Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-12-19
PROGRESS IN NEW MEXICO.
Gov. Thornton Talks Hopefully of This
Territory to the Denver Republican.

Statehood is Generally Desired-cattle, Sheep
and Mining Industries Flourishing--- Good
Work of Land Court Mineral on Grants
Sugar Beet Culture.
The Denver Republican of Wednesday
prints the following:
Gov, w. T. Thornton, of New Mexico,
is at the Brown Palace hotel and will re-
main in the city several days New
Mexico is improving steadily" said the
governor, land | think that, on the whole,
the past year has been more favorable
for our people than 1890 Our main IN
terests are cattle and sheep, these inter
ests over shadowing our mining enter
prises. The cattlemen have done very
much better than they did last year, and
there has been some Improvement IN
wool, and, therefore, our people have no
cause for complaint.
Our mining interests are very large,
but in that direction New Mexico labors
under very great disadvantage in the
fact that so much of our territory Is
covered by the old Spanish grants. many
of which are now being considered by
the court of private land claims. The old
Spanish law did not convey the mineral
in these grants, reserving it for, the
crown, and when these grants have been
confirmed by congress the same course
has been pursued. But there has been
no disposition made of the mineral
lands within the grant boundaries. that
matter remaining to be settled by con-
gress at some future time, and, conse-
quently, the lands containing mineral
deposits have not as yet been thrown
open for settlement. New Mexico is ex
tremely rich in mineral wealth, but there
are SO many rich deposits included in
the grants that the condition of affairs
is a great drawback to the development
of our mineral resources. A great many
of these land grant claims are being dis
posed of, however, by the court OF priv
ate land claims, and, as titles become
quoted, our mining enterprises will
gradually become more important. Some
of the owners of the land grants which
have been confirmed by congress have
title to the mineral included within the
boundaries Of their grants, but in all
such cases the right has been conveyed
by special act of congress, which operated
as quit claim to the mineral on the
part Of the United States. In all other
cases the right to the mineral is vested
in the United States.
THE construction of two railroads,
which are now under consideration, that
from Ell Paso to the neighborhood OF
White Oaks, and that from Roswell, on
the Pecos, to Amarillo, Texas will be OF
the greatest Importance to the territory.
The former will tap an exceedingly rich
mineral country and will open some OF
the finest coal deposits in the world.
New Mexico has some very fine coal
measures, the veins being very large and
the coal of excellent quality. The min
ing interests in the White Oaks district
are already very large, and with the ad-
vent of the railroad from Ell Paso they
will be very largely increased, as there is
vast quantity of ore in properties as
vet undeveloped, which can not be
shipped vet on account of the heavy
TRANSFORMATION charges. The opening OF
the road will eventually lead to the erec.
ton of shelters in the coal district
which is only comparatively short dis
lance from the mines. Mr.. Eddy, the
promoter Of this enterprise is now in
Europe, and l am informed that he mas
succeeded in making arrangements FOL
the completion OF the road.
The other road is the one projected
bv Mr.. Hagerman. of your state, which
ooens wonderfully productive agricul
tural district. Mr. Hagerman, l under
stand. has also succeeded in securing
the funds necessary for the northware
extension of that road. l regard the en-
terpr,sa of Mr.. Hagerman in the Pecol
valley as one of the most important ina
has ever been undertaken IN the coun
try, and when completed 1t VIII De tn'
largest and most c. mple'e lrr,gat,oi
system in the United States. he ma
constructed one reservoir when 10 tnlr
teen miles long and covers o.OUO acres
aud which will irrigate 4OOOOo acres