80Z 
 
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,:-,-; 
 
 BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO 
 
 REPORT OF 
 
 DONA ANA COUNTY 
 
 BY 
 
 ALBERT J. FOUNTAIN, 
 
 COMMISSIONER. 
 
 SANTA FE : 
 
 NEW MEXICAN PRINT. 
 
 1882. 
 
' 
 
 BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO, 
 
 REPORT OF 
 
 DONA ANA COUNTY 
 
 BY 
 
 ALBERT J. FOUNTAIN, 
 
 COMMISSIONER. 
 
 SANTA FE: 
 
 NEW MEXICAN PPINT. 
 
 1882. 
 
COMMISSIONERS OF THE 
 
 BURMU OF 
 
 LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS- 
 
 Col fax. County 
 
 THOMAS \I. MJCHA i-:i>. Sprir 
 Dona Ana County 
 
 A I.IU.IJT J . FOUNTAIN'. Mesilla. 
 <;ranf CJ on illy 
 
 Lincoln County 
 
 .1 AMES .). DoL.-iN. Lincoln . 
 ]T[ora County 
 
 A.SiiEi/noN.Governor.ex-otnr-io. W[LLIAM KROENK,. Watrous. 
 
 Rio Arrilm County- 
 
 SAMUEL FI.DODT, San Juan. 
 Santa Fe County 
 
 AHOLPII SKLK.MAM. Santa Fe. 
 Sail ITIisruel County - 
 
 (;. W. PjUCHAJtT). l^as \'eiras. 
 Socorro County 
 
 MICH A LI. Fis( ULI:. Socorro. 
 Taos County 
 
 THEO. C. CAMI-. Fernandez de Taos 
 County 
 l\rr< < )'j'i-:no. 1'eraliu. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 
 W. (',. HITCH. President. 
 AL\i;i A:C<> S. OTEHO, Yice J'resident. 
 L. SriEOELi'.EiK,. Treasurer. 
 JOHN 11. THOMSON. Se<M - etai> . 
 
 MEMBERS- 
 AT LABGE. 
 
 Santa Fe. N. M. 
 
 MARIAN< S. OTKIIO. Bernalillo. 
 WM. (J. RiTC'ii, Santa Fe. 
 TiMMDAD PkOMERo. Las A'egas. 
 TRANQUILINA LUNA. LosLnna<. 
 I EHM.XX MME(rELUEKG. Santa Fe . 
 ('HAS. W. GISEENE, Santa Fe. 
 \TCOL AS J'INO. (ialisleo. 
 G. \V. STONEIIOAD, Cabra Springs. 
 
OF 
 
 DONA ANA COUNTY 
 
 TO THE 
 
 BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, 
 
 A strip of table laud, four thousand feet above tin.? sea level, 
 -some one hundred and fifty miles louo- from east to west, and 
 one hundred miles wide ft\mi north to south, lyinjr in the south- 
 east corner of the Territory of New Mexico, forms the county 
 of Dona Ana. On its eastern border is Lincoln counts'. The 
 thirty-second parallel of north latitude separates it from tlie 
 State of Texa> east of the Rio Grande del Norte on the. smith, 
 and to the we>t of the Rio Grande the State of Chihuahua. 
 Mexico, forms its southern boundary. Grant county bounds it 
 on the west, and Socorro and Lincoln counties on the north. 
 Dona Ana county embnu-es the <rreater part of that portion of 
 New Mexico acquired from the Republic of Mexico by the 
 Gadsaen treaty of isr>:-'. Within this portion lies the famed 
 "Mesilla Valley." which, ere many ye:ir> elapse, will be noted 
 as the irarden of the continent. 
 
 This vast trad of table land is traversed from north to 
 >V the Rio Grande del \ortc. which has washed out a vallev 
 
RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 something over five miles in width, sinking over two hundred 
 feet below the level of the plain. This valley has within 
 Dona Ana county some three hundred square miles of alluvial 
 soil, unsurpassed in richness, which, when irrigated by the tur- 
 bid waters of the Rio Grande, which meander through its cen- 
 ter, produces enormous crops of all cereals, and all kinds of 
 fruit adapted to a temperate climate. This valley furnishes 
 homes for nearly or quite eight thousand of the population of 
 the county ; from fifteen hundred to two thousand more reside 
 in the mountains and on the plains engaged in agricultural pur- 
 suits, stock-raising and mining. 
 
 Great mountain ranges spring up from the plain to a height 
 of from two to six thousand feet above its level. These ranges 
 are from twenty to fifty miles long and seldom exceed ten miles 
 in width. Their general course is from north to south, and they 
 are all rich in mineral. 
 
 Between these ranges are great plains, from twenty to sixty 
 miles wide, treeless and almost waterless, but covered with a 
 growth of rich, nutritious grass, that affords pasturage for 
 stock at all seasons of the year. 
 
 Beyond the valley of the Rio Grande, but a small portion of 
 the land in the county is susceptible of producing agricultural 
 crops, owing to the scarcity of water ; artificial irrigation being 
 absolutely essential in this climate for the production of crops. 
 
 The census of 1880 gives Dona Ana county a population of 
 7,012. The present population of the county is about 10,000 ; 
 of these over 6,000 are native born and speak the Spanish lan- 
 guage. As a class they are honest, industrious and hospitable, 
 and are peaceable, law-abiding citizens. Although the Spanish 
 speaking or so called Mexican element comprises four-fifths of 
 the population of the county, yet it is an extraordinary fact 
 that a majority of the prisoners confined in the county jail, 
 charged with serious infractions of the laws, are English speak- 
 ing persons who arc not natives, of the Territory. Were it not 
 for the crimes committed by strangers the criminal calendar of 
 our courts would be comparatively small. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL RESOURCES. 
 
 That portion of the county included in the valley of the Rio 
 Grande is unequalled for fruit growing by any other portion of 
 the Union. Apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, quinces, 
 and indeed all fruits adapted to a southern temperate climate, 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 
 
 grow in profusion and to perfection. Fruit growers are troubled 
 with no diseases of tree or fruit, no damaging insects, no "off 
 years," in fact with none of the ills incident to horticulture in 
 ' other localities. Grape culture is the great specialty. A vine- 
 yard that has reached the age of three years and upwards will 
 produce 16,000 pounds of grapes, equal to 800 gallons of wine, 
 to the acre. From seven hundred to eight hundred vines are 
 set out to the acre. They are planted in rows from six to seven 
 feet apart, are pruned to the stump each spring, and the vine is 
 usually covered with earth, or mulched, during the winter. A 
 vine will produce from twenty to thirty pounds of grapes, ac- 
 cording t<> its age. Small fruits, especially strawberries, do as 
 well here as anywhere else, and better than in most places. 
 
 With proper cultivation forty bushels of wheat or eighty 
 bushels of corn can be made to the acre. It is not unusual to 
 sow wheat in the winter, harvest the crop in June, and then 
 plant the same land in corn, which is harvested in October or 
 November of the same year. 
 
 Fertilizers are but seldom u<ed, as each irrigation leaves a 
 slimy deposit on the land, which renews the soil, and is, in fact, 
 the best fertilizer that could be used. 
 
 Each town or settlement has its own irrigating ditch or canal 
 which is the property of the community. All persons owning 
 or holding lands that can be watered by the ditch are required 
 by law to contribute their ;>ro rata' of labor to keep the canal in 
 proper working order, and they are entitled to the use of the 
 water, subject to the regulations adopted by the community in 
 conformity with the Territorial laws. A u mayordomo" or 
 superintendent is elected each year by the community, whose 
 duty it is made by law to superintend the work on the ditch and 
 attend to the partition of the water. He is allowed a small sal- 
 ary for his services, which is usually paid in produce. The 
 principal irrigating canals in the valley are from six to ^ fifteen 
 miles long :md from eight to ten feet wide at the mouth *; these 
 are the main arteries from which smaller ditches or "contra ace- 
 quias" take the water and distribute it over the land. The pres- 
 ent system of irrigation is susceptible of great improvement. 
 
 HORTICULTURAL PURSUITS. 
 
 Nothing strikes the new comer to the Mesilla valley more for- 
 cibly or agreeably than its perfect adaptability to fruit raising, 
 and the advantages offered by a climate where fruit trees can be 
 "kept growing for nine months in the year. In no branch of in- 
 
RE.SOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 (lustry is the reputation of the Mesilla valley more n'rmly estab- 
 lished than in regard to fruit culture. 
 
 - 
 
 Its grapes and quinces have for many years been noted feu* 
 their excellence, but it is scarcely a decade of years since the 
 improved varieties of pears, plums, peaches and apples have 
 been cultivated, and yet within that short time, although isolated 
 and without railroad communication, the fame of its excellent 
 fruits has spread far and wide. The first orchards of improved 
 varieties of apples and pears were planted in 1807. in Mesilla. 
 Koot grafts were procured through the mails and they prove- ; 
 thrifty and commenced bearing the fourth year. The tree.- are 
 now quite large and healthy ar.d produce enormously 
 i/<-<f /-. The diseases to which fruit trees are liable in the eastern 
 States, are here absolutely unknown. The preparation and 
 exportation of dried fruits of all kinds is destined to become 
 one of the most important industries of the Mesilla valley. 
 
 GRAPE CULTURE. 
 
