The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-23
NEW MEXICO.
Some Account Of the Climate,
Products and Advantages
Of the Territory.
New Mexican Sheep and Cattle The
System of Irrigating Lands
Development of the Mines
A Famous Turquoise
Mine.
FCorrespondence Of the Democrat
BOSWELL, LINCOLN COUNTY, n. nj.
koyn,nhsr H. 1879.

:
November IL, 1879 !
Your correspondent coming 10 New Mexico
from Louisiana two months ago, met with
J. most agreeable surprise. Instead Of q vast
desert. with almost ilimitahle stretch Of bar
renness. a few GASES for the tired traveller to
rest his weary limbs, which opinion Of New
Mexico obtains very generally In the States,
find O country OF vast possibilities, and
that Il soon destined to play nm important
part In the history Of the West. Hitherto,
on account OF their greater accessibility, the
attention Of emigrants has been diverted
from New Mexico to the States and Terri
tories North Now that the Atchison, To-
peka and Santa Fe Railroad ha5 boon COM
pleted into the heart of the Territory, and is
being rapidly pushed to the Rio Grande, and
other roads sttll are coming, facilities ore at
forded Eastern men to test her resources. and
that they are satisfied there is something In
IT, d evidenced from the fact that settlers are
pouring in every day. not shtttless advent
urers, ready TO take anything fortune may
cast In their way-frem gold nugget down
to a Mexican hllrro-but sober, sturdy men.
bringing their families with them. and do
termined to make their homes here.
For stock raising portions of New Mexico
are unsurpassed hy any "a tho States 81 the
Union. The grasses arc nutritious. grow
luxuriantly and are good oil the year round.
The stock keep fat nn Tho range, requiring ~
grain nor hay for their subsistence. have
talked with men from Texas, Colorado and
elsewhere. Their preference il Tor Now Mexi-
CO. because here their stock suffer less from
disease.
There are large locks of sheep to he seen in
every portion If the Territory. These arc
owned mostly NV Mnxcans, and are generally
uDimprOved. Those Americans owning sheep
have crossed them with the Merino, Cotes-
void and other grades. procuring wool that
commands a fat price in the market.
Americans. who always have an eye to the
pennies have most generally invested their
money III cattle. They require little expense
In the keeping and always yield a handsome
return OIL money invested. Until recently the
cattle were but little improved. But hegreat
demand for choice beef In the markets of the
country has awakened stoekmeu to q sense OF
the Importance Of improving their herds.
Many dealers have been at considerable ex-
pensa Iii purchasing tlloroughbreda, and In a
| few years our beef will class high In the mar
| kes.
HUI agricultural purposes 7 cannot speak
40 highly OF New Mexico, and like most OF
the other States and Territories of the West
we are beyond thu region Of regular rainfall
and farming Il done entirely by irrigation
|
are good, aud, owing to the genial ell,
mate anything can tn raised that Il produced
| In any Of the States. The finest vegetables
ever saw are raised-onions, turnips and to
matoes as large as q common washbasln, anG
Watermapns Weighing from forty to fifty
pounds. Good corn, wheat and other grains
ara raised; but we will have to depend on the
States for good part Of our supply for sew
eral years yet.
Until RECENTLY but little attention has beer
/ wi Tn mi n n a
4 many difficulties attending mining here
| hostile Indians, want " transportation, etc
| Many of these difficulties will soon be over
come and then we expect a mining boon
second To none that has attracted the attan
! ton of the country for years The mineral Ii
here beyond doubt. In many portions o
the Territory there are evidences OF min
Ing by d former people, some ct Ii done Nv tn
early Spanish settlers and some douhtlessl
by the ahoriginas OF the country. Rich de
posits of gold and silver have been found by
prospectors In many places. LII some cnse
where sufficient capital has been invested t.
insure effective work. large quantities Q
mineral are obtained, Other valuable miner
ais, such as copper lead. iron. coal, etc. ar
found in abundance. Agates, garnets ant
other stones Of less value may pc had Tor tn
picking up Near Santa ~ Il q tnrduols
mine. from which, 1t IL said, some OF the crow
Jewels of Spain have been obtained.
volume could be- written o. this anf
! other interesting features of New MaXicp u
my future letters shall write You the detail
of things, of which ! can now give You onl
N mnagrn outline.
ANY letter from New Mexico, however
would be- incomplete without some mention
Of Its healthfuSness Consisting OF htg'
mountains, elevated plateaus and beautiful
little valleys in the mountains and along tn
rivers. the climate is mild and salubrous. ]
seldom rains, and the skies are as bright o
those Of Italy. Few diseases prevail Agu
Is unknown except In II small section on tn
lower Rio Grandp. The diseases that are cure
here are bilious disorders, lung affections, ger
eral debility etc. | have seen many person
who came here confirmed invalids, and AZ
now In robust health Your corresponding
whom weak lungs drove West, hos alrpad
] gained thirty pounds In weight, md feels hin
self rapidly getting well. | believe the ell
mate will cure any case of consumption Whet
tie patient II not too far gone. Cuha an
Florida have become stale. Get those Athlete
: to come to New Mexico. and III wager N
mother -in-laws old slippers that. eseanin
Victolia's scalpers they return home SCUM
and we'll A. II. w.