Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-01-28
New Mexico and California.

New Mexico and California.
We copy the following from the Journal Of Com
merce. 1t forms part Of communication in favor
Of retaining possession of the stolen province 1t
is only the facts, not the opinions of the writer,
that we commend TO the consideration Of our rea-
ders
The Province Of New Mexico conquered by
Gen. Kearney, is said to contain 200, 900 square
miles OF territory, equal in area TO FIVE such States
as Ohio. The population is estimated al SOC, 900.
The city Of Santa Fe contains according 10 differ
ent accounts, from 5000, TO 5000 inhabitants
Albuquerque 5000 10 5000. Santa Fe is said to
be situated in a valley 10 miles long and from two
10 five wide, surrounded by immense mountains
covered with pine and cedar trees, afording very
interesting scenery. 1t is the seat of government
for New Mexico The houses are built of sun
burnt brick, two feet six inches long and one foot
wide, composed Of mud and straw. Such is their
durability, that many houses are said TO have with
stood the elements for 200 years They are white
washed inside and out, presenting at short distance
handsome appearance. They all have dirt floors,
including the palace itself To render them more
comfortable, the dwellings Of the better class have
the floors covered with carpets The buildings
generally story high, with fiat roofs, the latter
being constructed with mud and stones. The
town in 1871 was said to contain six Roman Cath
Ollie churches. A small stream, tributary OF Rio
Grande, runs near the town.
As New Mexico will probably from this time
forward be permanently included within the lin
IFS Of the United States, ii becomes matter of in
terest TO learn something respecting its value and
resources.
1t is bounded North by territories of the United
States lying West Of Arkansas and Missouri, West
| by Upper California, South by chihuahua (pro-
nounced Che-wah-wah,) and East by Texas the
portion lying East Of the Rio Grande being claim
ed as territory belonging 10 Texas. Its valuable
lands are confined to the valley of the Rio Grande
and its tributaries, reaching North 10 Chihuahua.
The valley is divided BY nature into two parts cal
led Northern ard Southern being separated by a
desert 40 to $50 miles in width, extending from
81 TO 33 deg. N. Latitude. The Northern or Up
per valey-lthis part ofthe Rio Grande running
nearly due North and South,) has length of 23S
miles, reaching as high as 40 deg. 80, near the
White Mountains West of Longs Peak, where.
| from the latitude of the country, the climate is
very cold. This upper valley produces only the
grain and fruits Of middle or Northern Europe. 1t
yields however the most abundant pas,urage for
cattle of all kinds. This portion Of New Mexico
is denominaed the district of Santa Fe The
Southern valley is of moderate size, reaching from
81 deg 80 TO 81 deg. 80 North latitude II is
called the district or Presidency of the Pdso del
1 NOrte. at abounds in excellent fruit, especially
grapes, which, well as the wine made from them,
are in high repute all over Mexico" Wheat and
Indian corn are extensively grown. The inhabi.
tants on the mountains and in the deserts which
extend PARALLEL with. skirt both sides Of the val
ley consist Of several independent tribes Of Indians
who are often involved in hostiltes with the set
tiers.
II we define the boundaries Of California as fol.
lows, we shall find that its area greatly exceeds
that ofNew Mexico. II we fix its Eastern boun-
Diary at no deg w. Longitude, defining its North
ern limits by AZ deg its Southern by latitude 81
deg and its Western by l24 deg w longwe shall in
clude an area of about 347, 200 square miles; maxi
ing an area for both Territories equal to 547 200
square miles, from which could be carved IS or IA
States as large as Ohio.
} From the soil, climate and productions of New
Mexico and California, it is clear that they never
can become profitable fields for the employment OF
slave labor. They must be- from the nature OF
things settled, if at all, by the free white laborers Of
the Ango.Saxon race.
Shorter and better routes will probably be open.
ed from the States TO Santa Fe, than that leading
/ from Saint Louis. On new map of Mexico, pub.
lished by Arrowsmith. of London, there is an old
; Spanish road laid down, extending from Santa Fe
TO Red River, the distance being about 400 miles
The point at which il reaches the river, is about
$50 miles above Pecan Point, thence 10 Naichi
toches, $50 miles. The two latter places are &C
cesslble to STEAMBOATS, from New Orleans-snC
probably at good stages of water far above Pecan
1 Point, II not to the crossing Of the old Spanish
Santa Fe road As all The land route between
Pecan Point and Santa Fe lies between the degrees
of North lat. 80 deg 35' and SO deg 10, it coult
be travelled early in the spring and late in the au
tumn, II not during the whole winter. without Sc
rious obstruction by frost or snow. The old Span
ish road from the Red River runs from East Soutl
. East 10 West North West nearly parallel with tn