Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-03-20
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A MAN
Melvin w. Mills Comes to New Mexico
28 Years Ago Without Capital and
Today is at the Head of Vast
Business Interests.
The POSSIBILITIES OF The TERRITORY
A Brief Description of the Ranches and
Business Enterprises Owned
by Mr.. Mills.

by Mr.. Mills.
Hon. Melvin w. Mills, of Springer, we'll
known in Santa Fe, was in the city the
past week, visiting with the members of
the legislature and calling on old friends.
A representative of the New MEXICAN
took occasion to look this "old timer" up
and learn what had drawn him capitalward.
1t was found that he was engaged in ad-
justing business matters connected with
the Dr.. Longwill estate, for which he is
the general agent and attorney. After
disposing of that questicn,a few inqui-
ries wers made concerning the many en-
terprises in which Mr.. Mills is engaged
IN northern New Mexico, and enough was
learned to justify a brief sketch of his
life and business ventures.
HIS EARLY HISTORY.
Mr.. Mills was born on October IL, 1845,
attended the public schools in Michigan
aud finished his education with course
of study at the Ann Arbor univerity,
graduating in the spring Of 1863. In the
fall of that year he came to New Mexico,
and the following spring was admitted to
the territorial bar at Ellzabethtown, pass
ing his OK animation before Judge Palen.
Singing out his shingle he began his
practice, and before very long was recog
nized as a young man of some energy and
considerable ability as lawyer. This
idea grew upon the people until they be-
gan to elect him to public office. He held
various positions, was sent TO the legisla
ture, and for Is years was county and dis.
triot attorney in northern New Mexico.
His savings he invested in lands, and like
the Illinois farmer, who only wanted to
"own the lands jlnin' him" finally became
something of a real estate holder on his
own hook.
AaUAJE RANCH.
His cattle ranch, called the "Aguaje
ranch," is located southwest of Springer,
25 miles in the foothills of the mountains
containing about 10000 acres of enclosed
lands, on which there is a natural meadow
cutting $50 tons of hay per year and
supports about 1000 head Of cattle, the
herd being most all Galloways, undoubt-
edly the largest herd Of the kind in the
west. This breed Mr.. Mills claims to be
the hardest and best adapted to the high
attitudes of New Mexico of any of the
we'll known breeds. This ranch ia under
the management of Mr.. Francisco Lo-
bato and sons, who have been on the
place for over Is years.
MEsTENA RANCH.
The Mestena wild horse) ranch is 35
miles southeast of Springer, on the east
side of the Canadian river, containing about
$4,000 acres of land enclosed, and sus'
tains about 1000 head of stoek, nearly all
horses. This herd of ho-scs 10 believed
to be the largest in New Mexico if not in
the entire southwest. The mares are
divided into two separate herds, one OF
which is bred to Normsn-Percheron and
the other to Hambiltonian and other
large roadster breeds.
ORCHARD RANCH.
The Orchard ranch in the canyon of the
Canadian river, 30. miles southeast of
Springer, occupies IL miles of the canyon
along both sides Of the stream. This
canyon is over 1000 feet deep, the sides
almost perpendicular, averaging about
one. uarter of mile wide at the bottom,
and is one of the most peculiar places in
the territory. On this ranch there are u
acres set to apples of over 300 different
varieties, mostly winter apples consisting
of four kinds, Ben Davis, Rawles Jennet,
Wine Sap and Willow Twigs. OF peaches
rs acres, consisting of about $50 varieties
IN 25 ripenings, beginning July 4 and
continuing into November. Fifteen acres
Of pears, mostly standard trees and
winter varieties; plums and prunes five
acres; aprioots, nectarines, almonds and
other nut trees, ten acres. OF vineyards
and small fruits, ten acres. On this
ranch Mr.. Mills has gotten together the
! largest collection of forest trees in the
! west, and in which he takes great pride.
GARDEN RANCH.
Two miles above the Orchard ranch il
located the Garden ranch containing 5(
acres. Here are raised tomatoes, cante
lopes, and early cabbage which are ship
ped from Springer, with the 1rult, 10 al
points in northern. New Mexico.
| IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
Mr.. Mills has his own irrigation sys
tenn for watering these ranches. On tht
Canadian river, ten miles above, water il
taken out of the bed of the river by IN
| derground fumes and conveyed through
ditch along the canyon side, that had te
be blasted out of the rock for miles
The ditch is about two feet wide at th'
bottom and cost $4,000 before finished
This furnishes plenty of water for tn
garden and orchard ranches, keeping
three and four men irrigatinR the entire
season of about five months.
The fruit and vegetables are hauled on
of the canyon to Springer in heavy six
horse spring wagons. The fruit not ship
ped is either canned or evaporated OF
the ranch, plant for that purpose beins
located in the orchards. In addition tt
the fruit preservation large quantities o
peach and apple buffers and marmalade
are made. The superintendent in charg
OF the Orchard, Garden, and Mesten,
| ranches is Mr.. A. G. Lawton.
! HOME RANCH.
I The Home ranch at Springer, contain
1900 acres OF enclosed land. Here MI