Semi-weekly herald., 1909-07-15
FACTS ABOUT SAN JUAN
COUNTY, NEW MEXICO,
AZTEC, THE COUNTY SEAT
Bees and honey.

Bees and honey.
Bee keeping is In It's infancy In the
county, but the experiments thus far
made have proven highly successful
ard the occupation promises TO be
come both popular and profitable. The
immense area OF alfalfa and fruit
make for the success Of this indus
try.
There Is perhaps no irrigated dis
trict in the United States which offers
so wide and so varied field 10 the
intelligent, energetic farmer as does
San Juan county. Alfalfa and all field
crops successfully grown in the tenn
perate zone thrive and produce rich re
sons, the crops and the markets thai
the San Juan county grower, whether
he be engaged in producing field crops
fruits or garden truck. can figure his
profits very closely at the beginning
of each season.
Careful attention Is invited to the
brief statement of results from San
Juan county orchards and truck gar
dohs in 1907. These results have been
verified and may be easily confirmed.
They are not exceptional results, bul
have been chosen at random from
among the fruit growers and garden.
ers of the county, most of whom keep
careful record OF their crops. These
results show the profits to be made
from San Juan county lands with
proper effort.
As whole. comparatively little is
known OF the mineral resources OF San
Juan county Marvellous stories have
been told of rich finds of precious
metals within the Navajo reservation
II, the range OF mountains extending
along the western boundary of the
county. While gold silver, copper and
other minerals undoubtedly exist In
these mountains sufficient prospecting
has not been done to establish values
Indications are found OF placer gold
through the San Juan river valley and
its tributaries, but not of sufficient
quantities thus far to make mining
profitable.
Mineral Resources and Timber Supply
San Juan countys greatest under
ground wealth Is In the enormous de.
posits OF coal which underlie a con.
siderable portion Of the county in
veins varying from l to Is feet In
thickness. Thus far these coal depos
Its have only been mined for domes
tic use. The San Juan county coal IL
chiefly Ignite. For the most part It Is
not good coking coal, but, on The Other
hand, is the best known for domestic
use. II Is free burning and reduces 10
n fine, clean ash, almost like wood
making it especially well adapted tc
CRATE and stove The supply is prac
tically without limit
There are strong surface indications
OF petroleum and some prospecting
has been done which has developed
light flows of gas Of high illuminafini
| power Experts express the opinion
that deep drilling will develop oil II
paying quantities. Immense beds o
| fire clay are found in various parts o
the county. Brick is now being sue
| cessfully manufactured at severa
points and tile and pottery manufac
/ tpre will undoubtedly be develop
ment OF the future. Lime Is found II
considerable quantities and Is beini
manufactured, while fair grade o
red and white sandstone is avaIlabl,
TO- building purposes Gypsum is foun,
iL large deposits In various section
and borax beds have been discoyere,
near Pennington.
Large bodies OF iron ore have beei
discovered and while wholly undeve
ored 1t is certain that these deposit
will play an important part in futur
development. The chemistry OF Sa
Juan county soils shows them TO b
rich In those plant feeding element
so vital to fertilization.
San Juan county's timber suppl
while considerab Is for the most par
unsuitable for Manufacture. II afford
however, ample supply for telephon
poles. fence posts and firewood. Th
best timber IL found in the northwe.
Aportton Of the county. although tn
supply ia fairly well distributed
other sections,