 The principal variety of grape grown in the Mesilla valley is 
 the Mission" grape ; it was probably introduced by the Span- 
 ish missionary priests between two and three centuries ago. It 
 is very sweet, has little acid or astrlngeney and is entire!}' de- 
 void of the "foxy' 1 taste found in eastern grapes. It is very 
 fruitful and has an abundance of juice. The wine made from 
 this grape is of considerable -alcoholic strength, and is made pure 
 and simple without adulteration of any kind. Many person? 
 when they first use the Mesilla valley wine believe that it has 
 been artificial I y sweetened. This is owing to the tact that so much 
 sugar is contained in the grape that after reaching the maximum 
 alcoholic strength attainable by fermentation the wine still re- 
 tains a very perceptible amount of unchanged sugar. Foreign 
 varieties have been tried; not for wine manufacture, however. 
 They do quite well, but solar have proven inferior to the native 
 grape* for table use. Brandy making has nor been neglected. 
 A very high quality of brandy, said by experts to be fully equal 
 to the best imported French brandy is being manufactured trom 
 the lees of the wine after it has been racked off. Peach and 
 apple brandy of a very superior quality is manufactured at 
 Mesilla. None of the vine pests, such as the /$////' 
 Oidium. have yet troubled i.ho viivs in the Mesilla valley 
 <;:ic reason why fr.ivign varieties of grapos have n 
 u" ',:D: 'rally intro;luvr,l, is psriiaps ovvin^ to the n 
 rhat toreicfri dise^c.-; miii'ht be introduced with them. 
 
D-).\A ANA COL'XTV. 
 
 OMOX CULTURE. 
 
 'The native onion is justly famous for its si/e, beauty and 
 mild flavor. These onions will average? from nine to eighteen 
 inches in circumference, weighing from one to three pound-. 
 Thirty thousand onions can be produced to the acre, averaging 
 over one pound each. The writer has had the benetit of a large 
 experience on this subject, andean say, from actual experiment, 
 that with careful cultivation, ."><>. nun pounds of onions can be 
 produced to the acre //* '/><','. These onions far surpass the' 
 famed Bermuda onion in every respect : they are larger, better 
 flavored, milder, and better shaped, and would command a much 
 higher price in the eastern markets. They can be marketed on 
 the ground where raised at three Cftfifa />>?r i>'in<i . Every acre 
 of land in the Mcsiila valley, under cultivation, can b mado to 
 produce at least one thousand dollars annually if planted in 
 onions and well cared 1 for. An acre of onions will require the 
 exclusive labor of one m.'ii for six month- in Uui year Four 
 men could attend to ten acres, including the preparation of the 
 beds and the work on the irrigating canal>. 
 
 MODE OF (TLTIYAT10X. 
 
 The seed is sown broadcast in heds in January , or Febr-.wry. 
 In April or May the youn^' plant is about one-fourth of an inch 
 in diameter, -and is ready to transplant. For tr insplantiiiiT, 
 the land is laid pffinto beds of convenient si/e for irri ja'inu:, is 
 ploughed, leveled and irrigated: when drv eiMim'h 'to Work, the 
 sets are planted in rows eiirhtren inches apart, and from eight 
 to ten inches apa*'t in the rows ; to transplant, a sharpened 
 stick is thrust about three inches into the ground and with- 
 drawn, the youn.i 1 onion is dropped into the hole, the bed is 
 immediately irrigated which fixes the set firmly in the ground. 
 It immediately commences to mow. When tin- onion is ab >ut 
 an inch in diameter, and the buib begins to form, all the earth 
 should be carefully removed from the bulb leaving it resting 1 o-n 
 t<>j> of f//r * '..// with no portion Imf. f/i" font* in the rounc7. It 
 will then grow very rapidly, and if irrigated every ten days, 
 and hoed between each irrigation, it will reach from one to three 
 pounds in weight ii. October and berfeady for market. 
 
 With ihe exception of the Irish potato, all kinds of vegetables 
 _T.;W to perfection and can be raised at all s<jas >ns of the year. 
 S'.veet notatoes, tomtttoes, cabbage, turnips, beets, pumpkins, 
 peanuts, etc.. etc.. do as well here and are as sure crops as in 
 nv other localit v. 
 
RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 ALFALFA. 
 
 Undoubtedly the most valuable of forage crops adapted to 
 the climate of the Mesilla valley is the alfalfa, a variety of 
 Lucerne. Stock not only eat it with avidity, but thrive and 
 fatten upon it. It attains a height of from twenty-four to thirty 
 inches, and five cuts of forage, aggregating to something like 
 eighteen to twenty tons of hay per acre, have frequently been 
 made in a season. It is difficult to overestimate the impor- 
 tance of alfalfa to agriculture in this valley. It is the most 
 available green forage during summer, and as an adjunct to dairy 
 and stock farming is invaluable. 
 
 There is no such thing as a dairy farm in Dona Ana county ! 
 This is very remarkable when we consider that fresh butter 
 of fair quality can always find a ready market at sixty cents 
 per pound ; (eastern butter of a poor quality sells for fifty- 
 cents), and forty acres of alfalfa would be sufficient to keep 
 forty good cows. I know of no investment that would, if 
 judiciously managed, prove more remunerative for the amount 
 of capital invested than a small dairy and poultry farm in this 
 valley. Eggs sell at from thirty cents per dozen in the spring 
 and summer to fifty cents in the fall and winter. Fowls can- 
 not often be bought at less than seventy-five cents. There are 
 no special difficulties to be overcome in dairy farming or poul- 
 try raising in the Mesilla valley. 
 
 APICULTURE is a new industry, one that has been recently 
 introduced in this valley, and I am informed by Mr. Shirfey, 
 the Register of the United States Land Office ~at Mesilla, an 
 experienced and practical apiculturist who has for the past three 
 or four years had the control and management of the first colony 
 of honey-bees brought to this valley, that nowhere is the pro- 
 duct of the bee of finer flavor or can it be marketed in a more 
 attractive form than in the Mesilla valley. The experiment 
 made with these bees has satisfactorily demonstrated that api- 
 culture will soon demand a place as one of the important indus- 
 tries of Dona Ana county. The imported bees take kindly to 
 the climate and food. The Artemisia, Mesquit and other wild 
 plants afford unlimited pasture throu h three-fourths of the 
 year. Alfalfa, when in blossom, from May to September, 
 affords the best of pasturage not only for stock and swine but 
 or the h oney-bee. 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 
 
 CANAIGRE. 
 
 On the great table lands of Dona Ana county, and in the in- 
 numerable canons leading from the table lands to river bot- 
 toms, there grows spontaneously and in pro fusion a plant known 
 as the u canaigre." The top has some resemblance to a beet top, 
 the root resembles a sweet potato, is from six to eighteen inches 
 long; each plant has from three to six pounds of root. This root 
 contains 23.45 per cent, of rheo-tannic acid, and is very valuable 
 for its tannin. The Commissioner of Agriculture, in his report 
 for 1878, speaking of this plant, says : 
 
 u The examination of the canaigre, for tannin, shows the ex- 
 istence of a very abundant source of this important material, 
 and gives reason for the belief that the latter at least may soon 
 afford a cheap supply to the arts. Thus far only a preliminary 
 examination has been made, but the investigation is being con- 
 tinued, and will, it is hoped, have reached definite conclusions 
 before the publication of the annual report, of which this will be 
 a part. The importance of a new and cheap source from 
 which tannin may be readily attained can scarcely be over esti- 
 mated, and the most diligent prosecution of this search in va- 
 rious directions will be continued until success is assured. The 
 amount of barks and other substances, valued for their tannin, 
 reaches many millions of dollars yearly, and, if the canaigre 
 root answers our expectations, the world's supply may be easily 
 grown by our own people." 
 
 Subsequently an analysis of the canaigre root was made yb 
 the chemist of the Bureau of Agriculture with the following 
 result : 
 
 EXAMINATIONS FOR TANNIC ACID ANALYSIS OF CANAIGRE ROOT. 
 
 The roots are from four to six or eight inches long by about 
 one inch in diameter, deeply corrugated, of a dark brown color 
 externally, a 'leepred brown color internally, and of a peculiar- 
 odor like madder. In fine powder it is of a light red-brown 
 color. 
 
 The fresh roots received from the same locality were smooth 
 in outline, and much resembled sweet potatoes in form, but 
 were dark-brown in color. In transverse section they were of a 
 bright lemon-yellow color, which rapidly changed to red- 
 brown by exposure to the air. They lost water very rapidly, 
 becoming shrivelled like the r.)ots previously received. 
 
 Both the fresh and the dry roots have a very astringent taste. 
 
 2 
 
RESOURCES <>F NKW MEXICO. 
 
 In the fresh root, containing ( >8.0T per cent, of moisture, the 
 tannin equalled 8.51 per cent., or *2<.J.(>2 per cent, when ca! 
 lated to water- free substance. 
 
 The air-dry roots, containing' 11.17 per cent, of moisr 
 contain ^o.-4-o per cent, of tannic acid, equivalent to ^tJ.30 per 
 cent, of tannin in strictly dry root. From the close agreement 
 in the tannin estimations in the fresh and dry roots it would 
 seem as if the tannin was not affected by long-keeping. 
 
 This tannic acid is of the variety known as rheo-tannic 
 and is identical with that existing in rhub in>. In m-.uiy re-, 
 spects cafiaigre root resembled rhubarb, and the folio wing anal- 
 ysis has been made with a view to 'etermine, if possible, the 
 value of cariaigre root either as a t-inninu material or a- 
 icina! substance. 
 
