The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-09-23
A MEXICAN ESTATE.
Containing Nearly 100000
Acres of Land.
San Rafael del Salado-A Description in
Brief Of the Land, the Mines, and
its 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
Il situated In the four States of Coahuila,
Nuevo Leon, San Luis PotOsi and Iao-
atecas, on the main highway FROM Sal
tillo. tho capital Of the state Of Coahuila,
to the City of Mexico. 1t Is in the juris-
diotion of the District of Cedral in the
State of San Luis Potosi, Republic Of
Mexico, and is the property ofex-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. 1t Is watered by springs,
wells, and tanks or artificial lakes.
Water is found In abundance In all the
valleys or plains of the vast estate AT n
depth ranging from to 80 feet, and In
inexhaustible quantities, which prove
the existence of subterranean lakes at
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 To be found on the
estate, but abundance OF small trees and
shrubs that are used for fuel. The prin-
oipal timbers consist Of mesquite. elms,
oaks, willow and mulberrles, etc., and
in the mountains, oak, pines and noun
tain cedar.
The whole area of this estate consti-
tutes one fthe best grazing properties In
Mexico, over one-half OF 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
grassC Zacate tODOhO, (granaG Zacate
colorado, (sage grass; zacale siele veina,
(wild clover; zacate cola de zorra, UoN
tail; Zaoate yervena, (bunch GRASSY zaoate
saauillo. n species OF small weed, (salty)
which sheep are very fond of, and when
they use 1t are not subject 10 lombriz,
rs II destroys the disease.
JAUJA.
Soap plant, horse cattle and sheep are
very fond OF 1t.
PALMA CHINA,
Palma loca palma samanOquo, are
plants OF the Palm family that furnish
very nutritive food for all kind of stock.
nUAI1LLA.
A small bush furnishes very good food
for cattle, horses and sheep, ana they are
very fond of 1t.
Cactus, better known in Texas as
prickly pear, and in Mexico rs the nopal.
This estate produces principally the va
Tieties known as the NUpal Iapon.
Nopal durasnillo and. Nopal ciuja, the
figs and leaves furnish at all times good
food for cattle and sheep.
FERROUS PLANTS.
Among the iibruous plants produced
H. a.. IL NIa.a Inns
sOtol, above mentioned; but the prinoi-
pal one now worked is the lechuguilla
and the mageuy. The pulp Of the above
plants can be distilled into alcohol.
MEDICINAL PLANTS.
rhe lands of the estate produces also
valuable medicinal herbs, among which
are found the laurel, mayOram, 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 and oats
constitute the principal forage.
RANCHES.
The principal ranches belonging 10 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 Tor renters, servants and as
schools; also stone dams, wells, and
troughs, constructed of masonry.
LIME, 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 kaoline, suitable for
choice porcelain.
TITLES,
The present owner, whose agent and
attorney | am, reside at 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 50 miles south of Sal
tilo, 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 II station al
Salado. The owner owns the exclusive
privilege of trading on his estate which
Is II matter of no little value. The
ilbrous plants, out of which the lechr
guilla alone produces to. the owner Owe
S2I,OO0 per year could be made to pro
cure much more. The corn crops hav'
often produced the owner enormou
sums, rs an examination of his book vii
show. The stock raised on his estate
brings always better price than tina
raised on the neighbOring estates, ant
In the year 1883, when that portion o
Mexico suffered greatly from III
draughts, and lost nearly one-fourth o
their stock, it Is notorious that thu
Salado did not suffer at all and Craze,
the stock of some their neghbOrs.
This offers fine chance for safe In
vestment by home or foreign syndicate
to purchase valuable property at les
than 60 cents per acre, and 1t Is dilleren
from wild lands because the buyer step