Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-28
NEW MEXICO.
Wis MINES AND FORESTS.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Aside from It's agricultural and 1--we
stock interests, whose development will
DO measured by the amount Of available
water and range. Now Mexico has .
great source Of wealth In It's forests.
which, under modern methods OF conser-
walton, viii b perennial: and In it,
mines. Of which only tho surface has a.
yet been scratched In New Mexico
there are ten national forests, ranging
| area from 125,0oo to 100000 acres. az
gregating moro than 100000 acres.
| While undoubtedly some OF these
| national forests comprise territory in
| which the forestation is too scant for
timbering, much OF this comparatively
barren area already has been eliminated
| and the greater part Of that now remain
ing is fairly we'll forested with western
yellow pine. Tho annual cut In New
Mexico alone now amounts to more
4han 1900. 600 board fest. It is estimated
that there IL about 10000. 600 coo feet of
merchAntable saw timber in the state. Of
which at least Per cent 10 yellow pine.
90 and ArisonA II what white pine Is
70 tho northeast and long Leaf pine 70
tho southeast. This western tree is not
fasddious In its sou requirements, and
although It thrfvee best in rsoh valleys.
It accommodates itseh to gravel. Vol
canic cinders. dihntegrated lava beds
and, In fact, to tho most Impoverished
mountain sides just above tho desert
line. It's distribution depends upon al
titude, for in the desert country there
Is greater moisture In the high attitudes
than on the plains, and as soon as the
annual rainfall reaches sixteen or eight
cen inches the stand OF tho Pine IL
usually good. The trees do not attain q
/ In e&0 N<~n~ t,<%fv,
necessary to produce 1,-JO BOARD feet
Of lumber. and the maximum size Of the
largest trees, exceptional ones, in fact, is
about fifty inches in diameter and 10
feet high. The average thickness Of the
merchantable logs is abort nineteen to
twenty-four inches in diameter.
The greatest enemy Of the forests in
this section is mistletoe, which infests
compara-
MiStletoe q Foe lively large
To Be Reckoned With. tho trees.
and which in time kills the tree This
enemy is not confined to the pine trees
Of the higher altitude. but also attacks
all the trees In this section, and one fire.
Quently sees along the lines of an irT1-
cation ditch cottonwood trees that are
fully as green in the winter from the
mistletoe as in the summer when in full
leaf.
Most of the New Mexican cumberland
Is comprised in the national forests.
and all cutting operations are under
the direction of the federal govern
ment. The national forests also are
used as live stock range, under the
federal regulations and upon the pay
ment of the grazing fee. 1t cannot be
said that the national forest admins
tration is generally popular. since 1t
forces the stockowners to pay for that
which Of old was to be had for moth
ing, yet the more thoughtful element
in the community is inclined. to ap-
prove Of the present system, which
will prevent waste and conserve the
resources, both Of timber and grass, for
the succeeding generations.
The mineral resources of New Mexico
are not only vast in quantity, but
varied in character. BY far the most
important mineral produced in the
state is coal. and it is said that the
coal mines of New Mexico could. with
mand of the United States for a cen
fury. Largely on account Of the dis
lance from a market, however these
coal fields have not as yet been de-
veloped to any great extent, although
now approximates $5.000.000 in value.
Coal is found in widely distributed
areas over the state in all its forms,
from Ignite to anthracite. The chief
centers of coal production that have
Colfax county, the Durango-Gallon
field in Mckinley and Rio Arriba coun-
ties, In the northern part Of the state,
as well as other fields in Lincoln
county in the eastern and central por
lions.
r.-A.s>. h.%>.> 49, oa,1 ,,.iros xrnro
looked upon as being Of any value
whatever New Mexico was famous for
it's mines of precious metals and gems.
The region embracing the mining
camps tributary to Silver City, in the
southwestern part of the state. not
far from Ell Paso. presents a diversity
Of minerals rarely equaled in any area
of similar extent. The exhibit from
this section was awarded gold medal
at the St Louis worlds fair for the
greatest variety Of minerals exhibited
by any state in the country. In Grant
county nearly all the minerals Of COM
merce are mined with profit, including
gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, iron
and many other metals, and. curiously
enough, tho only meerschaum mine in
tho United States.
The romantic story Of this district,
filed with tales Of fabulously rich
strikes. of old
Story of District Indian workings,
en of mysterious
UAA VI ASVAAo~' Aztec tunnels
lined with pure metal. OF lost mines;
in short, with all the fables of. El
Dorado. IL probably no moro than q
child's fairy tale when compared with
Its future development.
A thousand years ago and more the
Aztecs brrowed tunnels In tho m6untains
of Sante Fe county In search Of that
precious stone, to them tho most valu-
able Of all-the turquoise. Here today In
these same hills, and indeed. sometimes
stumbling on the old AEtocs workings,