 The following are the pinveiitair !|1 d by s 
 
 the aii - dry root, which contained 11.17 percent, of moist U 
 
 Cold vvati-T 
 
 Alcohol, OS percent 
 
 Alcohol, N5 per cent 
 
 Petroleum ether 
 
 Chloroform ; ''- 
 
 Carbon ciisulphide 
 
 Ether extracts vary in amounts- according to the - 
 allowed to act. It will fee .observed that petroleum ether, chlo- 
 roform, and carbon disulphide extract nearly the same a mounts. 
 The extract thus obtained was a yellow, soft-solid substance, 
 freely soluble in alcohol, ether,- benzole, carbon -iisuiphide. and 
 chloroform : insoluble in water. Its solutions have a faintly 
 acid reaction. It is soluble, in greater part, in alkai' 
 drates, with a beautiful pink to carmine color. Its fair- 
 alkaline ainmoniacal solution precipitates acetate f lead pink, 
 and reduces potassium permanganate in the cold, am: 
 rently i educes silver nitrate. This substance ha* 
 yellow i't$'in in this analysis, although it may contain irace.-> of 
 oil, chrysoplianic acid, and emodin (Quar. Jour. Ch. Soc., x, 
 300). Alcohol extracts the above ///7/w resin and a red brown 
 substance in some particulars resembling the erythror 
 Scl]l(>ssberger and Dopping (Ann. ('h. Pharm. /. L'l'J). 
 
 This substance, when dried, "s a uri' oro\v - a - 
 
 'ble on the wator-bath, sol:;biei;i alcohol and diluted ; 
 iii^-'l'.ible in wal^r, ami near \ ins ,i:;b!e in ether, chl^rofo 
 benzole, petroleum, ether, carbon d. sulphide. \Vilh 
 hydrates it dissolves to a beautiful pnrp'- 
 
DONA AXA rorNTY. 11 
 
 of acid re-precipitates the substance^ Alcohol, also extract.- the 
 rheo-tannic acid already- mentioned, together with some sugar 
 and a red-substance soluble in water. 
 
 Water extracts this red coloring matter, a brownish coloring 
 matter insoluble in alcohol, ether, etc., together with gum, pectin 
 and sugar. 
 
 Dilute potassium hydrate, used after the substance lias been 
 thoroughly extracted by alcohol and water, was colored dark 
 purplish red. When acidified the solution precipitated flocks 
 of a deep red-brown substance, much resembling the red 
 substance extracted by alcohol, but differing from it in being 
 insoluble in alcoh( 1. 
 
 In all these particulars this substance exactly corresponds 
 with aj>oi'<-'tin* and.' accordingly, it has been so designated in 
 this analysis. 
 
 The root contained considerable starch ; the starch-grains 
 were medium-sized, round and ovate. The staich was < -on vert- 
 ed into glucose by dilute sulphuric acid, and estimate. I from the 
 glucose formed. 
 
 Albuminoids were calculated from the total nitrogen, by com- 
 bustion with soda-lime. 
 
 Cellulose was determined in the residue after the extrac- 
 tion of all the above-named substances. 
 
 Moisture was determined from loss of weight at 1 K> c to 
 C. : ash. by simple combustion. 
 
 The figures given are for ash-free substances, and direct esti- 
 mations were made in every case, except for suu'ar and red 
 substance soluble in water." Oxalic and malic acids were not 
 mated. 
 
 >. lin ? Triir 
 
 Yellow ivsin bit- in alcohol. 
 
 Keel sut sta !:cc. si.iubie in alcohol 
 
 bstance, ,-oluble in water < 10. U 
 
 , 
 
 Rheo-ra mile acid ^5.45 -Soiubl 
 
 (linn, pectin, brown color (i.il \ 
 
 Ablbuminoids .I -2 1 
 
 A pore! in 4.7* 
 
 btarch S.4IU 
 
 Cellulose -. 4.52 
 
 Ash-"- .... 4 :> 
 
 Moist ;iv... . ;i 17 
 
 terniiiied by actual experlmen ta- 
 
12. RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 tion. The result of the analysis fails to show the presence of 
 any substances that would prove injurious to leather, and the 
 large proportion of tannic acid is certainly a favorable indica- 
 tion. In many particulars this root resembles rhubarb, and it 
 seems probable that it may be used to advantage in place of rhu- 
 barb, where a more astringent medicine is indicated. 
 
 The rapid change of the fresh root from yellow to brown 
 may be due to the change of yellow resin into the less soluble 
 red-brown substances." 
 
 The result of a long experience in the use of canaigre for 
 tanning purposes by our native tanners has been to remove all 
 doubt as to the reat value of this root in the manufacture of 
 leather. That it contains nothing injurious to the leather has 
 been demonstrated by long use. Its great abundance, the facil- 
 ity with which it can be gathered, and its value as "a new and 
 cheep source from which tannin may be readily obtained." will 
 all contribute to make its gathering, shipment, and perhaps its 
 culture, anew and important industry in Dona Ana county. 
 
 GYPSUM. 
 
 On the great plain lying eavSt of the Organ and San Andreas 
 ranges of mountains is a deposit of crude pulverized gypsum. 
 The deposit is about forty miles long and thirty miles wide. 
 The powdered gypsum resembles huge snow drifts from twenty 
 to fifty feet in height. A shovel full of this gypsum when held 
 over the camp fire for a few minutes becomes pure pl<n<t> / 
 parts. Thj projected railroad from El Paso, Texas, to White 
 Oaks, will, when completed, pass in close proximity to these 
 gypsum beds, and afford a means for shipping this valuable fer- 
 tilizer to the wheat fields of the east. 
 
 There are but four land grants in Dona Ana county. One of 
 these is a private grant of three leagues kvhich has been con- 
 firmed by Congress. The others are colony grants, with well 
 defined limits. 
 
 Agricultural land of the best quality suitable for fruit and 
 wine raising can be purchased at from five to ten dollars per 
 acre with good title. An acre of land containing eight hundred 
 bearing vines is worth one thousand dollars. 
 
 If properly cultivated and cared for the produce of a single 
 acre should sell each year for : 
 
 Ifgrapes, $800 00 
 
 If fruit, sucli as apples, ueaclies. pear-, etc., 500 00 
 
 If small fruit, such as strawberries, etc., 1,000 00 
 
 If onions, 1,00000 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 15 
 
 The adobe, or sun-dried brick, is the material usually employ- 
 ed for building purposes, long experience having proven that 
 it is the best, most durable, comfortable and economical in this 
 climate. The bricks are made of the alluvial soil of the vallev 
 which is simply mixed with water to the consistency of thick 
 mud. Chopped straw is mixed in, and the bricks are moulded 
 in wooden frames, twenty-two inches long, eleven inches wide 
 and three inches deep ; and are then left to dry in the sun. 
 Four men should make and mould one thousand adobes per day. 
 They can be bought for eight dollars per thousand, and for an 
 additional eight dollars laid up in the wall. They are laid up 
 with the same mud of which the adobe is made! A properly 
 laid abobe wall when plastered inside and out should be twenty- 
 four inches thick. These walls are impervious to heat or cold 
 and hence make the most comfortable dwelling house for this 
 climate. A comfortable adobe house with two rooms and a 
 kitchen, roofed, with doors and windows, can be built for $500. 
 
 The native Spanish speaking portion of the population of 
 Dona Ana county, comprising five-sixths of the whole, have a 
 kindly feeling for immigrant & who come and settle and live 
 among them, so long as they behave themselves. The stran- 
 ger, who appears to be an honest man, and to come for an hon 
 est purpose, is received with warm-hearted, open-handed hospi- 
 tality. But these people have so often had their confidence 
 abused by that most disagreeable of all animals, the " American 
 Rough,'* that they cannot be blamed for keeping shy of stran- 
 gers who do not come well recommended by persons in whom 
 they have confidence. The native population of Dona Ana 
 county, as a rule, is peaceable and law-abiding. Life and prop- 
 erty is quite as secure and as well protected in this region as 
 in any other portion of the Territory, and much better than in 
 some localities. The laws are stringently enforced, and ruffian- 
 ism is at a discount. Within the past twelve months, two mur- 
 derers, (one a Mexican, the other an " American Rough, ") have 
 been tried, convicted and executed by due process ot law, and 
 for the past twenty years no man has suffered from mob vio- 
 lence or i ' Lynch Law" in Dona Ana county. 
 
 PASTORAL. 
 
