The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-10-01
A MEXICAN ESTATE.
Containing Nearly 100000
Acres of Land,
San Rafael del salado-A Description in
Brief OF the Land, the:Mnes, and
It's Many Products.

The hacienda or estate Of San Rafael
del Salado contains an area Of 200 sitios,
or $4,000 acres Of land in one body. 1t
is situated In the four States Of Coahuila,
Nuevo Leon, san Luis Potosi and Iao-
atecas, on the main highway from sal
tillo, the capital OF the State of Coahuila,
to the City OF Mexico. 1t is In the juris-
diction of the District of Cedral In the
state of San Luis POtosi, Republic Of
Mexico and Is the property of ex-Gover-
nor, of the state OF san Luis Potosl, Don
Juan Bustamante. who resides at Salado,
the main ranch ON the estate.
WATER.
Being situated on the table lands of
Mexico, there are no running streams on
the same. Ii Is wuterod Dy springs,
wells, and tanks or artificial lakes
Water IL found In abundance IN all the
valleys or plains OF the vast estate al Il
depth ranging from . 10 30 feet, ana In
ineXhaustlbie quantities, which prove
the existence of subterranean lakes ut
no great depth below the surface OF the
soil OF the valley.
TIMBER.
No forest, according to the true mean
ing OF the word, are 10 be found ON the
estate, but abundance OF small trees and
shrubs that are used for fuel. The prin-
Cipal timDers consist Oi mesquite. elms,
oaks, willow and mulberrles, etc., ana
In the mountains, OAK, pines ana noun
tain cedar.
The Mole area Of this estate oonsti-
tutes one OFT best grazing properties in
Mexico, over One-hali oil which could be
cultivated.
GRASSES.
| here give the native names Of the
variety OF grasses that cover the lands OF
this estate, viz: Zacate chino. mesquite
grass; Zacate tODosO, (grumaC ZHCate
colorado, Gage grass); zacate slete veina,
ovid clover; zacate cola lie zorra, OoN
tail; ZaCate Vervena, (bunch grass ZuUate
saluulllo. a species OF small weed, (sulty)
which sheep are very fond Of, and when
they use 1t are not subject 10 lombriz,
as 1t destroys the disease.
JAUJA.
Soap plant, horse cattle and sheep are
very fond of II.
PALMA CHINA.
Palma lOca palma samanoquo, are
plants OF the Pam family that furnish
very nutriIive food for all kind of stock.
nUAPILIA.
A small bush furnishes very good food
for cattle, horses and sheep, anu they are
very fond of 1t.
Cactus, better known in Texas as
prickly pear, and in Mexico AS the nopal.
This estate produces principally the va
rieties known as the NUpal lapon.
Nopal durasnillo and. Nopal ciuja, the
figs ana leaves furnish at all times good
food Tor cattle and sheep.
FBRUoUs PLANTS.
Among the fbruous plants produced
by the estate Is the nOpal, the palma,
soiol, above mentiOned, but the princi-
pal one now worked is the lechuguilla
and the mageuy. a he pulp OF the above
plants can be distilled INTO alcohol.
MEDICINAL PLANTS.
The lands of the estate produces also
valuable medicinal herbs, among which
are found the laurel, may Dram, anisseed,
the huaco; that Is sald to cure snake
bite, and the tianguis, which is said TO
cure yellow fever.
MINERALS.
THE mountains situated on the estate
are the foot hills OF the Sierra de Catorce
and are very rich in minerals; some mines
situated ON II have produced IN the last
century millions; the miners of the es-
tate are said to have counted on the hills
and mountains OF the same over two
thousand metallic veins, principally OF
silver ores.
CRors.
Crops can be raised on this estate Of
wheat, oats barley, beans, corn; cotton
can also be cultivated. All kinds OF
grain and fruits that grow in temperate
climates do well; corn fodder ana oat.
constitute the principal forage
RANCHES.
The principal ranches belonging to the
estate are SaladO, san Salvador, san
Pablo and La Presita, and 80 smaller
ranches.
IMPROVEMENTS
Consist of houses constructed of stone
and adobe, used for residences, offices,
granaries, stables, yards, houses used AS
residences for renters, servants ana as
schools; also stone dams, wells, and
troughs, constructed OF masonry.
LINE, MARBLE, BRICK, ETC.
This estate produces the best quality
of lime and hydraulic lime rock, good
marble, excellent earth for brick and
fine brick; also kaollne, suitable for
choice porcelain.
TITLES.
The present owner, whose agent and
attorney | am, reside az Salado, on the
estate, and has in his possession the
chain of titles to his estate, ready to be
exhibited TO the purchaser. They are
perfect.
ADVANTAGES.
The north boundary line of this estate
is situated about 81 miles south Of sal
tillo, on the main highway to the City Of
Mexico. The line OF the Mexican
National railway, when completed be-
tween the above mentioned cities, will
run over the lands OF the estate fol
over 90 miles, and has station M
Salado. The owner owns the exclusive
privilege of trading on his estate which
is a matter of no little value. The
tibrous plants, out of which the lechu
guilla alone produces to. the owner ovel
S24,OOO per year could be made to pro
cure much more. The corn crops have
Often produced the owner enormous
sums, rs an examination Of his book vii
show. The stock raised on his estate
brings always Il better price than tina
raised on the neighboring estates, ant
in the year 1883, when that portion o
Mexico suffered greatly from thu
draughts, and lost nearly one-fourth o
their stock, ii Is notorious that thu
Salado did not suffer ut all and graZeI
the stock of some their neighbors.
This oilers a line chance for safe In
vestment by home or foreign syndicate
TO purchase valuable property at les
than 90 cents per acre, and 1t is diileren
from wild lands because the buyer step
into improved property with buildings
etc, and his income commences with hi
possession.