The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-03-02
New Mexico's Advancement.


While few people have had indef-
mite ideas of the mineral wealth of New
Mexico for years, the development of
the territory, with the exception of a
very few properties, began about two
and half years since when the A. T. &
). f. railroad was built through the
country. Since that time prospectors
have been persistently and Industrious
ly searching for and developing the
mineral resources of the country. With
the hinderance of land grants, both
valid and fraudulent, the occasional
raids of the accursed Aapaches, the
continued, persistent and extravagant
Indian reports kept before the public
10y some of the papers, yet, New Mexi-
co has continued to advance and i'm
prove to such an extent that the past
year has witnessed greater develop
ment than all the previous years COM
bined. During this time shrewd aud
aggressive business men from the north,
the east, and the Pacific slope, have
been investigating and have found that
New Mexico is wonderfully rich in
coal, copper, silver and gold, both lead
and placers. They have found that
there was nothing to fear from the In
dians, that the land grants and patents,
where it is claimed TO exist, only cover
portions Of districts, that the climate is
healthy and mild and permits of work
the entire year. that the mines are more
accessible and can be worked at from
25 to 3312 per cent less than the mines
of any other great mineral producing
section of the United States. The re-
suit has been that mining men and
capitalists have invested largely in
various parts of the territory, and to-
day it has about thirty prosperous and
active districts.
Too much cannot be SAID of the Den
yer exposition as the principal means
of attracting the attention of capital
lists and mining men to the mineral re.
sources of New Mexico. Before the
exposition was closed they began to
visit this country and examine the
mineral districts, and as result tins
winter has witnessed in the territory
more mining men who mean busi-
ness, more sales. the erection of more
mills and machinery, the commence
ment of more active operations Oh a
large scale, than has been the case of
the past three years, since we have
been familiar with New Mexico.
While the southern portion of the
territory has made the most rapid ad
vancement within the past year, yet
the development of the northern dis
trlcts has been regular, continuous, and
with good results. In Taos county
coal, copper, silver, gold. and mica are
found. The prospects have been
steadily improved. New companies
have been organized to develop them
machinery erected, and smelter is
contemplated for the near future.
In ColfaX county the mineral lands
thus far discovered have been EN-
braced by the Maxwell grant. 1t is
estimated that the pr )duct for the pla-
GERS in this county for the past yeal
will reach 100000. Coal has been ex-
tensively mined at Ration, coke ovens
built, and large amounts of coke have
been shipped throughout New Mexico
and Arizona. Gold and silver have
been discovered near Ration, and it is
reported that prospects are being de
veloped with good results. The cattle
interests predominate in this county
and within the past year it has beer
very successful and received large ad
ditions in capital.
San Miguel county is largely devoted
to timber, live stock and agricultural in
terests. At Mineral Hill considerable
development has been done, and it IS re
ported that the results thereof have
placed that district upon substantial
basis. Considerable prospecting has
been done in the neighborhood of thu
Hot Springs, with fair showing, anC
we hear that recent important find
has been made near Las Vegas
| In Santa Fe county a determined eff
fort is being made to eradicate TIN
evil which has so long and 50 exten
sively delayed the rapid development
of their wonderful mineral resources
Suits have been commenced to annu
the agricultural patents in the Cerrlllo'
districts, and to set aside or confine t
reasonable limIs the old Mexican
grants at the Placiers. A large amount
of development work has been expend
ed IN the various districts upon prop
erty situated on government land
Some ore has been produced and thu
work shows the most gratifying re
suits. Quite an amount of propert,
has changed hands at fair prices, anC
the Cash EBtry in the Cerrillos distric
has been sold for $4,000. The smelte
at Cerrillos is now under the manage
ment of Messrs. Tabor Wurtzebacl
and Speigelberg, and as a result ha
been running successfully for severa
! months. The Gonzales concentrate