 The vast plains and extensive mountain ranges of Dona Ana 
 county are covered with a species of grass known as "Grama,'* 
 which grows in bunches, more or less thick, according to the 
 locality, but it is always found sufficiently abundant to famish 
 
14 KKSOl H( KS OF NEW .MKXIC 
 
 .stock with the most nutritious food at all seasons of the year. 
 It floes not flourish on damp or clay soil, and hence it is not 
 found in the river bottoms. It thrives best in sand and gravel 
 and is Found in perfection on the dry sandy plains and rocky 
 hill slopes. Morses, cattle and sheep live and thrive upon this 
 excellent grass without other feed ; tiowerless and socdlc 
 covers the broad plains and clothes the mountain sides \vith 
 withered looking bunches that seem to combine the <[iialiti< 
 irrain and the best of hay in the greatest perfec 
 
 Cavalry officers, freighters and stock-raisers give it the very 
 first rank among all sorts of hay. and assert that it is superior 
 as hay. to the best clover or timothy, and this opinion is shared 
 by all who have had experience in its use. Thousands of tons 
 of this valuable hay can at any time be had for the cutting and 
 baling in close proximity to a railroad track for over one hun- 
 dred and fifty mill's in this county, (rood grama hay can be 
 cut tuvj tint/ i t-kvi/eitr. The best season for cutting, however, 
 is in the months of September. October and November, or at 
 anv times after the summer rains are over and before the first 
 frost. With thousands of square miles 'covered with such 
 gra>ses. with a climate that pennits stock to run at large un- 
 sheltered every day in the year. Dona Ana county ncc.'ssarilv 
 counts stock-raising among the most important and most lucra- 
 tive industries. Scarcity of water on the plains is a drawback. 
 but one that can easily be overcome. The railroad companies 
 who have laid over two hundred and fiftv miles of track in 
 Dona Ana county have never failed to find water on the plains 
 wherever they have bored or dug for it. Persons intending to 
 take up stock ranclies will have the benefit of this expert- 
 Intelligent stockmen assert that the -profits on cattle and 5 
 raising will average fifty pr-r cent, annually on the amount in- 
 vested, and that the a-verage loss will not reach two per cent. 
 Yo fahd of xto'-k /.v ever requited to l- win 
 
 The method of stock-raising in D;)fi:i Ani countv is purelv 
 pastoral. The meat cattle, mostly the Tex a-, long-horn, roam 
 at large over the plain*, the brand being the only method by 
 which the owner can identify his propertv. \Yhe.n not kept 
 * 'close herded" cattle will frequently wander a hundred miles 
 from the owners' ranche. Periodical * k round- lips'" are made, on 
 which occasions the young calves are branded and marked with 
 the same mark mid brand that the mother has. Sheep are al- 
 lowed to roam from one watering place to another in charge of 
 a shepherd and his dog, never beino- placed under shelter except 
 
on rare occasions, jvhen it becomes necessary to handle them. 
 The common sheep of the country is far from being- a high-bred 
 animal, yet the stock has been found profitable in cases where 
 improved stock has failed to pay. Mr. Benjamin E. Davies, 
 of San Augustine, is the largest flock master in the county. He 
 has by careful breeding succeeded in discovering what stock 
 and breed is best adapted to this locality, and is the; only sheep- 
 raiser I know of in the county who has succeeded in ma king- 
 improved stock profitable. Hi- success, howevei.isto be at- 
 tributed to intelligent management and a thorough knowledge 
 of his business. 
 
 MIXING. 
 
 The mining industries of Dona Ana county have recently as- 
 sumed an importance . that dwarfs all others. It has been 
 known for many years that valuable mineral deposits were con- 
 tained in all of our mountain range>. but their extent and rich- 
 ness was not until recently suspected. For the following reports 
 relative to the Organs. Lake Valley and the Jarilla districts I 
 am indebted to Messrs. \V. B. Sloan, of the Ni-:w MKXICAN. I. 
 K. Slease. of the Rio (r/'<i/i<I<< R<j^,l <<!, ^ and S. II. Newman, 
 of the Low 8tt\ (El Paso. Texas). I have verified the 1 correc- 
 tions of these reports by personal observation, and therefore 
 adopt them MS my own. without hesitation. 
 
 THE ORGANS. 
 
 The Organ mountains lie about eighteen miles cast of the 
 Rio Grande. The district is at present ahead of any in the 
 county in the amount of development work and prospecting 
 being done. All that is now needed to place the various mines 
 on a paying basis is acoupie of smelters, and it is very proba- 
 ble that they will be erected within a few months. 
 
 The Organs no doubt derive their name from the tall spire-' 
 shaped peaks closely groaned, that, in the distance, resemble 
 
 the pipes of a large church organ, especially when viewed from 
 the plains on the eastern side of the mountains ; hence the 
 name is not inappropriate. 
 
 The principal composition of the mountain mass in >ight at 
 the different elevations, and as shown by the line of breakage dis- 
 cernible at points varying' in Distances, is syenite doloritic lime- 
 stone proper, and is combined with other minerals, sandstone, 
 arbolite. and porphyry, with now and then talc, porphyry and 
 quart/ in mass: and in several places it bears evidence of having 
 undergone a roasting, the residuum filling the surrounding cav- 
 
16 RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 ities. Again, the usual combination of quartz and feldspar, 
 that in the different localities are more or less mineralized, from 
 the cap rock of the clearly defined veins that ramify the moun- 
 tain mass, extending from the summit to the plain on either 
 side of the mountain, within the mineral belt range proper, for 
 such these mountains have, for a distance of at least twenty 
 miles long by six wide, counting from summit to each side^of 
 the mountain plain. 
 
 These mountains have a coal formation in the upper cap of 
 the wavelet before named, that can be tapped several times in 
 three miles and then has its incline under the plairt. 
 
 The following are among the best known properties in the 
 range on which work is now being steadily prosecuted. 
 
 The Hawkeye has a shaft down about thirty feet and shows 
 white quartz with antimonial silver, galena and sulphurets of 
 iron. It has a vein about two and a half feet in width, follow- 
 ing the lead with a black wall of syenite. The ore is said to 
 assay from $100 to $350 in silver. 
 
 The Memphis is in lime formation. The main shaft, No. 1, 
 at this examination is one hundred feet deep. It has a cross- 
 cut of fifty-three feet running west, eighteen feet all in ore. 
 At the one hundred feet level, a cross-cut is being run, in ore, 
 now m thirty-four feet. The ore vein on the west side of the 
 wall is perfect, pitching five inches to the foot. On the east of 
 the wall it is all in ore and its quantity is unknown. The mine 
 is not yet in that shape that a computation can be made. The 
 character of the ore is very flattering for developing into a good 
 paying mine. Mr. Joblin, the superintendent, is pushing the 
 work of development as fast as can be done with the force he 
 has at hand. The ore of this mine is copper-stain carbonates 
 and galena, carrying silver. It is said assays have been made 
 of this ore varying from $40 to $200. If the ore will average 
 half of that it is a fortune for its owners, and will pay them to 
 build their own mill and run a heavy force of men. 
 
 The Modoc and the south extension of the same lode, called 
 the Lebanon, are owned by Col. W. L. and J. H. Rynerson, 
 and the north extension is owned by the same parties and Nes- 
 tor Armijo. These claims show up good ore bodies, consisting 
 in part of galena, carrying silver, copper and a little gold. The 
 Modoc has a tunnel projected sixty feet in the mountain mass, 
 which is no\v thirty feet from the summit, with contact well de- 
 fined, and has every appearance now of developing into a good 
 mine. 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 17 
 
 The Stevenson mine is an old one, but at this time no work is 
 being done upon it. As an evidence of its early use, in the 
 long ages past, not far from the Mocloc and to the southeast, is 
 an old rains, with walls about two feet high, showing that at 
 least a four-room hou.se had an existence, and near this are the 
 remains of an old -smelting furnace, and around it is found a 
 quantity of antimonial silver. Nothing like it has yet been 
 found in these mountains, so the inevitable conclusion follows 
 that the source of this mineral is undiscovered, if in these 
 mountains, or else the ore was imported from some far-off dis- 
 trict, yet unknown. 
 
 The Merrimac is situated one mile and a half north of the 
 Hawkeye and three-fourths of a mile east of the Sylvia. It is 
 claimed to be one of the best leads in the district, and is claim- 
 ed to carry sixty per cent, copper and sixty-six ounces of sil- 
 ver. It has a fissure vein with syenite walls on one side and 
 limestone on the other, and has an eight-feet developement 
 shaft. The matrix has in it iron, silver, oxide of copper r.nd 
 galena. 
 
 The Black Hawk, on the northern part of the mountains is 
 owned by Schaublin, Frudenthall & Co. This is an incline shaft 
 of about forty-five feet, following the vein dipping to the north- 
 east in a fissure, mineralized all the way. The shaft is five by 
 six, copper indications. They claim to have an assay of two 
 ounces gold, $50 silver, and two per cent, copper, i. e., $100 of 
 the copper per ton. 
 
 On the south end of Mineral Hill, on the east side of the 
 mountains, and about eight; miles north of Shedd's ranch, are 
 a series of claims belonging: to a California company, called the 
 Uranus, Vulcan. Lady Hopkins and Pocotiempo. All these 
 claims have a heavy iron capping, and carry both gold and sil- 
 ver. There are no \v several shafts in about ten feet, but -prep- 
 arations are being made to run a 300-feet tunnel to bisect and 
 cut the several veins that cross the mountain and also through 
 the several claims. 
 
 It will not be very long before capitalists will be directing 
 their attention to these mountains, and with one or two good 
 mills in operation, Las Cruces and Mesilla will become the 
 thriving places they were in the past. 
 
 LAKE VALLEY. 
 
 Considering the amount of developement, the Lake Valley 
 mining district certainlv has as flattering an outlook as any in 
 3' 
 
18 RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 the Territory, and is located in the foot hills of the Black Range, 
 upon its southeastern slope, within twelve miles of Nutt Sta- 
 tion, on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, said sta- 
 tion being twenty-seven miles north of Deming. The general 
 formation of the district is fossiliferous lime streaked with 
 strong strata of porphoiy, and the pay material seems to be 
 cased between lime and porphyry, the contact showing more 
 perfectly where the greatest depth is attained. Of the ores, an 
 iron carbonate strongly impregnated with chlorides and sul 
 phides of silver predominates, though lead, carbonates, anti- 
 monial lead and antimonial silver are found in considerable 
 quantities. The entire precious metal yielding area of this dis- 
 trict does not embrace a space of over two miles square, and 
 decidedly the best portion of this is covered by the claims of 
 the Sierra Grande, Sierra Bella, Sierra Plata and Sierra Apache 
 companies. Although these four companies are separate cor- 
 porations, the leading lights of all are the same men, who in 
 mining affairs have a national reputation. 
 
