000,000. This 
estimate does not include the copper product, 
which will reach 4,000 tons, worth over $1,500,- 
000. Add to this the ores and concentrations 
and placer gold which find their way out of 
the country, and the entire bullion yield for 
the present year will be over $13,000,000, thus 
placing Arizona third on the list of the bullion- 
producing States and Territories. This is a 
good showing for a country whose total ship¬ 
ment six years ago amounted to only $109,- 
083.” 
Socorro is, unquestionably, the greatest 
railroad mining center in New Mexico. Around 
it, within a radius of 100 miles, are some of 
the richest discoveries in the Territory. Within 
its corporate limits are the Torrence, the Mer 
ritt, the Reserve, and other mines yielding 
from #1,000 to $1,500 of silver per day. What 
bidden wealth the mountain sentinels guard 
who can tell ? Doubtless millions are yet to 
come us a reward for capital and labor. Be¬ 
fore the advent of the railroad, Socorro was 
but a collection of Mexican adobes around an 
ill-kept plaza. Now it boasts 3,500 popula¬ 
tion—at least one-half of whom are AmerL 
cans—three schools, three churches, three 
newspapers, handsome ne v hotels, extensive 
business houses, and rapid improvements. 
Going southward, we leave the main line at 
Rincon (corner), a village of about 300 inhabit¬ 
ants largely of a floating character. It is in 
the Rio Grande Valley, a rich agricultural re¬ 
gion. Among the surrounding hills, the proa 
pector and his pick have been, and many 
claims are staked, 
ET, Paso, Texas, which we reach at early 
morning, was the subject of our last letter. 
Upon the borders of Mexico, having the ad¬ 
vantage of five railroads extending in every 
direction and penetrating the richest mining 
sections of Mexico and this country, there 
seems no reason, if sufficient capital is in¬ 
vested in the right way, why it will not 
become an important mining center and a 
wealthy city. Great progress has been made 
in the last year; but there are yet remaining 
too much of old Mexican, low and dingy build¬ 
ings. There are three good papers a credit to 
the city—one daily, one semi-weekly, and one 
weekly. Churches, schools and civic societies 
are being organized, as the want is felt, and 
the city teems with men of enterprise and 
push. 
Santa Fe. the capital of New Mexico, 
claims (and with good authority) to be the 
oldest city in the United States. It is certainly 
one of the most interesting. No place upon 
the continent can claim such a heterogeneous 
mixture of the new and the old. The new is 
vory new, dating since the advent of the rail¬ 
road, February 9th 1SS0; the oil is remarkably 
old, dating back to 1597 when Santa Fe, then 
an Iudiau Pueblo, was first settled by Euro¬ 
peans. Now the handsome iron front store 
faces the adobe palace, the home of the Spanish 
Governor in 1680. The magnificent Palace 
Hotel, complete with steam, water, gas, an¬ 
nunciators, baths, and trained servants, over¬ 
looks one story adobe houses, and many nar¬ 
row, tortuous streets. The city has a popula¬ 
tion of 8,500: It has always been an impor¬ 
tant commercial center; the old Santa Fe trail 
being the route for millions: $650,000 have been 
expended in improvements in 1881—$900,000 
paid for freight upon merchandise received, 
ndicating a commercial business of from 
$6,000,000 to $7,000,000. It is the military 
headquarters for the Southwestern District. 
The trade of the city has been largely aug¬ 
mented since the completion of the railroad. 
Its merchants have been and are importers, 
having offices in New York City for the pur¬ 
pose of purchasing. 
The Daily New Mexican published here 
now, employs some 60 men, and has a large 
steam office. It is an able exponent of the 
affairs of the Territory—just and fearless. 
The Santa Fe Democrat is a very creditable 
evening paper. Mexican filagree jewelry, so 
much admired by every one, has its largest 
manufactory here. Many native workmen 
are employed constantly in making new and 
unique designs, and the trade by catalogue 
has grown to immense dimensions and extends 
over the entire United States. 
