Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-22
LAND OF SUNSHINE
New Mexico's Great Mineral
Wealth at the Centennial.
The Wonderful Natural Resources
Of That Territory.
Commissioner Leeson Tells Of
Products Of Soil and Mines.
Nashville, Tenn Daily Sum-

| Nashville, Tenn, Daily SUM-
The most attractive and probably the
largest exhibit at the centennial from
any of the grand divisions of this coun'
try, always excepting Tennessee, is that
of the territory of New Mexico. 1t is in
charge of Commissioner and General
Manager j. J.. Leeson. He is such an
entertaining talker and so enthusiastic
about what New Mexico has done and her
possibilities in the future that represen.
tative of the Sun interviewed him and
here is what he said:
"Yes, fully realize that the great Ten
nessee centennial and international expo
sition has assumed proportions far
grander and greater than not only its
able and enterprising projecto dreamed
of, but far surpasses the most sanguine
expectations of the exhibitors and visit
ors from other states and from all parts
of Europe, and today stands as a living
monument to the citizens of the gallant
old historical state of Tennessee and es.
pecially to the managers and the press of
Tennessee, especially of Nashville. 1t is
such an exposition that not only Tennes-
see but the whole people of this great
Union feel proud of.
81 am delighted that New Mexico has
had the opportunity of exhibiting to the
enlightened world it's wonderful natural
resources of gold, silver, copper, lead,
zinc, iron, coal and scores of other rich,
rare and beautiful metals and minerals,
such as no other state or territory in this
Union can boast of. New Mexico today
offers to the intelligent and enterprisipg
capitalist and prospector a sure, speedy
and reliable return for his investment of
labor. The great mineral zone or belt
commences at the northern boundary,
where it joins Colorado, starting from
the great Cripple Creek camp, the richest
and greatest gold and silver producing
camp on the American continent today,
and passing through the counties of Taos,
Colfax, Santa Fe, Bernallllo, Socorro,
Sierra, Grant and Lincoln, comprising a
vast scope of country, of some 100000
square miles, from the line of Colorado
to the Republic of Mexico, the whole dis
tance of which abounds IN minerals,
building stones, clays, marble, immense
coal measures, precious stones and rare
gems, and the richest of soils and grazing
lands. No country offers 30 many nat
ural advantages for the prospecting, de-
vslopment, treatment and transportation
of its vast resources that this great scope
of country does today. There are many
reasons for this broad assertion.
"First-New Mexico possesses more un-
occupied land open to settlement or loca-
t1on than any state in the Union.
second Owing to it's altitude, ranging
from 1000 to 10000 feet, insures it
climate that has no superior on the Amer
loan continent. No extremes of heat, the
nights are always cool, the heat of the day
rarely reaching 80 degrees, is SO tempered
by the dryness as not to be oppressive.
Sunstrokes, like the cyclone, malaria and
epidemios are unknown; in fact, every
breath is invigorating and life prolonging.
"Thlrd-Water and fuel abound in near
ly all the mining camps of the territory.
"Fourth-The great pioneer railway of
New Mexico, the Atchison, Topeka u
Santa Fe system, passes nearly in the
center of this great mineral and agricul-
tural belt, from the Colorado line on the
north to the Republic of Mexico on the
south, with branch roads that tap all the
principal mining camps, cities and towns,
thus affording ready and accessible trans
portation for all products and supplies.
"Fifth-There is yet over 100000 square
miles of land open for location, thousands
of which have never been prospected.
"Sixth-New Mexico offers to the agri-
culturist, horticulturist, stock raiser,
manufacturer and mechanic splendid
field for Investment. This wheat, rye,
oats, barley, rice corn, beans and these
grasses you see on exhibit speak for
themselves and show the wonderful prod
ucts of its soil, aided by irrigation. And
right here let me say that the great, fer
tile and productive state of Tennessee
and other states could double their pro-
ductiou, if their farmers would adopt the
irrigation mode of farming,
"The farmer of New Mexico is the most
Independent man on earth. He plants
and harvests when he is ready, and does
not wait or depend on the elements for
proper season and his market is the best,
as his products are always worth the
eastern prices, with the transportation
of nearly 1000 miles added thereto, which,
by the way, is no small profit of itself.
The climate, soil, sunshine and irrigation
seems peculiarly adapted to the success
full culture of all classes of agricultural
products, and the same can be said OF her
fruits, especially peaches, plums, cherries
and grapes, which, for size, flavor and
quality, have no superior.
"New Mexico is the home of the sugar
beet. The success of the sugar beet cul-
ture and the manufacture of sugar there
from, that has, been demonstrated by the
sugar beet growers of the Pecos valley of
New Mexico, is an object lesson to the
people of the United States, and is at
tracing very general and active interest
throughout the country.
"New Mexico is peculiarly fitted for this
product. The sugar beet requires a
strong sunlight and strong atmosphere.
Moisture, therefore, must be supplied by
irrigation--the less rain the better-the
roots, and not the top, require water, the
top needing most the light and heat OF
the sun.
"We consume annually 2500,000 tons OF
sugar. We pay to foreign nations about
$4,000, 900 annually for sugar. We have
the land, we have the climate and we have
the brains and bone and sinew to produce
all that W. require. Why then, send this
$l2O,0OO,OO0 ont of our countrys The
sugar beet industry is at present causing
q revolution IN the agricultural districts
of New Mexico, and attracting the atten-
tion of the farmers and capitalists of not
only this country, but of Europe.
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