Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-11-26
|COAL MINING
IN NEW MEXICO,
There are Now Seven Districts in
the Territory that Produce the
Black Diamonds,
DEMAND EXCEEDS OUTPUT.
Goal Fields at Captain Promising Field
for Investors Production
tory of the Leading Coal Districts
Indications Of Petroleum.

No inconsiderable part of the natura
wealth of New Mexico is wrapped up il
her coal measures. Immense deposit:
of both anthracite and bituminous Goa
abound throughout the territory, only
awaiting the magic touch of capital ant
energy to make them yield up vast for.
tunes. With the existing condition OF
things prevailing today throughout the
length and breadth Of the world, an6
| the Unsuitable demand for the usefu
| Ignite both at home and abroad, it is g
bit singular that the coal measures in
New Mexico have not long ago received
more attention at the hands of both
prospectors and capitalists, for the day
can certainly not be far distant when
these deposits will be in great demand
as matter of necessity in the indus
trial development of the southwest
This element of natural wealth consti-
tutes most important factor in the
future growth of New Mexico. 1t is a
fact that the greatest railway lines in
the world have made their most impor-
tant money out of coal mines and in the
transportation of coal, and so it will be
in New Mexico. Capital will more
quickly invest in railroad to a coal
mine than to a gold mine. If there were
no other resources to invite capital, the
coal deposits of New Mexico would
alone suffice to insure that this territory
shall be within the next few years
gridironed with net work of railroads.
SEVEN DISTRICTS.
The mining of coal has proved i'm
mensely profitable in this territory dur
ing the past year. Thus far develop
ment has been chiefly confined to seven
districts. These are the Gallup-C Clark
vile district in Mckinley county, the
heaviest producer; the B ossburg le..
gion in Colfax county in the northeast
section of the territory; the Madrid
O'Mara regions in Santa Fe county,
the Monero district in Rio Ar..I IL toun-
ty; the San Juan river region in San
Juan county; the Carthage pits in So
SO1IO SOuuIy, dAIu LllC w ulb OuhS-Sdp-
itan district in Lincoln county. The
geographical location of these several
C ;al fields is fortunately go hal.,.ly
.nSr,, as. to covee nearly the whole teri +
'ory and provide the people with fuel
without the expense of lony hauls and
consequent high transportat on clarx-
IS.
COAL MINE STATISTICS.
During the past year 35 mines have
been operated in six counties as fol-
lows: Mckinley county nine mines, en-
ploying 971 men and yielding 543,150
tons. valued at $7SO,333; Colfax county
eight mines, employing 527 men, out
putting 399, ,206 tons worth $602,107; San
ia Fe county. three mines, employing
23O men and yielding 110,212 tons worth
s21S,OOO; Lincoln county, six mines, en-
ploying 204 men, yielding $1,000 tons val
ued at $177,277; Rio Arriba county, four
mines, employing SO men, yielding 35,-
7O6 tons, worth $47,3SS. At Carthage,
Socorro county, one mine is in opera
tion which employs II miners and the
years output was 5000 tons valued at
$4,000 and four mines have been work.
ed in San Juan county intermittently
during the past year yielding about
1000 tons exclusively used in local con-
sumption.
DEMAND GREATER THAN OUTPUT
The total output of coal in New Mex
leo for the year ending June 80, 1900,
was 1878 tons, the estimated value
of which was $1,S37,165. This is an in
crease in tonnage over the previous fis-
cal year of 1873, 800 tons, and an 'increas-
ed money value of $236,577. For this
same period the total number of en-
ployes in and about the mines was g..
OILS, an increase for the year of 1856 en-
ployes. The coal trade has been excead-
ingly brisk all through the year. AL
though the total production Of coal
shows marked increase, the demand
for the territorial product has be:n
much greater than the supply. In his
annual report the United States
inspector of coal mines for New Mexico
states: "At all mines in the territory.
except the very small mines, the ope, a.
tors were unable to fill more than two
thirds Of the orders received. On ac-
count Of the scarcity - miners the op-
orators were unable to meet tn. de-
mand for coal. Had it no. been for the
great scarcity of miners the increa ,e in
the total production for he flsc II year
would have been many tons greater
This certainly is an unusual conditi on
Of things and should be strong .rcen-
tive both for the miners and capitali ,.s
to invade New Mexico.
THE GALLUP DISTRICT.
In the Gallup district there are fiv,
known workable coal veins, one above
another, the lowest at depth Of 100
feet. The field extends to an unknown
distance north and west and is coasid-
cred practically inexhaustible. The first |
work in the development OF this legion
was done in 1881, but the industry did
not assume important proportions until |
about 1885. Within the past three years
many thousands of dollars have been
expended in equipping the mines here.
The veins are to feet in thickness |
The product is marketed In New Mexi-
co. Arizona and California.
SOUTHERN SANTA FE COUNTY
In south Santa Fe county extranrdt-
nary conditions attend the coal meas
lres In that here we find the bitumi-
nous and anthracite coal resting one
above the other. Here the main blum
nous vein which has a flanfh of sinna