Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-12-27


coal aud precious mineral. 1t enjoys an
equable climate, good water and the
plains are grassy and afford good pasture.
! NoGAL.
In the central part of the county is the
town of Nogal, or Black Walnut, so called
from the great number OF these trees
which grow in the neighborhood. It is
located in a beautiful mountain park,
watered by streams and springs, and is
altogether delightful place. Its prin-
cipal trade is in mining and ranch sup
plies.
OTHER TOWNS.
Bonito, Ruidoso, Walker, Weed, Upper
and Lower Penasco, Fort Stanton, Las
Tablas, Puertecito and Tecolote Wells
are the remaining towns embellishments.
FORT STANTON.
The military post of Fort Stanton is
located in beautiful valley seven miles
from Lincoln, the county seat. 1t is now
garrisoned by two companies of infantry.
It is about forty miles north of the Mes
calero Apache Indian agency and was
originally established forty years ago to
keep the Mescalero Apaches in check.
These latter are now entirely peaceable
and peacefully inclined. The post has
ample quarters for officers and men for
two companies of infantry and two troops
of cavalry. Between it and White Oaks
some very extensive and good coal veins
have been discovered and prospected, but
the want of rail communication has re-
tarded development. Supplies for Fort
Stanton are hauled by teams from San
Antonio or Lava station on the Atchison,
Topeka g. Santa Fe railroad.
MEsoALERo RESERVATION.
In the southwestern part of the county
is situated the Mescalero Apache reserva-
tion. This country is very paradise.
1t is we'll grassed, watered and abounds in
game. The Indians are progressing very
rapidly in the mechanic and agricultural
arts, and many of their children attend
the various Indian schools throughout
the territory. The reservation itself con-
tains $4,000 acres of the best land in
New Mexico. 1t is inhabited by only 600
Indians, and the thought Immediately
suggests itself that it is wrong to permit
such a small handful to occupy SO extern
sive and fertile tract to the exclusion of
all others. Sufficient lands should be al
lotted to the Indians is severalty and the
balance opened to settlement.
GRAN QU1vIRA.
There is one feature of the history and
progress of Lincoln county that is very
interesting. Old Spanish maps exist
showing large river flowing down along
the eastern border of the county toward
the La Noria mesa in Texas, and forming
what is now known as "the lost river"
Tradition also says that the first Spanish
settlers in this region lived at Gran Qui-
vira, and were largely engaged in mining
up to the time of the Pueblo revolution.
Wondrous stories are told of the wealth
they garnered, and some remains of their
smelters are, still to be found. In
the chronicles of 1880, when the
Pueblos rose in insurrection against
the foreign rule and drove the
Spaniards like chaff before hurricane,
these hardy miners relate thrilling expert
ences. They say in their manuscripts:
eve travelled south three days journeys,
fighting all the time, and carrying the
treasure with US packed on 270 burros.
Finding it impossible to carry it further,
we buried it, burned brush over the spot
and swept the ashes away. We buried this
treasure near three little hills" The
question is, where are those hills? Did
the Spaniards keep along the river or in
the mountains? In 1890 terrible vol
canic earthquake disturbed all this coun-
try, the river disappeared and the "mal
pals" before mentioned were thrown up.
Investigations made by the Smithsonian
department. reveal the fact that In the
Ains of Gran Qulvira Spaniards only
were found in the graveyards and Pueblos
in the houses. The fact is certain there
fore that the evacuation of the place took
place before the earthquake, and therefore
about 1850, the date of the revolution.
How much of this is myth and how much
truth, it is impossible to tell. 1t is re-
liably estimated that this treasure
amounted to about $6,O00000 of gold,
but where is it buried? At Gran Quivira
there are to be traced the remains of re-
servoirs and canals, evidently of Spanish
origin. The wealth of this region is un-
doubtedly great. This place should nos,
however, be confounded with the Gran
Quivira, with the descriptions of which
the manuscripts of Coronado, Friar
Marcus de Mia and Onate are filled. The
latter was situated somewhere in eastern
Kansas or western Missouri; while the
subj ject cf this sketch is still to be found
in Lincoln county. 1t is now famous
stock region.
MAX FROST,