Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-01-29
NORTHERN TRIBUNE
SATURDAY. JANUARY 80. 1881.
The Far West.
BLACK RANGE MOUNTAINS,
SOCCORRO COUNTY, n. NJ.
Ianuarv 18th 1891

January 18th, 1881.
To the Editor Of the NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
Again 1 find myself in the southwest,
among the lofty peaks of the Rockies.
Since my letter to you Oct. 31st, 1880, l
have prOspected the several different
ranges in southern New Mexico. Nov.
25th our party left Silver City for the
Tras Harmanas mountains, which we
reached after several nights hard travel.
Those mountains lie near the Old Mexi
co line and in New Mexico. They have
an extensive mineral belt reaching
through their entire length, perhaps
some of the very richest mines in the
territory.
From this range we passed southeast
to the FlOredias, but dare not prospect
this range, as the famous Apache war
chief, Victoria, had reached the noun
tains one day in advance Of our party,
and that was all we cared to know about
that mountain range.
From the FlOredias we passed on north
to the Cooks Peak range, where we pros
pected several days, then took up our
line Of march for the Black Range, where
we find ourselves Jan. Is, 1881, on this
beautiful summer-like morning, bright
| blue sky, shaded trees, and a ripping
stream. A pleasant place of rendezvous
| for the unsuspecting prOspectOr to while
away few leisure hours writing to
friends far to the north, and wishing
them health, wealth and prosperity.
will take this opportunity to let you
know something about our new mining
camp, on the east slope of the Black
Range of mountains, abOutfiteen miles
west, and south of the Ole CalentO or
Hot Springs, and west of old Fort McRea,
and the AtchesOn, Topeka & Santa Fe
railroad fOrty-fye miles. and on what is
known as Turkey Creek, tributary of
the Cuchilla Negro river. At this time
there is no wagon road into the mines.
all travel coming over mountain trail
by HillsbOrOugh in Don Anna county.
Those mines were first discovered in Oc-
tOber, and now there are some four hun
dred locations made. The mineral belt
is about two miles wide and fourteen
miles long, running in a nOrtherly and
sOutherly direction, and you can see
them cropping out for about IA miles,
/ WIICu Is dll lOCdlcu dS ldl dS bldCodUlc.
The work that has been done on those
lodges all show up plenty of rich ore.
The width OF these lodges varies from
ten feet from wall to wall, with tunnel
running along the ledge and into the
hill, and topping the ledge forty feet
from the surface. Some of the ore is
very rich, assaying high as $4,000, Dut
generally running from one to two hun
dred dollars per ton. The government
mineralOgist. or Rock Buster and Buy
Catcher, sets this region down as the
most favorable mineral locality in New
Mexico, being supplied with an abund-
ance of good wood, water and grass, ad-
vantageS not enjoyed elsewhere in the
territory. The old timers predict a
"bOOm" for our new camp as soon as the
Indian war ends, and that surely will be
soon. Then the engineers will be set at
work, and with instruments they soon
will have the city laid out in squares
and streets, and represented in due form
on elaborate maps, not forgetting water
lots, steam ferry and railroad. Then will
follow the store, saloon and dance hall,
the latter to make the night hideOus by
such calls as "hOOf it to the left" thug
the gal on the corner" ''hOOf 'em down
the middle" mule punchers to the
right" not forgetting the most import
ant change of "all hands to the bar, and
don't you forget it," Again the hOstiles
have appeared in our midst, and made
their presence felt by capturing the
coach, rObbing the mails, stealing the
stock and numbering the passengers
and again the country is wild with eX-
!, citement and fear, families leaving their
homes and stocks and flying to the forts
and villages for protection. The troops
have taken the field against the hOstiles
| and things are very interesting in this
locality. Friend Kitchen is not in love
with New Mexico. He says those Indian
She-raidS are not in accord with his taste
Michigan for him. He don't like any
country where they dig for wood and
climb for water. And now the time has
come when l must give way to Others
and take leave of my many dear friends
in your community to mingle in the
ranks of the multitude. 1t would be un.
becoming in me to sever by silence the
ties of personal friendship that have
hitherto bound us together. Life has its
trials, its struggles, its disappOintments
but it has also its rewards. Then fare
we'll for time to the many kind friends
| regret to part with, to all that have
lightened my burden of life now bid al
affectiOnate farewell.
W. w. STROHN.