New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-17
NEW-MEXICO AS A HOME.
RESOURCES AND POSSIBILITIES.

| good place TO emigrate TOT Without attempting
| 10 answer this inquiry directly will try to con-
dense into single brei letter few facts and sug-
gest0ns that may be of assistance to some in soly
ing the question for themselves. BY next summer
every part of New-Mexico will be easily accessible
by railway. and it will hardly be necessary to rGe
more than one hundred miles in a stage-cOach to
reach the most remote settlement in it.
THE CLIMATE.
The summer climate of the northern part of the
Territory is delightful. At Santa Fe, which has
an altitude of about 1000 feet, the nights are al
WAYS so cool that heavy blankets upon the beds are
| comfortable. and the heat at midday, although
sometimes great, is never oppressive Americans
here dress in heavy woocn fabrics. both for outside
and underwear, at all seasons OF the year. am
told that the winters mild and sunny with
comparatively little snow. The low attitudes in the
central and southern portions of the Territory are
very hot and dry, but account of the absence OF
moisture in the atmosphere and the exceedingly
rapid evaporation. the apparent intensity OF the
heat is much reduced. The temperature in the
mountains is always and everywhere delightful.
HE WATER sUrrLY.
Though not as arid as Arizona, good water, even
in the mountains, is very On the plains
and mesas and III the valleys, running water is sell
dom seen and when it is .Oumd it is SO strongly
charged with ak ali as not to be drnkable. 1t IS
not an uncommon thing to travel thirty or forty
miles without seeing spring or drop OF water IN
the river courses Cattle, horses and sheep on the
ranges often habitualy 90 two or three DAYS with
out water About twice week they get around to
some spot where the bedrock of stream rises to
the surface and brings the water with 1t, remain in
the vicinity night, and then wander OH. per-
haps twenty five miles, returning again about the
third day.
STOCK-KhIcING.
Cattle and sheep raising Is carried on very sue
cessiully over largo areas in New Mexico. and. al
though the gIaIna grass is so thin that 1t Will not
support as many animals TO Thousand acres as the
bunch grass of the northern Territories 1T fur
nishes IA wonderfully nutritious feed, and the coun
try Is by no means fully stocked. Their" IS great
room for improvement i'll the grade of all kinds OF
stock but even the business of grazing is a re-
markably profitable one. The markets OF Kansas
and Colorado are now easily accessible to New
Mexican stockmcn and this has gwen great i'm
pctus to the business. There is still room Tor II to
expand.
AGRICULTURE.
There are very few American farmers in New
Mexico nearly all the improved agricultural lands
being owned and worked .by McXicaHs and Indians
AS no crops be raised IN the Territory without
irrigation agriculture OH large scale VIII always
be confined TO the few large valleys in which
water is pIenty. The present methods of cultlva-
ton a:e very crude and the area OF the land under
the oceqaioS or bitches might, IN some cases, be
greatly extended. Capital ana enterprise would
probably reap Iich rewards in the raising of fruit
and the manufacture of wine i'll the Ric Grande
Valley, but presume the farms are hcll at pretty
nigh prices The building of dceqaics upon many Of
them las cost IA great deal of labor.
MiNHRAL RESOURCES.
The chief source OF wealth in the Territory will
be the dey elopmcnt of its mines. in which compara-
tvciy little capital has as yet been invested be-
lieyo that with the extension OF railways and tho
speedy adjudication of Mexican land grant claims
systematic and intelligent prospecting will result
IN the establishment OF chain of thriving mining
camps stretching all the way from the Colorado line
| to Old Mexico. New discoveries VIII be made
every year. and new camps will bc established until
| tho mining industry of this Territory will become
AS important as that OF the Centennial state to the
north The g-eat auulerous gravel deposits Of the
Placer and Tuerto Mountains will be developed by
| large investments OF Eastern capital, and those Of
the IIpper Rio Grande unless the reports Of the
most learned scientific men Incorrect, viii as
tonlsh tho world. The uncertainty rs to ownership
caused by the Mexican land grants may rctard the
progress of mining somewhat, but look for great
rush of ,rospcctors into New Mexico next year. and
for the beginning of a steady and constantly grow
ing bullion production.
the COMMERCIAL. CENTRE.
Santa Fe is and will long continue to be, the com
mcrcial Gentle. The capital is concentrated here
and it will bc to New Mexico what Denver ~ to
rolorado The trade OF the city will be IcyOlu-
tonized-indccd. it is already undergoing RAPID
changes. Until this year the cost Of transportation
has been so great and the difficulty OF obtaining
goods from the East during certain seasons of the
af been
Obliged to carry immense stocks of goods, and to
onnIov a large amount Of capital. Hereafter
Nancy can be turned over much more rapidly than
over before and there will be openings tor men with
smaller means The bulk OF the trade of tins city
has he.n with Mexicans and India Is, who, on ac-
count of their poverty. have demanded the cheapest
classes of goods. AS the American population IN
crcases, and employment and markets for their pro-
ducts arc offered to the Mexicans. there Will ne
demand for a grade OF goods that formerly could
not be sold | know of no place where there are
moIe promising openings for young men win some
CAPITAL who wish 10 engage in trade imam mere III
Santa Fe. Persons having connections WIN large
Eastern business houses in the several lines could,
I believe, do well here.
Az the railroads are extended and new mining
o.mns ara established, new centres OF trade spring
NJ, and have no doubt that there will be many ex-
cellent opportunities for business outside OF Santa
Fs and in all parts of the Territory. There Is no
scarcity Of professional men and drinklng-saiooi'
keepers.
THE LABOR MARKET.
There has not until recently, been much demand
for labor in New Mexico. At present the Two rail-
road companies. tho Atchison, Topeka and Santa
~, and the Denver and Rio GIande, are employing
thousands of men and am told, would give work
IN MANY more if they could get them. The wages
maid to white men arc 81 80 day without board.
The labcr on the great dams in the Sandia Noun
tains to supply the Canon del Aqua placers with