Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1920-02-06
Lincolr. County

slOiloWluk W NJ eAbfhCt ttom the
eighth annual report OF the State Mine
Inspector to Governor Larrazolo and
should be read by every one interested
in the future growth and general wei.
fare OF Lincoln County.
The Captain mines produced several
millions Of tons Of coal from n small
area. The FL Paso a Northeastern
Railroad. as II was called when huilt;
Now the eastern end Of the III Paso &
Northwestern r. r., was built from FL
Paso to Captain mines, a distance Of
about l2b miles, and for several years
Captain was the terminus; later II was
extended from Carrizozo TO connect
with, and give the Rock Island Rail
road entrance TO FL Paso. and s. P.R.R.
connections to the Pacific. II Is n pc
culiar commentary upon the speculative
business methods OF the day, that no
person has considered building n l2-mile
branch railroad from Carrizozo 10 an
area Of coal at White Oaks, which is
much larger In extent than the Captain
coal field, TO whieh l25 miles Of railroad
was built for the role purpose Of oper-
ating the coal mines: nor would the en-
cheering features of the i2-mile rail.
roai be near so difficult as was the
Captain branch beyond arrizozo. where
two switchbacks we're necessary to
cross the mountain to Captain. This
rather conservative and safe business
opportunity has been overlooked while
more precarious speculative ventures
are embraced.
The White Oaks Coal Company has
published a%prospectus in which II states
that development will soon be COM
menced upon what was known as the
Old Abe coal mine, originally operated
for fuel for the Old Abe gold mine and
the town Of White Oaks and nearby
ranches.
The Lincoln Light and Power Com
pany, II is said, has secured control Of
l, 200 acres Of coal lands formerly owned
by the Southern Pacific r. r.. There
Is 6 rumor that this company may be-
come active and extend its business
functions to the prodution Of coal for
market. As the territory tributary to
FL Paso, at the mines and smelters and
cities and towns of Arizona, as also the
same class Of consumers In Old Mexico,
constitute the principal market for New
Mexico coal, the White Oaks coal field
has a big advantage in the item Of
freight on accoun Of short haul to FL
Paso and markets mentioned no tribu.
tary thereto.
There are three coal seams In the field,
but only n has been developed. This
coal seam as developed in the Old Abe
coal mine was from 3 TO 4 feet In thick
ness; and where developed in the mine
Of the Lincoln County Light and Power
Company has a uniform thickness Of
4 feet or over. The coal is afirst class
b%ituminous variety, very good for steam
or domestic purposes.
Aside from the White Oaks field there
are isolated areas Of coal In several
places in the county. The McIvers mine
was worked, upon one of those pieces
Of coal land some years ago. but opera
tons were suspended and the mine
neglected and slope caved in.
While Lincoln County has not the
vast area of coal land found in some
other counties of the state, yet It's
%closeness to market renders II a more
than ordinarily favorable coal mining
proposition, and prospects are bright
for the future success Of the coal in
dustry in this county, although IL is
dnrmuut M praqaut