 The properties of the Sierra Grande company are the Lin- 
 coln, Sumpter, and Emporia No. I. Those of the Sierra 
 Bella, include the Emporia No. 2, Strieby, Columbia, and Lit- 
 tle One. The Sierra Plata company own the Stan ton, Crown 
 Point, Golden Gate, Silver Reef, Arizona, Comstock and Vir- 
 ginia claims, while the Sierra Apache numbers in its list the 
 Surprise, Kohinoor, Crescent and Grace Darling. Among the 
 entire list of properties, probably the Lincoln of the Sierra 
 Grande, shows the greatest amount of developement, and con- 
 tains in sight the largest bodies of ore, actually measuring in 
 places twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet of very high grade 
 ore. 
 
 Next in point of development are the Stanton of the Sierra 
 Plata, and Columbus and Emporia No. 2 of the Sierra" Bella 
 companies. All of these show vast bodies of ore equally as rich 
 and almost as large as those of the Lincoln. The Kohinoor of 
 the Sierra Apache, although not as much developed as the above 
 described claims, shows upon the surface even more flattering 
 than any of them. There are at least two thousand tons of ore 
 upon the dumps of these properties, all having been extracted 
 from the drifts, cuts and winzes, (no stoping being done), and 
 its estimated value made from close samples and tests, is far in 
 excess of the original purchase money, which is popularly sup- 
 posed to have been $500,000. Nuoibers of leading mining ex- 
 perts have recently examined these properties, and it is stated 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 19 
 
 that none of them have estimated the ore reserve to be seen at 
 less than $5,OuO,000. 
 
 The ores of these properties are assorted into about six 
 classes, running less than forty ounces of silver per ton, and, 
 marvelous to relate, large proportions of it reaching 5,000, 
 10,00(J and even 15,000 ounces of silver per ton. 
 
 After a great many working tests it has been determined that 
 at least ninety per cent, of the ore of these mines is free mill- 
 ing ; consequently a large force of men are employed in grading 
 space ior mill plants, and machinery is being purchased to 
 arrive at an early date. 
 
 Twelve miles northwest of Nutt Station, on the A., T. & S. F. 
 railroad, in Dofia Ana county, New Mexico, is situated the 
 grandest deposit of silver ore ever discovered. In comparison 
 with it, the treasure which the genii of the wonderful lamp and 
 ring laid at the feet of Aladdin sinks into insignificance ; and 
 the story of the Peruvian Inca, who filled his prison cell with 
 preqous metal to satiate his relentless captor's avarice, will no 
 longer pass for fable when the wealth of this marvelous mine 
 becomes known. Humboldt long ago declared that the wealth 
 of the world would be found in New Mexico, and no one who 
 has seen the mountains of treasure piled up in Lake Valley will 
 herealter feel disposed to doubt the acuracy of the prediction. 
 
 A little more than three years ago a miner by the name of 
 Lufkin, then living at Hillsboro, New Mexico, fifteen miles 
 northwest of Lake Valley, or McEvers' ranch, as it was then 
 called, in company with a companion, started out on a prospect 
 ing trip in the foot-hills of the .southern extremity of the Black 
 Range. They had no luck for some weeks ; but finally, at a 
 point about two miles west ^ of MeEvers' they discovered a 
 large body of black ore croppings extending over a hundred 
 acres of territory and indicating plainly the presence of min- 
 eral of some kind. The big, black bodies of ore, cropping out 
 above the surface, showed that, whatever the nature of the min- 
 eral to be found, it was certainly in immense quantities. They 
 sank several prospect holes and soon satisfied themselves that 
 they had "struck it rich*' in silver ; but, as their "grub stake'' 
 was by this time exhausted, they returned to Hillsboro and got 
 employment, one as a cook and the other as a miner, saved up 
 their wages for several months, in order to have a "grubstake*' 
 when they should go again to work on their claim. 
 
 In a few weeks the Indian war broke out upon the country 
 and mining operations in that section were suspended. Finally, 
 
20 RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 however, through the assistance of Hon. J. A. Mil lor. of Grant 
 county, N. M., who was then the post trader at F< Bayard, 
 Lufkin and partner were enabled to develop their mines suffi- 
 ciently to prove that they were first-class ; and then a rush be 
 gan towards the new district. Claims were located on all sides 
 and quite a mining camp sprung into existence. Ore running 
 as high as 1.000 per ton was exposed, and Mr. Miller began to 
 look around for means to better develop the mines. The result 
 was that about a year ago Mr. Miller effected a sale of the prin- 
 cipal mines in the district to a syndicate of New York capital- 
 ist lor S-25,000, Lufkin and his partner receiving 25,000 of 
 the amount. 
 
 This company, of which Gco. D. Roberts, a New York gen- 
 tleman, worth several million dollars, is the head, immediately 
 began to sink shafts and run drifts to ascertain the extent and 
 richness of the mines. It soon transpired that the original 
 owners had not even dreamed of the wealth they had discover- 
 ed. Rich deposits wers continually found, until it finally be- 
 came a very common .thing to hear of two and three thousand 
 dollar rock at Lake Valley ; and a couple of months ago even 
 those who had, by familiarity with the rich ores of the district, 
 become indifferent to the wealth they daily encountered, were 
 perfectly astounded at new developements which uncovered to 
 their astonished visions enormous chambers of nearly pure silver. 
 
 There are at Daly (the name given to the mining camp), not 
 less than T,0(0 tons of ore on the dumps, running from si 00 to 
 $20,0' to the ton ; and in the mines, already uncovered and 
 exposed to view, thei'3 are certainly not less than 20,000 tons 
 more of the same kind and richer ore. We believe we saw, 
 in the two hours it took us to view the mines, not less than 
 $15,000,000 worth of ore. That running from siiOO to sSOO to 
 the ton is classed us low- :T:ide in this camp. The pay begins 
 at the grass roots and even in places at the cronpings above 
 the ground, and continues to a depth already readied of fiftv 
 feet, and along the hillside for a distance of probably 2,000 feet. 
 The deepest shaft we descended was not over fifty feet, and the 
 ore body was still pitching downward. Huge caverns have been 
 excavated beneath the grass, with only a thin roof of lime- 
 stone or porphyry from one to six or eight feet. thick supported 
 on timbers, which gives the place a wild, weird appearance, 
 with its huge mountains of silver ore rolled one upon another 
 by nature in her throes with some primeval volcano, and 
 prepares one for the appearance, in some dark corner, of the 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 21 
 
 genius who presides over nature's treasures. Instinctively one 
 raises his candle to get a better view of the magic chambers. 
 Here the rock is black and looks like iron slag from some huge 
 forge ; there it has a reddish cast, as though the internal fires to 
 which it owes its origin had not yet cooled off ; yonder the ore 
 loses its characteristics as a rock formation and resembles a huge 
 mass of solt quicksilver amalgam, both to the touch and to the 
 eye ; in another spot it hangs in beautiful, glistening, soft chlo- 
 ride crystals which feel damp in the hand, and when compressed 
 yield to the pressure and assume the shape of the closed palm, 
 like dough. The latter formation is more readily smelted than 
 any ore we ever saw before ; the flame of the candle sending the 
 virgin silver dripping down the wall like shot. We had heard 
 and doubted this story and were perfectly well aware of the 
 fact that, according to the chemistry, it re [iiires 1,873 degrees 
 fahrenheit to fuse silver ; yet we are now living witnesses to the 
 fact that the flame of a candle held against the projecting crys- 
 tals of chloride of silver in these mines, unaided by the blow- 
 pipe, is sufficient to fuse them in half a minute. These chlo- 
 rides run about S2T, 000 to the ton; and we certainly saw of 
 them and horn silver (equally as rich) a hundred tons. The 
 chamber containing these crystals is called the Bridal Chamber ; 
 and it is here that Gov. Suffbrd, of Arizona, offered to give 
 $50.000 to be allowed to carry off and keep all the ore that ho 
 might by his own individual labor extract in t en hours. There 
 is scarcely any waste rock. There are live piles of ore to one 
 of waste ; and it is with difficulty that rock is obtained for 
 building the clumps to the height of a wagon without using ore 
 for the purpose. We stood in mute astonishment, contemplat- 
 ing the vast wealth before us and resolved to read again, but 
 this time for truth, the story of Aladdin and the Wonderful 
 Lamp, which we read in our boyhood days for fiction, never 
 dreaming then that the time would .ever come when the wealth 
 which the genii lavished upon the tailor's son would appear 
 aught else than the veriest chimera of a fertile imagination. 
 
 To work this mineral, the company owning the mines is erect- 
 ing a 20-stamp mill to cost $80, 000 ; and when it is finished it is 
 predicted the output of bullion will run $100,000 a day for 
 many months. In another issue we shall speak of this mill and 
 of other interesting features connected with this wonderful 
 spot. The present article has already stretched out to undue 
 proportions, and we will only add, in closing, that the history 
 of the world contains no parallel to this New Mexico mine. 
 
