Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-06-02
Arizona and New Mexico.

vague impression abroad, that Arizona
is rich in the more valuable minerals,
but that it is q desert country, producing
little in the way of vegetation except
the various species of cacti. n letter
writer, few days since, designated it as
''the most barren of the territories"
The truth is that it is one of the most
fertile of the territories. That portion
of it lying north of the Gila river embra-
ces some of the finest pastoral country
in the world, and IS also adapted to the
cultivation of the harder cereals. FIX
cellent crops of Indian corn have been
produced in the various little settlements
in that section, and especially in the Vi
cinity of Prescott; but this grain is liable
to injury from early frost. Most kind of
vegetables do well, and so do fruits, as
far rs they have been tried. Irrigation
is usually TesOrted to when convenient,
but is not absolutely necessary, as good
crops have been raised without it. On
the great 7ReSdS, or table-lands. stretch
ing eastward from Colorado River, the
wild grass (black gramma and one or
two other species) retains, in a great
measure, its VeTdure during the greater
part of the year. Such portions of this
region as have been explored have been
found very rich in gold and silver and
there is every reason to believe that the
meXplOred portions will prove, when
prOspected equally rich. The ores are,
however, of a very refractory nature,
and the attempts made i'll the vicinity
of Prescott to reduce them prOfitably
have not hitherto been completely sue
cessful. The hostility of the Apaches
and their allied tribes has proved the
greatest drawback to the settlement of
this section Of the country. The danger
of travelling causes enormous tariffs for
freight. The danger of venturing any
where beyond the protection of q town
or military post renders the expenses of
mining double or treble what they
should be, since men will not risk their
lives without extra TecOmpense and con-
slant guard must be kept over wOrkmen,
and over the teams to prevent surprise
by Indians. Farmers are annoyed and
injured, by having their horses, cattle
and mules stolen, and their corn harvest
ed by moonlight by the UncOnsciOnable
red man. When to this it is added that
scarce 4 week passes without the murder
of from one to half a dozen white men
by the Indians, it is not to be wondered
at that this country does not increase i'll
population. The few people remaining
IlltIt StlG uGlu ny IlltIG llOpG NGIGlIGA
which 'maketh the heart sick"
South of the GiIa the country is low
and the climate UncOmfOTtably hot; but
here excellent crops are raised with the
aid of irrigation. The Prima and Mari
cOpa Indians raise large quantities of
grain-principally wheat-and some
vegetables. Wherever the white settlers
cultivate the ground excellent crops are
ra1t of
has been paid to fruit culture, it is a well
ascertained fact that grapes, oranges,
lemons, figs, olives, and all fruits which
grow in a semi-trOpical climate, can be
raised in abundance.
Young onions, radishCs and lettuce
are common upon dining tables of Tue
son in midwinter, and green corn and
peas may be grown there in the open
air at the same season. The ubiquitous
and blOOd-thirsty Apache, make farming
in this section, as well rs to the north
ward, precariOus business. When the
Apaches are sUbdued or driven out, and
4 proper system of irrigation adopted,
it is probable that u large portion of
Southern Arizona can be successfully
brought under cultivation.
In this part of the Territory also there
are very rich mines of gold and silver,
some Of which, in times past, have yield
ed considerable quantities of the prec-
iOus metals. At n recent date they were
not worked, owing to the danger from
the Indians, the only mine i'll the Ter
ritOry which has been worked with
steady success is i'll NultUre, situated in a
range of mountains north of the Gila.
With twenty stamp mill, assisted by
quartz cTuSheTS and two grinding and
pans; the ore from this
mine yields on an average forty dollars
per ton, and in gross, about fifteen hum
dTed dollars every twenty four hours.
For some reason, best known to them
selves, the Indians have not mOIested
the employees of the Vulture COmpa-
ny.
New Mexico is supposed to be pre-em-
inently an agricultural and pastoral
country. Notwithstanding the depTed-
atiOnS of the hostile Apaches and the
friendly NavajOeS, large numbers of
sheep Of an inferior breed are still bred
in that territory; also some goats and
iOnkeys, a few scrUbby horses and still
scrubbieT neat cattle. The domestic
beasts of New Mexico paTtake of the de-
of the inhabitants, and
that is something fearful to cOntem-
plate Agriculture in New Mexico is
carried on after most primitive fashion. !
The extent Of land cultivated is limited |
10 strips varying in width from half |
nile to mile and half along the wa |
.er courses, which is all that can be |
'eached by the imperfect system Of ir- |
'igatiOn practiced. This land is divided /
ntO small tracts of from two to twenty |
lcres each, the smaller tracts belonging
o the poorer, and the larger to the more
wealthy classes of the natives. The
blow used in breaking this land is a
;ticll about four feet long and four inches
quare, pointed and tipped with iron,
md drawn by pair of stunted bullOcks
yOked by the horns. The harrow is still
more primitive, being nothing but a
)uShy Sapling. There are no fences
,Oys and dogs being employed to keep
lOnkeys and goats Off the fields. Yet
he New Mexicans manage to raise, in
dditiOn to their domestic supply of
hill peppers, beans and tOTtilla stuffS,
considerable quantity of corn and
wheat, for sale to the military posts,
miners, etc. But most Ofthe breadstuffs
sed by the military i'll New Mexico are ;
arried thither from the States, and all
he beef cattle are brought from Texas. !
Tew Mexico is not at present very I
productive country in any respect.
But there are mines in that Territory 5
which cannot be surpassed elsewhere.
he PinOs Altos quartz mines, near the !
Iimbres river, and about thirty miles ]
Orth of the old Butterfield overland i
quite, are steadily yielding a large
mount of bullion, although they were
iscOveTed less than five Years ago, and
he miners have been much troubled bv
he Apaches. In the Organ mounts, to {
he eastward of the NTcsilla, valuable {
liver mines are known to exist having q
cen worked in former years; but on ac- S
Dunt OfthC Indians no attempt has been f
lade to work them recently. In the i
iadalGna Mountains, west of SOcOrrO, 1
)me excellent gold and silver lodges S
ere discovered last summer. At the q
zeal de San FTIuCisCO, between the AL v
uqucrqUe and Santa FC, on the same I
Dad, there is quartz mill in operation Ii
II ore from the ORTIZ mine, but at last Y
ivices the concern was only partially Il
IcccSstul, owing to the imperfectiOns of 2
ne machinery. Near Santa Fe some old /
lines covered up by the Puebla Indians t
fter the massacre of the French gam Il
isiOItS one hundred and fifty or two hun L
red years ago, have been rcOpCned and Il
ill doubtless he worked before long, /,
II along the Rio Grande from Santa Fc h
, Taos, the old shafts of the g0H7busiORS b
re being discovered and claimed hv s.
Americans. At MaXwClfs 81
inch, on the CimarrOn, quartz mines of h
richness have been found s.
nd a quartz mill is now i'm operation fl
1nrn The urpo fer pprtiOD pf toa rarri. ! N