New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-02-25
Interesting from New Mexico.

The following description of the silver mine regions
Of New Mexico, recently taken possession Of by emf
grants from the States addressed to DR.. Scales
of Louisville, and will doubt be very interesting tc
those of our readers who desire to know something
Of this rich new country: ..
TUBAc, New Mexico, Dec. !, 1856.
Ny Dear Sir: After my long journey find myself
comfortably situated in the valley of the Holy Gross
(santa Cruz) in the full and undsturbed possession
when they abandoned the old town Of Tubac after an
occupation of one hundred and forty years. The
houses are adobe and not the best in the world but
the best in the Territory and by little repair have
contrived to make the commandant's rooms so that
can write and read by good fireside.
A command of 400 Light Dragons have since ar
rived and taken up their quarters within about fifteen
miles SO that our fears of the Apaches consdera-
bly, diminished.
As to mines. We have only made one or two regu-
lar prospecting tours but these proved successful
that all the time since has been occupied in getting
hands to work on the ore, and preparations are now
being made for smelling and refining The silver ore
yields ten to thiry-fye per cent, and plenty of it
close to wood water and grass. This valley is the
best in the Territory and contains some very good
land, but it all requires irritation process which the
Americans neither understand nor like. The prodnc-
tions areor rather werewheat, barley corn, beans,
peas, peaches, pears, figs, gnades, ounces,
etc. The grazing is good, ,tequa to many parts of
Texas aud alfonia. No grain is fed to stock during
Inc year rOunu-tneH are Snfflclently abuf71
ant and nutritious, and the rangeis very extensive
AT the present time we have lieavy fall Of snow
on the mountains and rain in the valley distance
about ten miles, ! am advised it never snowsf In the
valley, but remains on thexnountain tops nearly all
winter giving q beautiful view.
The Santa Cruz river sinks few miles below here
and rises again before reaching Meron, filed with
alkalies and impurities, making that vicinity very
unhealthy, and particularly subject to chil!s and
fevers L had aspell of them upon my arrival, which
disgusted me entirely with that disease.
We had rather lonesome time at first as all the
company sick but since the arrival of the troops
have more company at Tubac than we wish.
| countryman Of ours, one Palatine Robinson, and
his wife, came over with the ecommand, and have be.
residents of this ancient and honorable town by
commencing housekeeping on the opposite side of the
| plaza from me- "a .s ~ q
In two or three years every inch of the arabic land
inahs valley will be occupied, and by that time we
hope to have the'mines under full headway.
Our hunters have fine fun killing turkeys, deer
and occasionally grizzly, and at present vegeta
| rian would have poor chance for living. .,
| i should be glad to hear from you again as news il
very desirable and mail route is opened direc
by military express from the Rio Grande via indie
pendence and Santa Fe.
| Yours truly,
| ttU ,pTEs n pocroN