El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-18

call the mineral regions west Of FL
PaSO the trans-Rio Grande region. The
trans-PecOs, when equally developed.
will rival the western or trans-Rio
Grande in rich and productive mines.
This will rapidly come to pass when
reasonable mining legislation in Texas
is enacted 1 have Travelled and pros
pected extensively over both regions
for several years, and my opinion is
confirmed by that OF many others Of
greater experience in both fields.
The trans-Rio Grande region Of
southwestern New Mexico is a hiSh
plateau, with attitudes of from 1000 10
5000 feet above sea level. beginning
as miles west of FL PaSo and extend
iona line. The tranS-Pecos region IS
also a high plateau, with attitudes Of
from 1000 to 5000 feet and begins
about IS miles east of FL Paso and eX-
tends thence about 100 miles east of
Gomez in the Davis mountains. Each
region is about so to $50 miles wide
from north to south Through both
regions pass from east to west two
diverging lines of railway making the
mining camps very accessible to the
ore markets of FL Paso and Douglas
They are the Southern Pacific and the
FL PaSO and Southwestern railroads
through the trans-Rfo Grande and the
Texas & Pacific and q. H & S A
railroads through the trans-Pecos re-
gion-
Accessible BY Wagon Roads.
Through both great pl&teaus, sOli-
tary mountains and mountain RANGES
rise from 500 to 1000 feet higher, like
Nearly every one Of these mountains
are accessible from railway stations
by wagon roads. Between the eastern
and western plateaus is the deep de-
pI ession of the Rio Grande valley, once
an arm of the cretaceOus sea when
these high plateaus were islands of
more ancient geological age. The pre-
vaiIing valuable minerals of each are
have proved to be of great economic
value. Each has gold belts, and the
trans-PecOs has one of the richest Gin
nabar districts in the United States
Both regions are Immediately tribu-
tary to FL PaSo and both constitute its
greatest undeFelOped economic wealth
lars are still locked in their subter-
ranean rocky vaults to be extracted
and added to the wealth Of FL PasO
when genius, capital and enterprise
shall uncover them
The Quitman Mountain District.
My preliminary trip to trans Pecos
was to the Quitman mountain district.
the nearest one to FL Paso. Proceed
ing by the Texas & Pacific railroad to
Lasca, a station SO miles southeast Of
FL Paso. and 10 miles west of Sierra
Blanca, only three hours ride, half of
it through fertile, irrigated farms: the
other half of it ascending by loops, up
a great canyon, Engaging from the
valley nearly 1000 feet higher, over
curves and lands so abrupt that the
locomotive in front seemed to chase
the rear car. It is the most pictur-
esque scenic trip by railroad east Of
California
Within 500 feet of Lasca siding, the
shipping point for Quitman mine ores,
is the house and dry farm of John n.
Gilcrease, a pioneer and mine owner
and former deputy sheriff. 1t being
the most convenient point to the va-ri-
Gus mines, accepted his hOspitalities
and made it headquarters From here
the nearest operating mines are from
two TO four miles southeast by wagon
road. At Lasca is a large water tank,
the water being pumped from the gulch
in a neighboring canyon.
Is a Wonder Spot.
The Quitman mountains lie at the
western edge of the trans-Pecos pla-
teau and command a magnificent view
up and down the Rio Grande, which
in the deep valley looks like a stream
of silver. Far to the northwest are
visible the industrial smoke of Ell
Paso and the dark ranges of Mt.
Franklin and Paso del NOrte, and over
them all to the northwest the dome
like Florida mountains in the eastern
edge of the tranS-Rio Grande pla-
teau of southwestern New Mexico. Each
Of these lofty mountains is equidis-
tant from FL Paso, so miles, and are
about $50 miles apart. Both are with
in 10 miles of two transcontinental
railroads, the one is 10 miles south of