Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1879.djvu/65

Rh local consumption. Wheat and oat fields, as rich as any in Illinois and Minnesota, may be seen six or seven thousand feet above the level of the sea. The grape is easily raised, is free from disease, and affords a good quality of wine.

The area of agricultural production cannot be even approximately given. All irrigable lands, wherever found in the Territory, may be classed as productive or farming land.

The Rio Grande Valley, about four hundred miles in length by an average of five in width, has a soil light, warm, and surpassingly rich. Not more than one-tenth of this land is occupied. Fruits succeed admirably in this locality, although the varieties at present cultivated, except the grape, are of the poorest kind.

The valley of the Pecos River is almost entirely devoted to grazing purposes. Like the valley of the Rio Grande its soil is rich when properly irrigated, and its climate healthy and delightful.

The Mesilla Valley, like the two mentioned, is inviting both for agricultural and grazing purposes. The vast tracts of table lands bordering the valleys are too high for irrigation, but yield grasses of the richest kind for cattle and sheep raising. With such unlimited ranges, stock raising has become a profitable industry, with promise of substantial growth in the future.

In relation to the mineral resources, the governor is of the opinion that New Mexico will compare favorably with her neighbors in the yield of precious metals.

Although the era of prospecting has hardly given place to that of development, enough is already known to warrant the assertion that the Territory is well stored with gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, zinc, mica, gypsum, coal, marble, and precious stones.

The coal croppings in Socorro and Colfax Counties, and on the Galisteo River, indicate an inexhaustible supply both of bituminous and anthracite. Cannel coal is also found in the Territory. No attention is being paid to the production of iron, although it is to be found, more or less, in every mountain range.

The same may be said of copper, lead, and mica, while gypsum is so common that it is hardly a merchantable commodity.

Silver and gold are to be found in many localities, and many mines are being worked to advantage. The great drawback at the present time is the want of water.

Mention is made of the numerous hot springs in the Territory.

The waters of many of these have well-determined curative properties, and at Las Vegas elaborate preparations are being made for the care and entertainment of guests and invalids.

An approximate estimate gives the territory a population of 125,250. The Pueblo or town Indians are estimated at 9,000, and the wild Indians at 14,500.

The school system established in 1871 shows commendable progress,