22 RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 Not a thousand persons have yet seen it, and probably not one- 
 tenth as many more will feel disposed to accept without reserve 
 our statements ; but they are till true, nevertheless. The rich 
 chambers we have described are situated at a point of junction 
 of two claims called respectively the Lincoln and the Stanton by 
 the locators, but now absorbed into the Sierra Plata and Sierra 
 Grande groups by the New York company. 
 
 THE JARILLA DISTRICT. 
 
 The Jarilla mountains, now known as the Silver Hills district, 
 are about twenty miles east of Shedd's ranch, which is" on the east- 
 ern slope of the Organ range. They are about twelve miles in 
 length from north to south, and present every appearance of be- 
 ing a volcanic upheaval in the midst of the arid plaid, some 
 sixty miles wide, which lies between the Organ and the Sacra- 
 mento ranges. 
 
 The Jarillas are a very irregular mass of rocks, comprising 
 many broken ridges and abrupt, jagged peaks, with deep 
 gulches and ravines. The formation consists of granite and 
 lime, with some porphyry, and is such as would naturally attract 
 the eye of the intelligent prospector. 
 
 The Silver Hills have sprung into fame only since the 1st of Jan- 
 uary last, though they have long been known to be rich in 
 mineral, and many attempts have been made to prospect and 
 develop them ; but owing to the Avant of water, which had to 
 becarried Irom Shedd's ranch, every effort proved futile. 
 
 At length a band of daring prospectors resolved to invade 
 this hitherto inaccessible region, and make bold and strenuous 
 efforts to surmount its difficult ies. On their return, their 
 "finds'* 1 proved so satisfactory that a host of others, on hear- 
 ing their report, hastened to follow so good an example, and 
 in a short time this small area was alive with prospectors, and 
 more than 150 claims was recorded, besides which many others 
 are found equally good, but are not yet placed on record. 
 
 The lodes generally extend northwest and southeast. At the 
 south end the capping is mostly iron, in some of its numerous, 
 iorms. These cappings are gold and silver bearing ; but most 
 of the miners think, as soon as the cap rock is removed, the 
 principal yield will be gold. This supposition seems to be well 
 grounded, as placer gold is found in nearly all the gulches. 
 Some silicious lime is also found in the south. As you pass to 
 the north, the iron cvpping rrivrs way to that of silioions li 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 23 
 
 and the prospect for gold decreases while that for silver and 
 copper increases, But while this rule holds good in the main, 
 like other rules it has exceptions. So we are not surprised to 
 learn that some claims at the south run high in silver and copper. 
 
 It is conceded by mining men of intelligence and experience 
 that in this small district there is more mineral in sight than in 
 any other district they hrve yet seen. Still, no one can say that 
 these extraordinary surface indications will prove to be good 
 mines. Nothing but the steady ring of the hammer and drill 
 and the boom of the blast will prove where there are mines and 
 where there are none. Nevertheless, few camps have, in so short 
 a space of time attracted the attention of so much capital. 
 Many moneyed men visit the Jarillas, and few return without 
 investing. Several claims have been sold, without develop- 
 ment, for $500 each, while others have been bonded at 820,000. 
 Interests have also been sold in some claims at good figures, 
 where the locators were too sanguine to sell outright, but not 
 rich enough to develop alone. 
 
 All the ore is impregnated, to a greater or less degree, with 
 copper in its various forms, and yields well in gold and silver. 
 We have had reports of assays running as high as 76 per cent. 
 in copper, and from 15 to 79 ozs. in silver. Of gold we have 
 .no specific report ; but as before intimated the prospect is very 
 good. It is said that from four pounds of ore from the Refufia 
 mine, smelted in the rudest manner, two ounces of silver were 
 obtained. 
 
 of the prospecting has been done by men who under- 
 stood their business, consequently there are many groups con- 
 veniently arranged for woi king by companies on a large scale. 
 Of these we n:ay mention the Iron group, at the south end, on 
 which an open cut 27 feet, has been made in solid iron a good 
 surface indication, and showing better at every blast. 
 
 South of this is the Paul Jones group, comprising several 
 fine locations, with 42 per cent, cooper, $38 in silver and $2f> in 
 gold on the surface. In the same locality is the Refufia, one of 
 the best silver piospects in the Territory; also the Primer 
 Amor, Big Nose and Mr. A. J. Fountain's claims, which yield 
 79 ozs. of silver witn a good percentage of copper on the sur- 
 face, and many others perhaps equally as good, were the proper 
 tests made. 
 
 About the center of the district lies the Egyptian group, 
 comprising a number of locations yielding Oil ozs. silver and a 
 
24 RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 large percentage of copper. There are many other fine claims 
 in this neighborhood which show good looking ore at a nominal 
 depth, but which have not yet been tested. 
 
 At the extreme north may .be found the Grand Copper belt, 
 sixty feet wide, carrying 40 to 50 per cent, copper, & 18 silver 
 and SO gold at the surface. In an interview with Messrs. 
 Matlock and Bintort we learned that the Copper Queen on this 
 belt Avas sold to Messrs. Nobl:-) and Dougher of El Paso for 
 $10,000, with more than four hundred tons of ore in sight. 
 Also, that the E peror of Russia and the I , in this vicin- 
 
 ity, were bonded to the s;i;nc parties f 
 
 If the practicrbility of obtaining \v can once be 
 
 established, the Silver Hills district will immediately rank first 
 in mining camps. And on account of t.;ie basin shape of the 
 valley, opening aB it does to the north, to receive the under 
 drainage of a wide valley between continuous ra ages ot moun- 
 tains for more than 150 miles, into which, we know that a 
 large quantity of water must sink, to be found somewhere in 
 the natural course below, this may not prove impossible* 
 
 A well has been sunk te a depth of ninety feet in Don-town, 
 about five miles west of the Jarillas, at the bottom of which is 
 a bed of sand and red clay sufficiently wet to squeeze Avater 
 from it with the hand It this bed be perforated, and sand and 
 gravel found below, water will undoubtedly follow, and prob- 
 ably rise almost to the surface. If so, we predict for the Ja- 
 rillas a boom such as has not been known since the palmy days 
 of Leadville. 
 
 Mining in the .Jarillas, prior to the recollection of the oldest 
 visitants, and indeed prior to any well authenticated liisto 
 this country, has left itf traces in numerous 'dumps of re;ericd 
 ore, evidently considered worthless in comparison with that 
 which was probably packed long distances for reduction by the 
 rude methods then known, but which will yield a handsome 
 profit under present modes of treatment and advantages of 
 transportation. The old shafts, or more properly " irang 
 ways, 1 * 1 from which the oie ha.s been carried on the backs of 
 peons, have yielded to the mouldering influences of time ; and 
 the work of denudation which has been going on for decades, 
 perhaps centuries, has filled them up and almost obliterated 
 from thorn every trace of human industry. Even the old ore 
 piles were covered with wash from the mountains above, so that 
 they were only found by mere accident. At other places, great 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 25 
 
 excavations have been made for that highly-prized and valuable 
 gem, the turquoise ; and, judging from the numerous small 
 specimens found in the old debris, not without success. But as 
 civilization advances, the demand for, and hence the value of, 
 mere ornament decrease, so that it is not likely that it will ever 
 pay again to work these deposits for turquoise. 
 
 Some speculative minds believe these traces of ancient mining 
 have been thus obliterated by the Pueblo Indians, to keep their 
 Spanish conquerors from using their enforced labor to enrich 
 themselves ; while others deem itot more recent date, and claim 
 that they were concealed by the Mexicans about the time of the 
 cession of Ne\v Mexico to the United States. But for ourselves, 
 we prefer to attribute the obliteration to natural causes. 
 
 THE POTRILLAS. 
 
 This is a small range of mountains near the Mexican line, 
 about thirty-five miles southwest of Mesilla, many valuable 
 mines have already been discovered in this range. 
 
 THE SAX AXDREAS AND SAX NICHOLAS MOUNTAINS. 
 
 These mouutain ranges otter a tine field for the piospector ; 
 they are northern extensions ot' the Organ range, and are known 
 to be rich in valuable mineral. But very little prospecting has 
 yet been done in these ranges, in fact it may be said, notwith- 
 standing the rich discoveries made in Lake Valley, Hillsboro, 
 the Organs and the Jariilas, that the mines of Doiin Ana county 
 have not yet been fairly prospected. J have myself, with a 
 horn spoon and a canteen of water, washed gold out of the sand 
 in a dozen canons of the Jarilla mountains, and I am informed 
 by reliable gentlemen that they have done the same in the San 
 Andreas range, yet I know of no placer claim having been 
 located in either of these ranges. 
 
 The prospector in Dona Ana county need have no apprehen- 
 sion that his mineral discoveries may turn out to be within the 
 limits of somebody's land grant, /or not foot of iidn<-rul l<nl 
 in thi* connty in covered btj a (/rant. 
 
RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 TOWNS. 
 
 HILLSBOROUGH. 
 
 The town of Hillsborough derives its importance chiefly 
 from the mines in the vicinity. The population is now about 
 five hundred, mainly American, and is being rapidly swelled by 
 miners and prospectors. There are several business houses 
 located here which do a large trade with the surrounding 
 camps, among the most important of which are, Perrault & 
 Galles and S. M. Blun. As soon as the stamp mill of the 
 Doila Ana Mining Company is started up the ore now on the 
 dumps can be reduced to bullion, and this will do much towards 
 building up the town. Hillsborough will always be a place of 
 some note among the mining centers of the county. This town 
 is situated on a small stream called the River Perches, on the 
 eastern-slope of the Black Range of mountains, about twenty- 
 five miles west of the R : o Grande, and twelve miles north of 
 the new town of 
 
 SILVER CAMP, 
 
 or Lake valley ; population at present about five hundred and 
 rapidly increasing. This town is twelve miles west of Nutt 
 Station, on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. A 
 daily line of stage coaches convey passengers from the station 
 to the camp. The mines at Lake Valley are undoubtedly the 
 richest now being worked on this continent. 
 
