Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-05-07
BEST CONDITIONS
IN MANY YEARS
Cattle and Mining
on Substantial
Boom.
BUSY, BUsTuNG LEOPOLD
w. n. Jack, Cattle Raiser of
Grant County, Reports
Progressive Times.

w. II. Jack, of Silver City, a lead
ing, substantial and we'll known citi'
zen, manager of the Grow Foot Cattle
Company, having ranges and cattle tn
Grant, Colfax and Union Counties and
member of the Territorial Cattle SAM
tary Board who spent Saturday
here, stated to a representative OF
the New Mexican that the ranges In
The counties in which his company Is
interested are very good, that grass is
plenty and water in abundance; the
cattle are fat and strong, the losses
during the past year were but few
and the outlook for the present year
for the cattle industry in New Mexico
is of the best The cattlemen are an
ticipating the biggest calf brand they
have had in twenty years; the stock
has been gradually improved until to-
day New Mexico cattle will average In
grade with the best range cattle in
the Rocky Mountain states and terri
tories. Prices are higher than they
were three years ago and have an
upward tendency, even in the short
period within the last three months,
they have gone up SO per head.
Highest Shipments for Many Years.
Cattle shipments from Grant and
Luna Counties have already com.
menced and the shipments from the
entire Territory will reach very high
number, indeed the highest, Mr.. Jack
thinks in many years. The demand
for feeding purposes for New Mexico
cattle is not only from the western
and northwestern states, but is also
now from Arizona and California and
is increasing steadily. Hereford bulls
have been used mostly In improving
New Mexico cattle and that class
seems to be doing very we'll In this
Territory, as the Hereford variety
thrives remarkably well, is free from
sickness and has adapted itself to the
climate and the country to a remark.
able degree.
Range Cattle improved.
Mr.. Jack thinks that the number OF
cattle on the public range will have
to be decreased and the grade i'm.
proved as, in his opinion, the leasing
system on the public domain is near
and as cattle owners will then have to
pay fee for the privilege of grazing
their stock upon the public range
This fee will be imposed upon all cat
tie alike, inferior grades included and
therefore 1t will pay the stockmen of
New Mexico to have none but the
best improved grades on their ranges;
he was glad to state that, compare
lively speaking, there is little trust.
ling" Of cattle and that the cattle
ranges are in much better shape than
for long time past.
Mr.. Jack is one of the most sue
cessful and experienced cattle raisers
in the southwest. He came to New
Mexico twenty-eight years ago and
has been engaged in cattle raising
ever since, hence his judgment and
opinion on the question are valuable
and worthy of attention.
The gentleman Is also we'll acquaint-
ed with the mining industry especially
in his immediate vicinity. He states
that there Is "a good deal doing" In
the mining camps and districts within
a radius of forty miles of the thriving
and progressive county seat of Grant
County. Three years ago, where the
growing mining camp of Leopold In
the Burro Mountain district is now
situated, there was absolutely nothing
in the way of habitation or mining
work. Today there is a pretty little
mining town bustling and busy with
alert business men and with miners
galore, containing population of about
1,400 people
Many Mining Developments.
There are several mining compa-
nies having extensive holdings In the
district and much development work
has been going on for some months,
and Is the rule today. The Comanche
Mining Company, which owns and op-
crates the Comanche smelter in Silver
City, is now contemplating the con-
struction of a narrow gauge line six.
teen miles in extent from Silver City
south to the Burro Mountain district.
That company is also doubling the
capacity of its smelters in Silver City
in order to handle the increased output
of ore, not only from It's own mines
in the Burro and Pinos Altos districts,
but also to do custom work for the
numerous other properties in the
mountains near Silver City. The Co
manche Mining Company has com
lpleted narrow gauge line to the cele.
brated Pinos Altos mining camp, one
of the Oldest, If not the Oldest, dn the
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