Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-02-24


Official reports and state documents
are not often placed on the same shelf
with the days popular literature, but in
the libraries of mining men there will
be an exception to this rule in the case
of the report of Governor Miguel A.
Otero of New Mexico, to the secretary
of the interior. After reading this re-
port those who have W. visited that
wonderful territory and heard for
themselves the stories of mineral wealth
that the residents are fond of relating
will marvel more than ever at the re.
luctance of the prospective mining in
weston to urn his attentions to the
treasure laden soils Of New Mexico.
The volume is pregnant with pointers
for men who have time and money to
invest in mining ventures, and the
source from which it comes places it
beyond the suspicion often aroused by
the roseate reports of the professional
prospector. If the governor is inclined
to the liberal use of superlatives in de-
scribing his territory's marvellous
wealth., none can hold him very seri-
ously to account, for there is everything
to indicate that his enthusiasm Is well
founded. The of New Mexico
are endless, and the possibilities of de-
velopment are not surpassed elsewhere
in the Union.
The great industry of New Mexico for
centuries to come will be mining. The
many mountain chains and detached
ranges which are found in every part
Of the country are all scanned with
mineral-bearing veins. Rich deposits
Of gold and silver, coal, iron, copper,
sulphur and marble. and many kinds
Of precious stones are found. Governor
Otero confidently asserts that those who
have the money and industry to de-
velop these wonderful will
reap big rewards, and he believes that
the time cannot be long delayed when
New Mexico will take first rank as a
mining community.
The principal coal-mining industry in
the territory Is carried on in Bernalillo
County. about fifteen miles from the
Arizona line. The town is on the Santa
Fe Pacific railway, a division OF the
grand line Of the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe road, and Is the principal
town on that line between Albuquerque
and Los Angeles. 1t furnishes regu-
lar employment In its coal mines to
about 600 men, and its annual output
exceeds $780, 900 tons. or nearly half the
total output Of the territory. The
coal field extends to an unknown dist
ance to the north and west of the town,
and is considered practically inexhaust-
ible. In the Cochiti mining district,
near Bland, is the largest mining en-
terprise in Bernalillo county. Notwith-
standing this it is said there Is room
for a dozen more mining plants Of
equal capacity, with ore enough in the
ground to keep them all running full I
handed for at least a quarter of a GEN.
fury. A railroad from some point on the
A. T. & S. F. road to Bland, is much
needed, especially by the small oper-
ators, who are unable to put up mills
of their own, but who, with railroad ac-
commodations, could find a ready mar
ket for their ores. There are several
other mining camps in the county,
prominent among them being He'll Can
on, Coyote Canon, Las Placitas, San
Isidro and Copper City. The last two
named are copper camps, and the
others gold and silver. They all have
rich leads and lack only development to
make them good and profitable metal
producers, but no n has yet appeared
on the field who has SUFFICIENT capital
to transform the prospects into produc-
ing mines. The rich copper field at Cop
per City is so far from a railroad that
the cost Of transporting the ores great
ly binders the industry.
In Colfax county, in the northeastern
part Of the territory, most of the mines
are already being worked on a paying
basis. Down in Dona Anna county, in
the southwestern corner Of the terri
tory, are the Organ mountains. II these
mountains were in Colorado, Montana,
Idaho, or in any Of the western states
in which active mining and prospecting
are carried on, there would be 5000 men
at work on them today. Governor
Otero say that when the right people
come along and take hold of them, these
formations will turn out lead, copper
and silver in great quantities. New
blood Is needed with energy and cap
ltal, and the earth will give forth in
proportion as it receives.