Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-08-14
HUCKLEBERRIES AND GOLD.


Correspondence New Mexican
ARRoYA SEco, Taos county, Aug. TO-
From Arroyo SeCo a short trip north,
about one and half miles, brings one to
San Antonio, near the mouth of Rio
Hondo, in valley Of about a half mile
wide and where the same fine crops OF
wheat and alfalfa appear again. Below
the town, near the "narrows," Capt. II.
II. Bell, well known in Santa Fe, is
operating, or rather getting ready for
operation, good placer fields, which have
been taken in hand by company, Doubt
less there is gold here, for the mountains
above are full of copper, silver and gold.
Mr.. Wm. Frazer farm is still nearer the
mouth OF Rio l1ondO canon; here he has
also smelter, and farther up the creek o
sawmill, a number of mines, arastras,
and in fact everything which may help to
make his name never to be forgotten in
known. Mr.. Frazer is the head and the
soul Of almost everything that has been
undertaken here, if, at present, things
are rather quiet, a drive over a
toll-road OF about six miles brings you to
the Arroyo Hondo mining district.
En- route one encounters well titled
farms, the vegetation growing luxurantly.
One thing that attracts special attention
is the fruit growing wild Here straw
berries, raspberries and the delicious
huckeberry attain state OF true perfec-
ton. The wild huckleberry in particular
was treat for your correspondent.
The road over which you travel is also
built by Mr.. Frazer, who has charter
for it, and which will be pushed ahead
some time, into Red River Pass, there to
strike the old road to Elizabethtown, thus
shortening the distance from Tres Pie
d.as.
Here we are about 9,025 feet above sea,
while surrounding mountains reach away
up in the Il 900; the air is cool enough
to enjoy fire in the morning and even
ing, but at the same time of such fresh
ness only that one can not help but enjoy
it.
Rio Hondo mining district is of old
standing, and it is undoubtedly a very
rich section ores probably average 10 and
IA per cent Of copper, several ounces OF
gold, besides silver representing value
of from $40 to $50 per ton with, OF course,
occasional very rich strikes carbonates,
if known for years, have lately been taken
out. The country rock in which the ore
veins occur is schist or slate, while the
veins seem to have general dip OF 80
degrees and strike from east of north to
south of west; the carbonates occur on
Southfork, while the most mines are
worked in Hawkeye Gulch and further
up along two branches which form the
head of Rio Hondo The most valuable
properties are from 10000 feet up near
the submits OF the mountains, are mostly
all we'll developed or under consideration
to become, and have no doubt this camp,
which according to all that | have so
far seen of it, deserves it, as the material
is there; and because there are enterprises
on hand by men OF push and energy, will
soon become a place of active operations.
To give you more detailed or technical
description reserve for further letter,
but this let me say to you, if you want to
expand your lungs, or enjoy mountain
scenery on the grandest possible scale,
come here, take an early breakfast and
walk up some 1000 or 5000 feet to the
mines in operation, scale the highest
peaks and let your eyes sweep over this
part of the Rockies. II. ii.