Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-02
TOUR
A Denver Expert Is In New Mexico
Investigating Alum and Salt
petre Deposits.
PROF. CABRERA WITH HIM
Fields Of Untouched Mineral Wealth In
New Mexico-Alum Deposits Near
Wagon Mound saltpetre Beds Not
Far From Tularosa.

Richard Hosker, expert chemist for
the Western Chemical Company of Den
yer, as was stated in the New Mexican
this week, had left Denver for Otero
county to look for saltpeter beds and
alum deposits for his company, which
intends to utilize them if the quality of
the mineral is up to the standard. AT
Ell Paso he met Prof. j. c. Carrera, min
eral commissioner from New Mexico to
the Paris exposition. Professor Carrela
accompanied Mr.. Hosker to Tularosa, in
the vicinity of which they will pursue
an investigation of the deposits of salt
peter. Monday they will leave for Wag-
on Mound, where large beds of alum ex-
ist Their trip may mean the opening
of another mining industry to New
Mexico. Professor Carrera spoke as fol-
lows about New Mexico minerals and
the saltpeter and alum deposits in par
ticular:
| In 1892 when the territory was col
| Letting it's mineral exhibit for the
worlds fair, found extensive deposits
of nitrate of potassium near Tularosa,
but have never heard of it being work.
ed. All saltpeter used in the United
States comes from Chill, in the shape of
nitrate of soda, and is placed in the
markets here for cents per pound. Nj
trate of potassium, which is in great
a ;p L.,
more valuable, as it enters directly into
the manufacture of gunpowder and 9TH
| er explosives, and will bring cents per
pound. 1t requires but little treatment.
The nitrate of soda coming from Chill
has to be reduced to potassium before
it is ready for use.
LAS to the alum deposits near Wagon
Mound, the produce from which is val
liable for fertilzing purposes, it is there
in great quantities. Myself and others
have taken up 1,600 acres. These were
found during my research last Novem-
ber in getting up the mineral exhibit for
the Paris exposition. 1t would be no
exaggeration to say alum exists in
northern New Mexico in train loads,
and should it meet the expectations Of
the Denver company it will be sent to
their works for treatment in great
quantities. Their supply now comes
from the east, but they are hopeful of
finding the mineral nearer home.
I'm connection with the prospecting
trip with Mr.. Hosker, i shall pursue my
investigation with reference to New
Mexicos Paris exhibit. There are many
kinds of valuable minerals in the terri
tory, lying on top of the ground, that
properly handled would make the min
err rich. Otero county alone has more
mineral exposed to the sunlight than
any other county in this United States.
Near Lava station are what are
known as the guano caves, being pre-
historic formation from a volcano, the
traces Of which are now almost extinct.
From these caves over 1000 car loads
have gone to the Sandwich islands for
fertilizing purposes. This lava flow, in
road across to Lincoln county, fully $50
miles, which some day will be a rich
field of mining operation. Specimens
from that section have been added to
our Paris exhibit, and will no doubt at
tract attention. ....s..
In truth, the territorys mineral ex-
hibit will be something out of the ordi-
nary, and instructive to the person
Heretofore all exhibits have ended with
display of coal, gold, silver, copper
and lead specimens, while minerals
equally as valuable in certain lines are
exhibit embraces, in addition to those l
mentioned, carbonate Of soda, boraX, nj
trate of potassium and ammonia, alum,
gypsum and marble, which abound in
tory. In Germany one combination of
mines, where 1900 men are afforded en-
ployment, produce most of these miner
ais, yet they are mined expensively
able conditions. New Mexico has any
quantities of them basking in the free
and open sunlight, awaiting the produc-
| er's energy, and it is the duty of the
larger corporations to develop sections
affording such unequaled opportunity.
am informed the Ell Paso & Northeast
ern cannot accommodate the demand
for coal transportation, and intends to
add additional facilities.
"Three shipments of our minerals
be there in several weeks"