LAS LUNAS.—ARRIVAL OF LIEUT. IVES. 
53 
mezquites and cotton-woods. From Isleta, the bluff, which hounds the valley, recedes towards 
the west-soutliwest, with a wide slope, affording a gradual ascent to the table-land between Eio 
Grande and the Puerco. 
Having completed a series of observations at Isleta, we proceeded seven miles down the right 
bank of the river to Las Lunas, a military station commanded by Capt. Ewell, of the dragoons. 
That officer had a thorough knowledge of the country in this vicinity, and was kind enough to 
accompany us upon an excursion to look at the route esteemed favorable for crossing over into 
the valley of Rio Puerco. It was decided to adopt this course for the survey. 
Lieut. Ives, with the party despatched from Washington before us with the design of reach¬ 
ing this place in advance of the survey, in order to make the necessary preparations for facili¬ 
tating our progress westward, was detained in Texas for the want of an escort across the plains 
to El Paso, and therefore did not arrive here until the 6tli of October. He succeeded in ob¬ 
taining at El Paso the instruments loaned by the Department of the Interior, which have 
much increased the facilities for making scientific observations. Among them were an astro¬ 
nomical transit, and a “Fox” dip-circle, for measuring the elements of magnetism. The latter 
instrument was invented by Mr. Fox, of Falmouth, England, who has given instructions for 
than to encourage mining enterprise. Though the law in New Mexico was generally very liberal in granting lots for mining, the 
instability of Mexican laws, and their arbitrary administration, have neutralized and annihilated it. When a New Mexican 
wants to work a gold or other mine, not yet occupied by another, he has to apply to the nearest alcalde, (justice of peace of the 
district,) who, according to the means and intended work of the individual, allows him a smaller or larger tract of land, meas¬ 
ured only in front, and reaching in depth as far as the owner pleases to go. The price of the land is trifling; but if the owner 
does not work a certain portion of the mine every year, it falls back to the government. Foreigners were, in consequence of the 
eternal revolutions and new law-codes in Mexico, sometimes excluded, sometimes allowed to participate in this privilege. By 
taking a Mexican as partner, they obviated the law; but the most dangerous enemy was generally the avaricious Mexican gov¬ 
ernment itself. Often, when a foreigner had opened a profitable mine, those trustees of justice interfered, for some reason or 
other, and ejected the owner of his property. Several instances of such proceedings are known. If we add to these causes the 
isolated situation of New Mexico, the thin population, the want of good mechanics and real miners, the hostilities and depreda¬ 
tions of Indians, it will not astonish us at all that, notwithstanding the great mineral resources of the country, so few mines are 
worked at present. 
“The annual production of gold in the two Placers seems to vary considerable. In some years it was estimated from $30,000 
to $40,000, in others from $60,000 to $80,000, and in latter years even as high as $250,000 per annum.” * * * 
“ At the conclusion of my journal, it may not be amiss to add some general remarks in relation to northern Mexico. 
“ New Mexico and Chihuahua, which I consider here principally, because they fell under my immediate observation, are neither 
the richest nor the poorest States of Mexico; but both of them have resources that never have been fully developed. 
“ Agriculture , as we have seen, is the least promising branch of industry. The want of more water-courses, and the necessity of 
irrigation, are the principal causes; but nevertheless, they raise every year more than sufficient for their own consumption ; and 
failure of crops, with starvation of the people, is less common here than in many other countries, because the regular system of 
irrigation itself prevents it. Besides, there are large tracts of land in the country fit for agriculture, but allowing no isolated 
settlements on account of the Indians. Another reason, too, why farming settlements make slow progress is the large haciendas. 
That independent class of small farmers who occupy the greatest part of the land in the United States is here but poorly repre¬ 
sented, and the large estates cultivate generally less ground than many smaller but independent farmers. 
“ As a grazing country, both States are unsurpassed by any in the Union. Millions of stock can be raised every year in the 
prairies of the high table-land and in the mountains. Cattle, horses, mules, and sheep increase very fast; and if more attention 
were paid to the improvement of the stock, the wool of the sheep alone could be made the exchange for the greatest part of the 
present importation. But to accomplish that, the wild Indians, who chiefly in the last ten years have crippled all industry in 
stock raising, have first to be subdued. 
“ Mining , another main resource of the country, needs to some degree, also, protection from the Indians, because valuable mines 
have sometimes been given up, from their incursions; and other districts, rich in minerals, cannot be even explored, for the same 
reason. 
“The silver mines of the State of Chihuahua, though worked for centuries, seem to be inexhaustible. The discovery of new 
mines is but a common occurrence; and, attracted by them, the mining population moves generally from one place to another 
without exhausting the old ones. To make the mining more effectual, onerous duties and partial restrictions ought to be abol¬ 
ished, and sufficient capital to work them more thoroughly and extensively would soon flow to the State. New Mexico seems to 
be as rich in gold ore as Chihuahua is in silver; but yet, less capital and greater insecurity have prevented their being worked 
to a large extent. 
“To develop all those resources which nature has bestowed upon these two States, another condition of things is wanted than 
at present prevails there: a just, stable, and strong government is, before all, needed, that can put down the hostile Indians, give 
security of person and property to all, allow free competition in all branches of industry, and will not tax the people higher than 
the absolute wants of the government require. Under such a government, the population, as well as the produce of the country, 
would increase at a rapid rate; new outlets would be opened to commerce, and the people would not only become richer and 
more comfortable, but more enlightened, too, and more liberal.” 
