Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-03-25
Letter from Judge Knapp Of New
Mexico.
BARKLS1's FoRr, (near Fort Union) I
Nou Mexico. February 10. 1853.


tricted the same, and have assigned me to
that portion commonly called ''Arizon.a,' u
that is the south side of territory, embrac-
ing the counties of Dona, Ana, and Ari-
z3aIa. The former lies east of the divide
betw cen the waters of Rio Grande del
Norte, and the latter TO the west, towards
the Gulf of California, and embraces the
valley of the Gila and its branches The
Gadsden purchase is partly In both cean-
ties, but mostly in the latter The terri.
torial courts will be held at LaMesllla, and
at Tubec, at least the law has hxed those
places but az present there are no inhab-
itanrs at Tubec, the Indians having
driven them off Tucson, twenty five
miles north. has something like thousand
inhabitants, and unless the people return
60 Tubec, the courts will have to be held
st Tucson. The district is in width about
two degrees of latitdde, that is from 314
to 334, and fifteen degrees of longitude,
with an area nearly twice the size of the
State of Wisconsin. It's population is at
present confined to the valley of the Rio
Grand, and the settlements about Tucson
OF the branches of the San Pedro and the
ella. No land can be cultivated except
by irrigation, consequently tie settlements
are all confined to the valleys, and along
the streams which rise in the mountains.
Gold and silver mines have been dis
covered both east in the mountains
toward Pecos, and west the entire length
of the ella, as well as south along the line
of Sonora. Those who have seen them
assert that these mines, both places and
leads, are much richer than are the mines
in California or Nevada. Silver ore has
been found, which will analyze as high as
thousand dollars to the tor, and gold
bearing quartz even higher, both in
abundance. Placers (earth diggings) With
abundant water has been discovered where
$40 of gold to the hand has been taken a
day and the amount unlimited, except by
the water for washing. These mines have
not been wrought as yet because of the
hostility of the Indians, who will not al
low the miners to remain at them, or if
tie miners should be strong enough to
hold the mines, the Indians wouIii cut off
their supply trains. The want of any
civil government over the country since
the purchase has also teAded to prevent
emigration TO them, and this last cause
must also be added the fact that the Tex
ans had possession OF this region for seve-
raj months Those who have had every
opportunity of knowing say that there is
more gold and silver IN that portion of
New Mexico, than III al California Time
will tell.
There is but one drawback on the cli-
mate-want of rain. But that makes it
healthy. The days are said TO be very
hot, but the nights are always cool, so that
men are revived every night by sound and
pleasant sleep, should it freeze at night in
the winter, it thaws cut every day. The
Valley of Mesills is from 1900 TO 1000
feet above the level of the sea, and sur
rounded by higher dry plains, over which
the the winds continually sweep, SO that
miasma cannot accumulate, except locally
The heat and length of season is such that
whenever water can be had tor irrigation,
almost everything car be produced. The
grapef o. that neighborhood are justly cell
ebrated and the climate being almost
identical with Arabia and Afghanistan
in Asia, the raisin grapes should
thrive as well as the fig In
Arizona county, along the CHA and
and Colorado rivers, and the stream about
Tuscon, the date palm ought to thrive.
Sugar cane should also grow there. If my
superstition of the climate be right, then
the south portion of New Mexico ought
to produce all the rai5ins, figs and dates
needed in the United States. even better
tldI Tie ISl&EUS Ol Tue
The dryness of the climate would make
those fruits rluch richer in sugar, than
they are whom grown In q country where
there Is plenty OF r6ia. Other fruits, as
the peach, neetarine, apricot, plum. pear,
&c, are equally rich IN saccharne matter.
Tie ounce is absolutely sweetened in that
region, when grown in the vineyards,
W here the water is taken from the land in
the month of August, il order to ripen
the grapes. | shall watch the climate of
New Mexico with great interest during the
coming summer, and will occasionally in
form you OF my observations.
| cannot, as st present informed, recon-
mend bat few persons to come here
Those who are laboring under pulmonary
complaints would receive great benefit by
crossing the plains IN the summer months,
and winterlng in the south part of the
territory, and returning the next year. a
few persons with seed of the Chinese or
African sugar cane, and apparatus for
manufacturing the juice, could do well in
this Territory. Syrup sells at 81 per gal
Ion. Some good gardeners, and nursery
men with supply of seeds, grapes, &c,
would succeed, as also a few good winners
Some industrious miners would certainly
succeed in the gold and silver mines. and
especially with proper crushing and ANAL
ganating machinery, by entering at once
npon the veins already discovered. /
know of but six men whose sole business
is that of lawyers, in all New Mexico, and
cannot learn that there is one in the dis
trict which | have been assigned There
is bat one Ga Baptist protestant clergy
man in the Territory, though catholics
abound. Merchandise is fully represented,
and there is no good opening in that line
for Others. Mechanics OF all kinds would
find ready employment | can think of
no business which would pay better than
cabinet-nlaking. The material, nearly fin
ished, should be packed at the east, and
transported by wagons over 4 he plains,
aud here finished up. Producers and not
consumers are wanted here more than in
any portion of the Union.
The army of the United States is sus-
tanned in this Territory at an expense of
about S., 600, goo; and this enormous out
lay with its patronage, and the natural
tendency of the military mind, has made
that department of the government look
upon all others with such contempt as
might be expected from years o. uucon-
trolled sway, and military rule, beyond
the reach of complaint and subordination.
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