Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-11-12
San MIGUEL COUNTY.
An Interesting Sketch Describing Its
Topography and Its Resources.

San Miguel county is larger han the
state of Massachusetts and has a pop
ulation quarter as large as the stale of
Wyoming. The topography of the
ty is made up of mountains in the west
part, fertile valleys and broad %plateaus,
called mesas, in the central and east.
1t has every diversity of climate, soil,
and scenery, and the great diversity of
staple industries is al ample guaranty
of the prosperity of all, Here we have
mountain, plain and valley, the basic
conditions best adapted to varied and
profitable human energy; mines, cattle
and agriculture, three of the great ba-
sic industries of the world all combined,
constituting an aggregation of produc-
ing industries that underlie and are es-
sential to the successful prosecution of
all others.
The Rocky mountain range, which lies
across the west end of the country from
north to south, is ribbed with gold, sill
Yer, iron, copper, lead and coal, and yet
lacking everywhere of being at all gen.
orally exploited.
The great plains which lie between
the mountain slopes and the valleys of
the streams that cut the country in ev-
cry section are covered with nutritious
grasses and are well supplied with wa
ter, n are thus made capable of sus-
tanning vast herds of cattle, sheep and
horses. Many of the valleys are limit
ed, it is true, but practically each of
them has sufficient area to accommod-
ate "a neighborhood of farms and capa-
BILE, with intelligent storage, of supply
ing all with water for all purposes.
The native population of this county
are natural sheep men and cattle men,
II devote all their attention to these
profitable industries. In many instanc-
es they have their homes located in rich
valleys capable of producing large and
paying crops, but at the same time i'm
port their corn and flour from the mid
die states. In San Miguel county there
are valleys with ample water, If intel
ligently used, to supply with wheat,
oats, corn, and hay a population Of 2OO,-
900 people, yet for lack Of farmers, there
are on an average of twelve carloads
of flour, three of corn, and five of oats
shipped into this county per month the
year round. This is a natural result Of
the conditions of our industries. The
cattle and sheep men are not produce
ers of hay, grain and fruits, nor do they
raise even garden truck, but they buy
oats by the ton, and they buy bacon,
garden products and fruit. The miners
who delve for coal, copper, silver, and
gold are many, and they buy imported
products at good prices.
Gun prices for grain, ETC., are Kansas
prices with freight added. For in
stance, If oats can be laid down here
from Kansas or Nebraska, or anywhere
east, at 81 per 100 pounds, 81 per 100
pounds is the price of our oats. SO our
farmers get the eastern price with a
very high freight rate added, and thus
our grain, our garden and dairy pro-
ducts are better paying than they are
in the eastern states, and our market is
at home. Statistics of the amount of
poultry and dairy products imported
into New Mexico each month or year
are not available, but the amount is
enormous, and 1t Is perfectly safe to
say that nine-tenths of the poultry,
EGGS. and butter used in New Mexico
comes into the territory by express, and
this If for the sole reason that we have
not in this country the farmers or small
ranchmen to supply us with these ne
cessities, a golden opportunity 1t would
seem for thrifty Americans who desire
to come west and locate in the finest
climate on earth.
San Miguel county Is the center of the
two great industries in New Mexico.
cattle and sheep raising. OF the q ,OOO,-
900 pounds of wool produced annually
in New Mexico, 100000 pounds are
and 5000, 900 pounds are market
in San Miguel county. This county
is also the headquarters of a majority
Of the cattle men Of the territory. In
Las Vegas, the county seat Of the coun-
ty, are located three large wool-scour-
ing plants, each with a capacity Of g.
500, 900 pounds of wool per year. This
demand for wool Is the secret of
good market of this product in Las
The Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe
has 100 miles Of track in San
Miguel county, and the division head