 COLORADO. 
 
 An agricultural town, situate in the Rio Grande valley, on 
 the A., T. & S. F. R. R.; population about 750, mostly Spanish 
 speaking natives ; principal productions, corn, wheat, beans, 
 barley, etc.; one ".arge business house, Lynch Bros.' 
 
 SANTA BARBARA. 
 
 An agricultural to wn, eight miles north of Colorado, in the 
 Rio Grnnde valley. Population, 200. 
 
 RINCON. 
 
 A railroad town; is the point of junction where the southern 
 branch of the A., T. & S. F. road connects with the main line. 
 Population about loo. 
 
 DONA ANA. 
 
 This town is situate in the Mesilla valley on the Dona Ana 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 27 
 
 colony grant population about 750, mostly native. Wine and 
 fruit-growing are the most important industries. The close 
 proximity of this t.nvu to the Organ mountain mines give it a 
 prospective importance, it beinoj the nearest railroad point and 
 having all other facilities, it is more than probable that the 
 works for the reduction of the ores of the Memphis and other 
 mines in its vicinity will be erected here, in which event it will 
 assume an importance second to no other town in the valley. 
 The best quality of bottom land, under cultivation, with water 
 privilege, adapted to the cultivation of the grape, fruits and 
 onions, can be purchased in the vicinity of Dona Ana in tracts 
 of from 50 to 100 acres at $10 per acre, with good title. 
 
 LAS CRUCES. 
 
 A town with a population of about 1,500, on the A., T. & S. 
 F. railroad, six miles south of the town of Dona Ana and with- 
 in the limits of the Dona Ana colony grant. This is the busi- 
 ness center of the county. ^SQQTQtt Ljhrarte 
 
 By an act of the last legislature the county seat was removed 
 from the latter place to Las Cruces, which will, of course, 
 give it an added importance. The valley of the Rio Grande, 
 for some distance north of here, and on south to the Texas bor- 
 der, is considered the finest fruit-growing section of the Terri- 
 tory. The gardens ot Las Cruces and Mesilla are justly famed 
 for their splendid fruit, which is unrivaled in size and flavor by 
 any grown in the Eastern States. 
 
 In educational advantages Las Cruces is not behind the other 
 cities of the Territory. The Sisters of Loretto have established 
 here a female seminary, which is largely patronized by the resi- 
 dents of this portion of the Territory. In addition to this, 
 there is a good public school ; this, too, is well supported by the 
 business men of the town. 
 
 At present there is one weekly paper published in Las 
 Cruces the Rio Grande ItepvMican, C. J. Hildreth, man- 
 ager which is devoted mainly l > the interests of the Mesilla 
 valley, and containing much interesting and useful information 
 concerning the garden spot of the Territory. 
 
 Las Cruces has several large mercantile establishments where- 
 full assorted st< cks are always kept, tw3 hotels, two flouring mills, 
 one church (Catholic), a Masonic lodgre, two lawyers, two doc- 
 tors, drug st'Tcs, bakeries, butcher shops, blacksmith and car- 
 penter shops, etc. Lines of coaches run daily to the Organ- 
 
28 RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 mountain mining camps. Miners' and prospectors' outfits can 
 be procured at reasonable pi-ices. The distance irom Las Cruces 
 to the Organ mountains i.? a'jou!; sixteen miles. 
 
 MKSILLA. 
 
 A town of about 2j>;)0 inhabitants in the heart of the Mesilla 
 valley, two miles from the Las Cruces railroad depot. Two 
 lines of hacks make trips twice a day between this town and 
 Las Cruces. The (<;wn of Mesilla is in the. center of the 
 Mesilla colony grant, contaijiii ( ..r about twenty-four square 
 miles of the richest land in the valley. The town is famous for 
 its magnificent orchards a /.a- 1>. It is laid out in regular 
 
 streets, which are shaded by bu;^ coiixwwood and other shade 
 trees. The terms ot the United States and Territorial courts 
 for the Third Judicial District are held here. The United States 
 Land Office for Southern New 3L xlco is located here, also the 
 United States Signal Office. There are several large mercantile 
 establishments, one newspaper, the Mtsilla Ncw$, Ira M. 
 Bond, editor and proprietor ; 'Hie Catholic church, one Episco- 
 pal church, one convent of tiie Sisters of Mercy, who also keep 
 an excellent school for boys an-: I girls, one flouring mill, one 
 hotel and t,vo boarding houses, a doctor, a lawyer, blacksmith 
 and carpenter shops, butchers, bakers, etc. Some of the finest 
 residences in the Mesilla valley are situated in the town of 
 Mesilla. Wine and fruit-growing are the principal industries. 
 
 SAXTA TOM AS. 
 
 A small town with a population of 200, is in the Mesilla val" 
 ley, six miles south of the town of Mesilla. Principal Indus" 
 tries, stock-raising, wheat, corn, beans and onions. 
 
 BOSQUE SECO. 
 
 An agricultural town, is about three miles east of Santa 
 Tom as, in the Mesilla valley ; population, 3oo. 
 
 SAN MIGUEL. 
 
 Population, 400 ; is three miles south of Santa Tomas, in the 
 Mesilia valley. Industries, agriculture, wine growing and stock- 
 raising. 
 
 LA MESA. 
 
 Population, 500 ; is three miles south of S:m Miiruel ; princi- 
 pal industries, agriculture and stock-raising. 
 
 CHAMBERIMO, 
 
 A flourishing town of TOO inhabitants, in the Mesilla valley, 
 
DONA AXA COUNTY. 
 
 six miles south of La Mesa, the center of a magnificent tract of 
 land which is behrjf rapidly taken- up and planted in vinos and 
 fruits. 
 
 AMOLES. 
 
 A small town nine miles south of Chamberino ; population 
 about 300; principal industry, stock-raising; although consid- 
 erable land is planted in grain. This town and Chainbermo are 
 within the limits of the lie fugia colony grant 
 
 TITLE ROSA. 
 
 A well laid out town of 500 inhabit ints ; is situ ited at the 
 mouth of the Tulerosa canon, on the Tulerosa river, at the 
 western slope of the Sacramento mountains, SO miles northeast 
 from Las Cruees. Industries, stock-raising, wine and fruit 
 culture and grain. The same remarks apply to 
 
 LA LUZ. 
 
 A town of 300 inhabitants, situate about nine miles south of 
 Tulerosa, at the mouth of La Luz canon, at the foot of the 
 western slope. of the Sacramento mountains. There are several 
 other smaller towns and settlements in the county, not the least 
 important of vhich is the Organ mountain mining camp, sixteen 
 miles east of Las Cruees. 
 
 HOMESTEAD LAW. 
 
 NOTE. The following with reference to homestead and other laws, 
 courts and taxes, is of course true to the Territory at large : 
 
 Under the acts of Congress and the Territorial statutes there 
 is exempted from seizure and forced sale under any process or 
 order of any court of law or equity the ground-plat or portion 
 of lands and the buildings thereon occupied as the residence 
 and property of the debtor being the owner of a house and 
 having a family, up to the sum of one thousand dollars ; and if 
 in the opinion of the creditors the premises claimed by the 
 debtor to be exempted are of greater value than one thousand 
 dollars, the premises may be exposed for sale, unless a greater 
 sum than one thousand dollars be offered the premises claimed 
 as a homestead shall not be sold ; if more than one thousand 
 dollars be offered, the premises may be sold ; but in that event 
 one thousand dollars of the purchase money shall be paid to the 
 debtor and that sum shall be exempted from execution for one 
 year. 
 
30 RESOUKCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 The intention and effect of this homestead law is to exempt 
 from execution and forced sale the homestead of each head of 
 a family up to the value of one thousand dollars. 
 
 EXEMPTION Or PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM FORCED SALE. 
 
 There is also exempted by law from execution and forced 
 sale for debt the clothing, beds and bed-clothing necessary for 
 the use of the family ; firewood sufficient lor the use of the 
 family for thirty days when actually on hand and intended for 
 family use ; all religious and school books used by the family ; 
 all religious and family pictures ; provisions to the amount of 
 twenty-five dollars ; kitchen furniture to the value of ten dol- 
 lars ; tools and implements used by the debtor to carry on his 
 trade or business, not to exceed twenty dollars in value ; the 
 articles exempt to be selected by the debtor and their value to 
 be appraised by two disinterested householders of the county. 
 
 THE COURTS. 
 
 The counties of Dona Ana, Grant and Lincoln comprise the 
 Third Judicial District, having a court of common law and 
 equity jurisdiction, presided over by an Associate Justice of the 
 Supreme Court of the Territory, who is appointed by the Presi- 
 dent and is paid by the United States. The district courts are 
 the highest courts of original jurisdiction iu the Territory. They 
 are Territorial and iwt United States court*, but are authorized 
 by act of Congress to try cases arising under the acts of the 
 Congress of the United States, and when engaged in the trial 
 of sucJi cases are invested with the powers of circuit and district 
 courts of the United States. Two terms are held each year in 
 each county in the district. The terms in Dona Ana county 
 commence on the fourth Mondays of March and August and 
 continue four weeks. The terms for Dofia Ana county are held 
 at Mesilia, at which terms all cases arising under the laws of 
 the United States in the th/*ee counties comprtxiity f/i? district are 
 tried. When the court sits in Dofia Ana county the grand and 
 petit juries are selected from the three counties comprising the 
 district ; but when it sits in either Grant or Lincoln counties 
 then the juries are drawn from the body of the county in which 
 the court sits. The present District Judge is Hon WJLRREN 
 BRISTOL, who was appointed from Minnesota in 1873, re-ap- 
 pointed in 1 877 and again in 1881. 
 
