Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-03-26
Letter from Judge Knapp OF new
Mexico.
BARKLEY's FoRT, near OFT Unlun
Now Mexico. February II, 1868.

milf the legislature of this territory re-dis-
+r;ctad the same, and nave assigned me to
that norton commonly called ''Arizona,' -
that is the south side of territory, embrac-
inp the counties of Dona, Ana, and Ari-
z9l,;a. The former lies east of the Divide
betH 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 ella and its branches. The
Gadsden purchase is partly in both celn-
ties, but mostly III the latter. The terri
torial courts will be held at LaMesilla, and
at Tubec, at least the law has fixed those
places; but at present there are no inhab-
itants at Tubec, the Indians having
driven them off. Tucson, twenty-five
miles north, has something Ike q thousand
inhabitants, and unless the people return
to Tubec, the courts will have to be held
at Tucson. The district is in width about
two degrees of latitude, that is from 81
to 334, and fifteen degrees of longitude,
with an area nearly twice the size of the
State of Wisconsin. It's population i. at
present confined to the valley of the Rio
Grand, and the settlements about Tucson
on the branches of the San Pedro and the
ella. No land can be cultivated except
by irrigation, consequently the 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 fou I'd, which will analyze as high as
q 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
the miners should be strong enough to
hold the mines, the Indians would cut off
their supply trains. The want of any
civil government over the country since
the purchase has also tended 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 in all California. Time
will tell.
There is but one drawback on the eli
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 Meslla 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 can be produced. The
grapet OF that neighborhood are justly Gel.
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 ella and
and Colorado rivers, and the stream about
Tuscon, the date palm ought to thrive.
Sugar cane should also grow there. If my
supposition of the climate be right, then
the south portion of New Mexico ought
to produce all the raisins, figs and dases
needed in the United States, even better
than the Islands of the Mediterranean.
The dryness of the climate would make
those fruits much richer in sugar, than
they are when grown in a country where
there is plenty of rain. Other fruits, as
the peach, nectarine, apricot plum, pear,
&c, are equally rich III saccharine matter.
The ounce is absolutely sweetened in that
region, when grown in the vineyards,
where the water is taken from the land in
the month of August, in 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 at present informed, recon-
mend but few persons to come hero
Those who are laboring under pulmonary
complaints would receive great benefit by
crossing the plains in the summer months,
and wintering 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 50 per gall
lon. Some good gardeners, and nursery
men with supply of seeds, grapes, &c,
would succeed, as also few good winners.
Some industrious miners would certainly
succeed in the gold and silver mines, and
especially with proper, crushing and ANAL
gamating 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 but 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
Misunderstanding. The material, nearly fin
ished, should be packed at the east, and
transported by wagons over lthe plains,
and 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 S7,OOO,000 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 OF uucon-
trolled sway, and military rule, beyond
the reach of complaint and subordination.
Neary fifteen years experience, if it proves
ANYTHING, proves that their rule has been
G.tlo IS opv hatter than YnjsrnIa in Nov