Intending to write a future letter upon 
Socorro and also on Santa Fe, we will not 
enlarge upon the resources or particularize 
further. Las Vegas has also extensive min¬ 
ing resources which we will defer for another 
occasion. Albuquerque is notably prominent 
also. From this point the Atlantic and 
Pacific Railroad has already penetrated into 
Arizona, and is building rapidly toward the 
Pacific Coast. The Pueblos in the southwest 
ern portion of Colorado, are the termini of 
the two great systems of railway, the Atchi¬ 
son Topeka and Santa Fe and the Denver and 
Rio Grande: (narrow gauge). They are so 
situated that tbeir future prominence as 
commercial centers is no longer questioned. 
Important mining centers with very large 
smelting and reduction works they have been 
for some time past. The tributary mining 
interests of silver and gold extend to Socorro, 
Silver City, Leadville and into Utah. It is 
down grade from the various miuing camps, 
so that trains supplying the districts with pro¬ 
visions and supplies can bring ore back easily. 
A need for additional smelters is urgently felt, 
as the ore cannot be handled coming in at this 
time. Very extensive iron deposits are near 
at hand. The Placer, South Arkansas and 
San Luis mines are well developed. Coal of the 
finest quality, bituminous coking and anth¬ 
racite, is found in great abundance and easily 
worked, so the fuel question is forever settled. 
The manufacture of iron and steel ;by the 
Bessemer process) 5,000 feet above the level of 
the sea and thousands of miles from other iron- 
producing States, is attracting the at ention 
of the world. 
Pueblo has during the last years developed 
rapidly, increasing from 3(720 to 8,000 inhabi¬ 
tants, representing the best elements of the 
Eastern and Middle States. S« fast in fact 
has been its growth that hundreds of tents 
shelter newcomers until the houses tan be 
erected. There ar e six churches valued at 
$70,000 and two additional organizations. 
There are also two graded schools valued 
at $48,1X10, and a new one is projected to sup¬ 
ply the active needs. The Pueblo Chieftain, 
daily and weekly, amply supplies the news¬ 
paper needs. There are various civic orders, 
a turnverein society of the best German ele¬ 
ment, two amusement halls, and two musical 
and dramatic societies. The permanent im¬ 
provements for 1881 figure up over t o mil¬ 
lion of dollars, while the commercial trade is 
estimated at $8,000,000. Two national banks 
reports $5,000,000 exchange business and 
two private bunks have recently opentd. The 
city enjoys the privileges of the Holly system 
of water-works, good gas throughout, a tele¬ 
phone exchange, a street railway system, the 
advantages of two great railways and a grow 
ing importance as a distributing point aud 
wholesale trade center. Manufactories of 
bullion silver and gold, iron, sash, doors and 
blinds, beer, boots and shoes, shirts, brick, 
flour, and, also of Mexican filagree and other 
jewelry are already established, aud doubt¬ 
less many more will follow soon. Beside 
the interests mentioned, we find agriculture 
comparatively neglected along the Arkansas 
Valley, and a stock trade contributing 2,000, 
000 annually. Among projected improve 
inents is a mammoth hotel to cost $150,000 
(unfurnished. I Property is appreciating rap¬ 
idly and building improvements are numer¬ 
ous and substantial. 
South Pueblo, immediately across the Ar¬ 
kansas River, is a city of over 5,000. It was 
planted only nine years ago and until the last 
two years had only a slow growth; but since 
the Fall of 1880 it has continued with un¬ 
abated vigor. There are thre Protestant 
churches and five societies, a large school 
building, costing $12,000; a second of $15,000; 
is now being built. Here is the Union Depot 
of the A. T. & S. F. Railroad an J the D. & R. 
G. system,the latter having three extensions. 
The most important enterprise of the city 
financially is the Iron and Steel Works of the 
Colorado Iron & Coal Co. They own and 
operate extensive mines of iron and coal, have 
a blast furnace, a Bessemer department, 
29? 
nail mill, foundry, machine shops and 
minor buildings, while quite a little vil¬ 
lage has been built for operatives. Over 
$5,000,000 has been expended for buildings, and 
the steel rail mill has a capacity for 3000 tons 
of steel rails per week. Space forbids a more 
extended notice. The city has a flouring 
mill, saw-mill, water-works, gas. street rail¬ 
way, telephone system, handsome brick stores, 
wide, well kept streets, large and assorted 
stocks, a magnetic mineral well of fine 
medicinal qualities, a good hotel and a new 
one projected, two banks succeeding well, 
a building and loan association and excellent 
surroundings. 
