New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-11
THE LAND OF THE PUEBLOS

,rpnN AN OCCASION AZ oRREspoNpENToF rRIBUNEi
SANTA FEE, N. NJ, September Avery little
time IL necessary show observant traveller that
this Territory entering upon OF development
which amounts TO positive transformation AS In
dian uggiers show wondering spectators tropical irut
growing and pdtting forth shoots before their very
eyes, so 1t possible from day TO day the
growth of NewMexcos industries and the increase in
her population On the cattle ranges In the eastern
part, where the water privileges along the Canadian
and Pecos rivers eagerly sought by sockmen, fresh
herds being continually driven in and new capital
enlisted In business, attracted by tho mild climate
the splendid grazing grounds Nor cattleraising
confined to any district In the northeastern part
the Prairie Cattle Company has herd OF 10000, ana
the great Maxwell grant is dotted with cattle Further
west there are smaller herds among the foothills and
In valleys of the mountains throughout the Terri
tory from north south. Wherever water be Sc
cured and the fattenng gramma grass abounds STOCK
win drive their CATTLE the larger herds on the
plains the smaller chiefly in the valleys near the noun
tains and the increase in the capital invested a' 'no
lowest estimates makes remarkable showing
But the astonishing feature at present the develop
nent OF mining. which promises within three years W
place New-M Mexico at the head OF the buonproducing
States and Territories. The general knowledge that the
reeious metals aboumed throughout the Territory mas
lately received specific and signal confirmation Every
one knew that silver City aud half dozen other camps
were regularly producing rich yields Of but IL re-
manned for the Valley mines, with the extensive
mbcty gwen them by the Eastern and the Den
ver Ex position create anything like an od-time ex-
ement and send out hundreds OF propeotors aresh
into the mountains Now the belief in the vastness OF
SewMexicos mineral riches is in fair way TO be thor
bughly justified The Sierra mines forgotten in tho
enthusiasm over the strikes made within the last three
,Veeks I'm the Percha district thirty miles northwest
from Lake Valley. With blocks OF found there on
the surface of the ground weighing 20 and $50 pounds
and proved by assay be rs per cent silver and with
Governor Tabor Mr. Wurtzbach, and other leading min
% d Ia 10 ho
wondered at that the mining fever has fairly broken
out And to cap this the discoveries in the Organ
Mountains Las Cruces where the partial develop
ment prospect from which assayed $4,000 to
the ton has Just followed by the location OF vein
of gold bearing quartz, some large specimens from
which free gold to the extent OF 20 per cent while
small specimens that have actually yield 90 per
'cent of gold.
These the things which fire the heart OF the adven-
turous MINER and induce him to pack his burr0 ana
start forth eager win Of the few prizes In the lot
hery These discoveries, too, gather mining capitalists
and induce soothing flow OF ready cash which results
In the establishment Of smelling works and stamping
mills the employment of labor and the growth OF new
towns. Aud these finds especially important as In
dcatng truth Of the theory that wonderfully rich
uneral belt, in which a lime formation prevails extends
from Tucson, Ariz., east and through the southern
third OF New Mexico. In later letters may write more
In detail from these mining camps simply refer now
to the tremendous excitement which prevails over these
strikes the probability thai soon as snow stops
mining Colorado, there will be influx of Colorado
miners who work here throughout the winter and
there will be rich finds and fresh attack Of the
mining fever which prevailed in Leadve four years
ago
DISPUTED LAND-CI.AIMs.
One result of this development OF cattleraising min
ing and growing has been increased burden OF
business at the United States Land Office here In Santa
DE. In regard to the management of the land in New
Mexico Surveyor General Atkinson has afforded me
some interesting facts The sale of land and cOnrma
ton OF titles attended with many peculiarly intricate
questions account of the old Spanish and Mexican
grants. which often come In conflict with the spirit If
not the letter of the laws governing mineral deposits
In looking the records the oldest grants that
found dated 1889 and 1899 One especial difficult
Is is that the documents pertaining to these older
grants often In the lapse OF time been lost or de-
stroyed. Occasionally 1t happens that forged papers
IRE presented done in the case OF claim for
grant of over million which was rejected year
ago Most OF the large grants made by the Span
ssh Government In the 18TH and 18th centuries and
have been acted upon. During the last year General
Atkinson upon 100 land grants of which 40 have
been confirmed, and about 100 remain to be passed
upon. About eight and half millions OF acres were
surveyed the year ending August %, making total
OF 325,O0000 covered by grants and pablo sur
veys, exclusive Of Indian and military reservations
Nevertheless informed that not half of the public
lands has yet been surveyed To extent work has
and the usual sowness Of Congress In acting upon
grants aud titles. The growth in the mining industry
has increased the necessity for soe reform in the laws
In regard TO mineral lands Nearly all the Spanish and
Mexican grants made for grazing and agricultural
purposes. Their extent is often enormous The Beau
bien and Miranda better known as the Maxwell grant,
embraced mion acres. and the Mora grant 100000.
Frequently these grants include mineral lands, and
after the title has been perfected and the grants con-
fned the mineral passes with the land This was not
the intention of the original grantOrs who gave the land
simply pasturage agriculture. But after grant
Is confirmed, while II is IN uncertainty, prospectOrs
OF 1t would be idle for them to de-
yeop properties which could be claimed by the grantee,
md therefore in regions mining Is brought to
standst Beside the deriment to the interests OF the
Territory, the Government is the loser as all mineral in
public lands before the title perfected its property
In order that the location OF mineral deposits may be
ascertaned in additio to the Typographical sur
vey General Atkinson urges that detail from Clarence
Kings Geological Bureau should accompany each sur
yeyng party This suggestion rendered important by
the great increase the mining business and in the sur
veys of mineral lands. aud its adoption with modi
dcation OF the laws would undoubtedly open mining
fields that might otherwise be closed. This is perhaps
the essential of General Atknson's reconmenda-
TONS He also urges that Congress should fix lmta
ton of time for filing aud prosecution private land
iams that these should not be brought before Dis
trict Courts owing in part TO the insecurity which
would necessarily be attendant the frequent trans
portation old original documents Owing TO the
rapid taking up land, the insufficient appropriations
and the delays Congressional action, the work OF the
Land ONCE accumulaes faster than 1t can be cleared
away As suggested by leading officer eases would be
disposed of much rapidly If one final court of ap
peal were established either the Supreme Court OF the
United states or Of the Territory. which could
go directly review after the testimony had been Ia
ken by commission by the EurveyOr-General. This
and the exception of mineral ia pastoral claims would
undoubtedly ala the prosperous settlement Of the Terri