 The District Court has one clerk, who is appointed by the 
 presiding judge. He acts for the entire district. His office is 
 at Mesilia. The present incumbent is George R. Bowman. 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 31 
 
 The United States Attorney for the Territory prosecutes for 
 the United States. There is also a prosecuting attorney for the 
 Territory, who represents the Territory in the several counties 
 comprising the district. He is appointed by the Governor. 
 His term of office is for two years. The present prosecuting 
 attorney for the Third Judicial District is Hon. S. B. Newcomb. 
 He resides and has his office at Las Cruces. The District Court 
 is always open for the bringing of actions on the common law 
 side, and the presiding judge sits as chancellor at all times for 
 the hearing of causes on the equity side of the court, to issue 
 extraordinary writs, such as injunctions, etc., and to issue and 
 hear writs of habeas corpus and extradition matters. 
 
 THE PROBATE COURT. 
 
 A probate judge elected by the qualified voters of the county 
 holds his office for two years. His jurisdiction is confined to 
 the probate of wills, administration of estates and guardianship 
 matters. The present incumbent is Evangalisto Chavez ; office 
 and residence at Las Cruces. 
 
 The clerk of the Probate Court (Horace A. Stephenson, office 
 at Las Cruces,) is elected every two years by the voters of the 
 county. He is ex officio clerk of the Board of County Commis- 
 sioners, County Assessor and County Recorder. 
 
 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 
 
 There are three county commissioners elected for two years. 
 Their powers and duties are similar to those exercised by county 
 supervisors in the several States. The present board consists of 
 Charles H. Armijo, president, Las Cruces ; Nicholas Gallos, 
 Hillsboro ; Armado Arvisu, La Mesa. 
 
 OTHER COUNTY RFFICERS. 
 
 A sheriff, who is also ex-officio county collector is elected 
 with all other county officers every two years. The present 
 sheriff is Thomas I. Bull, office and residence, Mesilla. 
 
 The County Treasurer, John D. Barncastle, resides at the 
 town of Dona Ana. 
 
 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 
 
 A justice of the peace is elected in and for and by the voters 
 of each precinct ; term of office, two years ; he sits as an exam- 
 ining magistrate in cases of felony ; has jurisdiction co-exten- 
 sive with the county for the trial of minor offenses ; has juris- 
 diction in civil cases where the amount in controversy does not 
 
RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 exceed one hundred dollars, and where the question of the title 
 of the real estate and the boundaries of land are not in dispute. 
 Appeals can be taken from all judgments rendered in justices' 
 courts to the District Court, and the cases appealed arc there 
 tried tie it<*<>. 
 
 TAXES. 
 
 A poll-tax of one dollar is levied and collected annually from 
 every male resident over the age of twenty-one years. An ad- 
 valornm tax of one pw cent, is annually levied and collected 
 upon ail real and personal estate. Fifty per cent, of the tax 
 collected is paid into the Territorial treasury ; fifty per cent, 
 goes to the county of which one-half or twenty-five per cent, of 
 the tax collected is set apart for the support of public schools, 
 undo: the head of "county officers.'" 1 I should have mentioned 
 a board of school commissioners elected at the same time and 
 for the same term as other county officers, this board has the 
 entire control of the public schools of the county and the dis- 
 posal of the school fund. The present board consists of Chas. 
 H. Armijo, President of the Board ot County Commissioners, 
 and ex-officio President of Scho >I Board, residence Las Cruces ; 
 W. L. Rynerson, residence Las Cruces ; Jacob Schaublin, 
 residence, Las Cruces ; Pedro Chaves, residence, Tulerosa. 
 
 Dona Ana county has no bonded debt. There are some $3,000 
 to Jr,000 of outstanding unpaid county warrants. The financial 
 condition of the .county, however, is good. The amount of taxa- 
 ble property is increasing daily, and if no "unnecessary debt be 
 created county warrant-- will shortly be worth their face value. 
 
 RAILROADS. 
 
 There are within the the limits of Dona Ana county something 
 over 250 miles of railroad constructed and in operation. The 
 Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe railroad enters the county from 
 the north, and running south via Rincon passes through the en- 
 tire length of the Mesilla valley to el Paso. Texas. Erom Rin- 
 con it branches west to Dealing where connection is made with 
 the Southern Pacific Railroad. The later road coming from the 
 Pacific passes Doming, thence traversing the county from its 
 western limit to the Rio Grande it enters the State of Texas 
 about four miles north of El Paso. Immigrants from the south- 
 ern and southwestern states can reach Dona Ana county by 
 either the Texas and Pacific railroad, or the ''Sunset Route" 
 from San Antonio, Texas, to El Pa^o, thence via the A.. T. & S. 
 F. to Las Cruces, Mesilla, Nutt Station or other business centers. 
 
DONA ANA COUNTY. 33 
 
 Travelers from the north and west can come by the A., T. & S. 
 F. road, and by the Southern Pacific road from the Pacific 
 coast. 
 
 Honest, industrious and thrifty immigrants are needed in 
 Dona Ana 'county, men who know how and who are not afraid 
 or ashamed to work will find an inviting field and a warm wel 
 come here. Any x intelligent, industrious and thrifty man witlr 
 a small capital can here soon make himself a comfortable home, 
 earn a comfortable living for himself and family, and by the 
 exercise of thrift and frugality become independent if not 
 wealthy. There are many industries for him to take hold of. 
 If the exciting and uncertain life of a miner does n-t tempt him 
 he can turn his attention to farmiiig, onion-growing, fruit- 
 raising, dairying, stock-raisin sr; he can cut, bale and ship grama 
 hay; he can buy ten acres of land for $100, plant it in vines 
 and fruit trees, and in four years his labor will make it produce 
 him from $500 to $1,000 to the acre; he will never find the 
 ground frozen so hard in winter that he cannot break it with a 
 two-horse plow ; he will never find the weather so cold that he 
 cannot work in the open air in his shirt-sleeves without suffering 
 severely ; he will never find the heat so excessive in summer 
 as to prevent his working with safety from sun stroke in the 
 open field ; he will not be required to work six months to lay 
 up forage to feed his stock the other six, but when winter comes 
 on and his crops are in he can turn his cattle loose and thev will 
 shift for themselves ; or he can yoke them up, take his wagon 
 and cut arid haul a load of good hay on the plains within a dozen 
 miles of the valley on any day between the 1st of January and 
 the 31st of December. When he harvests his corn in October or 
 November he can commence the next day, if he likes, and plow 
 up the same land for his spring wheat, and he can sow that 
 wheat on any day between November and March and harvest it 
 in June. In June, July and August he would expect occasional 
 showers, but during the other nine months it would surprise 
 him very much 1o see rain fall or snow cover the ground. 
 Thriftless, shiftless, lazy people have no business here ; they are 
 not needed, and the country would not suit them. Dona Ana 
 county has a very fair supply of business and professional men. 
 It is said that for lawyers and doctors there is always room on 
 top of the ladder. Professional gentlemen will be warmly and 
 kindly received by their professional brethren here, but they 
 will discover that if they are not prepared to take their place at 
 the top it would have been better for them to have staid awav. 
 The same may be said with respect to business men ; they will 
 
RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 find sharp competition and plenty of it. Dona Ana county does 
 not need lawyers, doctors or store-keepers. She needs miners 
 to prospect and develop her rich mineral deposits ; farmers and 
 horticulturists to cover her rich valleys with fields of golden 
 grain and purple laden vines ; stock-raisers to cover her broad 
 plains with herds and flocks and convert her millions of acres 
 of wild grass into wool, beef and leather. 
 
 Any special information respecting Dona Ana county, that 
 such men may require, will be cheerfully furnished upon appli- 
 cation. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 ALBERT J. FOUNTAIN, 
 
 Commissioner. 
 MESiLLA,Dona Ana County, N. M., May 1, 1882. 
 
RESOURCES OF NEW MEXICO. 
 
 find sharp competition and plenty of it. Dona Ana county does 
 not need lawyers, doctors or store-keepers. She needs miners 
 to prospect and develop her rich mineral deposits ; farmers and 
 horticulturists to cover her rich valleys with fields of golden 
 grain and purple laden vines ; stock-raisers to cover her hroad 
 plains with herds and flocks and convert her millions of acres 
 of wild grass into wool, beef and leather. 
 
 Any special information respecting Dona Ana county, that 
 such men may require, will be cheerfully furnished upon appli- 
 cation. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 ALBERT J. FOUNTAIN, 
 
 Commissioner. 
 MESiLLA,Dona Ana County, N. M., May 1, 1882. 
 
 ERRATUM. 
 
 On page 27, line one, read " 2,000 " instead of " 750." 
 
 On page 15, end of line twenty, connections " should read 
 
 " correctness. 
 


 Binder 
 Gaylord Bros. 
 
 Makers 
 Stockton, Calif. 
 
 PAT. JAN 21. 1908