The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-30
Governor wallace, of New Mexico.


Governor Wallace, of New Mexico.
Especial Correspondence of Chicago Times.I
SANTA BE, N Mex, March 11.-"That,"
said mine host Of the adobe hosiery in
which / sampled q stinted allowance OF pro-
vender at the rate of 81 a day; that sir"
pointing across the plaza, lis the Governors
Palace. 1t was built centuries,agO when the
Mont"
The story had become too old; so, taking
an abrupt departure, l availed myself of the
opportunity TO satisfy plebeian curiosity,
and at the same time put the occupant of
the Palace" through the ordeal of an inter
view. Stepping across the plaza and into
the adobe building by courtesy named a
place, there found Governor Lew Wallace
absorbing wisdom from copy of the Chi
cago Times two weeks old. The Governor is
genial, courteous gentleman, bearing traces
of the military camp about his makeup"
IL there is weakness anywhere in his COM
position il is to be found in the simplicity
and faith with which he advocates the
great resources of the Territory over which
YES my friend, said the Governor, re-
ferring to this subject, Il have faith in this
Territory taking rank with the leading
States of the Union at an early date. Its
climate and resources warrant me in this
belief. and have no fears for its future"
What do you claim, Governor, as its
leading resOurcesp'
ats chief interests are grazing and mining.
The discoveries already made are such as to
convince me that the Territory is
RICH IN GOLD.
silver, lead copper and zinc. Thus far, how
ever, the two latter have received no atten-
ton from the capitalists Oh miner. Agri-
culture has not yet emerged from its
nj,
Mexican fathers still holding preference
with the farmers. and hence the develop
ment in this particular direction is barely
sufficient to warrant anticipation as to what
the future production viii be. With rains
here as in the Mississippi Valley the results
of intelligent labor in propagating corn,
wheat, oats, barley and vegetables would be
astonishing. These articles are now only
raised for home consumption. AS you can
readily understand, no one thinks OF land
for cultivation except it be irrigable. To
put il briefly, there are three interests
in New Mexico worthy Of consideration.
These are the mineral, the pastoral or
grazing. and the agricultural. The low
lands along the shores of the Rio
Grande River, running north and south for
distance of about 400 miles, have an aver
age width of five miles, and the soil here is
rich and warm. Very little less than one
tenth of this soil is occupied, a large por-
ton of it being carried by grants claimed or
confirmed. This section is rich in grape
culture, and with skilled labor and capital
to enable manufacturers to carry their wine
a sufficient time, not even California could
surpass this valley in its production of
wines"
You claim a population for the Terri
tory of how many"
The last census compiled about six
months ago, shows the population, think,
at about lbs, 900. | am confident in saying
that within the next six months from 10000
to 10000 will be added to this number. Col
orado is just. now furnishing us more people
than any other State or Territory in the
country"
What estimates of nationality do you
place upon this populationT'
Il figure it out at about three Mexicans to
one American. There are from $4,000 to
$4,000 Indians, of whom about 10000 are
Pueblos, the rest to be divided among the
Utes, Apaches and Navajos. / may men,
ZION in this connection that it is almost inn
possible to give the number of people resi-
dent in the Territory, from the fact that in
many parts the canvassers were looked upon
as conspirators against the natives-both In
dams and Mexicans-and hence were not
given the information sought for. The con-
struction of the several lines of railroad is
rapidly adding to our population, and /
have no doubt that by the time the present
Administration is ready to go out of power
his Territory will be State"
"Your Territory claims unusual advan-
tageS for sheep and cattle grazing, yet the
products in this line do not bear out these
clams?"
Very true; but that New Mexico has not
had her proper place in these markets of the
country is due TO certain causes shortly to
disappear forever. These causes may be
stated as difficulties with the Indians and
the inferior quality of the stock. but little il
any attention having been given by grazers
to the animals they raised. L may properly
add that original shipments of meat and
wool from this Territory have been credited
10 other parts"
Governor Wallace spoke with enthusiasm
in reference to
THE MINERALS OF NEW MEXICO.
Il may repeat the opinion" said the Gov
ernor that this Territory will equal, If not
surpass her neighbors in her yield OF various
precious metals within her mountains and
ranges. The work of prospecting and mining
has already fairly set in and soon We may
look for results. Heretofore variety of
causes have contributed to prevent thorough
work in this direction. As can be readily
understood, the native Indians and Next
cans have no interest in the mining work
The Indians make it a capital ofiense for one
OF their number to aid prOSpector IN the
discovery of mine, while the native Next
can could not be induced by any money to
join awhile man in the work. 1t is nonsense for
anyone to attempt the argument that this
Territory is not rich in precious metal. We
find productive districts in Arizona, Col
orado and old Mexico, south, west and north
of us, with geological formations here iden-
tically the same, and as the prospector has
come stay with us he will make the best
possible of his time and develop the
country. Neither hostile indians, land
grants nor wild animals will intimidate the
prospector capitalist from taking the gold
out of these mountains. First comes the era
of prospecting, which is already IA; adj
vaEced and next the era of production,
which we have fairly entered upon, and to
be developed for all it is worth. Then, too,
we have coal in abundance, bituminous and
anthracite. Next may be mentioned the
article of gypsum. which is so common rs to
be hardly merchantable commodity. In