The Pueblos will well repay a visit and 
will form in the future what is assured at 
present, one of the great commercial centers 
of the West. 
| ji I SF 
Two Tired Frtends—Fig. 132. 
[After •• Illustrated Catalogue.”! 
--- 
RURAL BRIEFLETS. 
Bessarabia Seed Corn.— E. N. H., of Custer 
City, Fa. sends ns a printed circular of “Bess¬ 
arabia ” Seed Corn, asking us if we know any¬ 
thing of its merits snd whether it is all the 
circular claims for it. The circular says that 
it is the Imperial Maize or Indian Corn of 
Russia—the best and most prolific corn in the 
world. It will stand the severest droughts 
and come to maturity when all other com 
fails. The circular farther guarantees it to 
yield one hundred per cent, more to the acre 
than the best American com, with the same 
cultivation. The address given is Wm. F. 
Fowler & Co., 742 Seventh Avenue, New 
York, dealers in agricultural implements. One 
of the Rural editors called at the above ad¬ 
dress. He ascertained that Mr. Fowler once 
dealt in implements; that he had not money 
enough to carry on the business, and a Mr. 
Boyd invasted to help him out. No imple¬ 
ments were on sale The man who represented 
Mr. Fowler has an office in the front part of 
a newspaper mailing room. He said they had 
about 50 bushels of this com on hand and he 
thought it was introduced in this country a 
few months ago. He gave the Rural editor 
a package of the corn and desired to know 
what we would charge for inserting an adver¬ 
tisement similar to the circular. There seems 
little douot but that the packages of corn will 
be sent to those who send them 25 cents. The 
com is a long, white dent which cannot be 
distinguished from several well-known kinds 
offered by seedsmen. The claims made in the 
circular 6re false upon the face of them. 
[Since the above was written we have received 
five other circulars from our subscribers ask¬ 
ing the Rural’s advice. Eds.]. 
A friend from Fort Collies, Col., writes as 
follows: We would be happy to have you 
come out some time and visit us, in our home 
on “the Great American Desert.” You would 
probably be disappointed in the country at 
first; most new-comers are, and think they 
could not be contented here. They miss the old 
trees, green grass and a great deal that they 
have been accustomed to in their old homes. 
Then, too, our high winds are disagreeable. 
But I have known many' affiicted with lung 
troubles who were very low indeed when they 
came here, who have become quite healthy 
and robust. The sun almost always shines, 
and the air is very pure and bracing. We can 
raise very fine vegetables here, and some 
fruits, anil I think it is only a question of time 
that we shall have all the comforts and 
luxuries of the older States. There is much 
more rapid growth and enterprise than at the 
East. So many cultivated people come here 
for the benefit of the climate that society is 
mostly made up of people of refinement, 
which is an advantage that most newly-settled 
countries cannot claim.... 
Mr Marvin writes us that bis “Centennial” 
Grape is from the seed of the Eumelan which 
belongs to the Htstivalis class, and that he 
used pollen from several Labrusca grapes to 
fertilize the cluster from which the Centennial 
was produced, so that he does not know pari 
tively whether it is a hybrid or not. Talking 
with several grape growers of extended ex¬ 
perience, we w ere surprised to hear the opinion 
expressed that the Centennial shows evidence 
of a mixture with foreign grapes. Mr. Mar¬ 
vin has repeatedly stated that he has never 
used the foreign grapes in any of his experi¬ 
ments, his endeavor having beeu confined to 
improving our native kinds in the hope of 
raising them to the foreign standard of qual¬ 
ity while preserving intact the hardiness and 
vigor of our natives. Mr. Marvin claims that 
the JEstivalis grape gives a better promise for 
improvement than any other species, and h-» 
has made the Northern type of this class the 
basis of his efforts. Mr. Marvin in a private 
note states that our cut of the Centennial is a 
trifle larger than the original cluster, though 
ho has since grown larger ones. 
m_m_ I __„ A / 1 nrltaaf 
a railroad blooming mill, a puddling and The Black-bearded Centennial wheat, Prof. 
