The old Abe eagle. (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 189?-189?, 1892-03-10
0\jDe8 m UiDiD6.
COAL.
SdlddO FieldS-COntinued.

| '1'ttfO Il tctuo-C -COUttHUBu.
may be viewed from this point and the
coal lies little south of west, west and
north of this point across and above
the bottom in the numerous ridges run
ming down toward the center.
The best coal and largest veins lie in
the north and northwest portions of the
Rincon and constitutes an area of about
five thousand acres.
The dip in all instances is west and
southwest and varies from about Is
degrees to about 25 degrees, the pre-
vailing dip, however, being less than
twenty five. This coal was originally
noticed, and discovery followed, through
the aid of the prairie dogs who brought
up coal and groupings to the surface,
choosing the openings of the Groupings
for their homes on account of softness
of the dirt.
On the northeast Of this cretaceous
and carboniferous field is bluff of sand
stone rising a hundred feet or more
above the surrounding land, from the
top OF which the surface rises gradually
toward the north and slopes gradually
to the south. West, by series bridges
with smooth draws between, until the
western boundary of the coal measures
are reached, the country continues to
rise more rapidly and on the northern
half of the rincon lies the heaviest veins
and preferable coal at the highest eleva-
tion OF the fields.
This situation of the lay Of the land
should not be misconstruod to mean that
the veins anywhere in the field are not
heavy enough to work. On the contrary
II is all OF easy access and will pay better
to work with means of TRANSPORTATION at
hand, than any coal anywhere within
several hundred miles of this field, not
excepting the White Oaks coal field. al.
though the latter field will require a
shorter spur from the main line of a rall-
road running to El Paso via White Oaks.
The Salado coal fields can be reached at
an easy grade for operation Of railroad.
either trom the north by a spur across
the divide between the Captains and
Patos mountains, or most easily perhaps
by road coming III from the east. up
Oso canyon and thence via White Oaks.
Another route of ingress to the field
is from the west via Nogal and up
Indian canyon over the divide and drop.
ping down into the Salado. Until sur.
vey is made it is doubtful which route
will be found most feasible and will be
built first, but the egrees from these
coal fields will probably be found best
through the north or northwest gaps
which secures the least cost of operation
of the road and would take the road to
I'll Paso from both the Salado and White
Oaks fields which is the market for an
immense output. The Pecos Valley or
the Rock Island roads coming into the
Salado fields would also find an eastern
and southern market for this coal, but
the great market as has previously been
stated is at the railway center Of the
four great systems at I'll Paso. The
average distance to FL Paso market il
both fields are entered from tho west
will be about l5O to l75 miles, owing TO
which route is adopted. With reference
TO the amount Of coal which can be
obtained it is beyond question mex.
haustible. The amount Of development
done on many claims shows that the best
OF coal exists in two veins, all of which
is coking coal. This coal cannot be ex.
celIed for an elegant silyery coke Of great
strength and whose fracture il irregular
and does not burn down in stratas or
laminae as does the coke Of the Trini.
dad and other northern fields.
tits also rich gas coal, excellent
blacksmithiRg coal and good steam heat.
ing coal. II is as clean M glass ana
bnrns up clean, without ciDdcr or clinker.
as completely NJ wood. No entry has
been made deeper than about l25 feet
Tho vein in this mine from roof TO floor
Is about o feet, a parting Of soft matter
which was about inches when frat
struck is working out and is now less
than D inches in thickness. The upper
portion Of the coal in this vein is solid