another belt of the same timber in the Friscos-Elk Mountains, Black Range, and San Mateo ranges-suitable for commercial and building purposes; also in the Magdalena and Gallina ranges, but not so large or of as good quality as some of the aforesaid ranges. One million acres would probably be a conservative estimate of the area of land covered with heavy pine timber suitable for sawmill and commercial purposes in the county. Very little cutting has been done, except the limited quantities used for mining purposes, erection of reduction works, etc., most of the timber being located a considerable distance from the railroad, and will not stand wagon transportation.

COAL.

Coal is found in the western portion of the county, which is supposed to be the Gallup coal belt. On account of no railroad facilities the coal is not being worked. The veins are from 6 to 7 feet thick. Coal is also found within 15 miles of the Magdalena. The Carthage coal fields are situated east of the Rio Grande, mention of which has been made heretofore.

SALINE LANDS.

Near the western border of the county are situated some salt lakes with an inexhaustible supply of a very good quality of salt, the product of which is being used by the mills at Mogollons, Graham, and Cooney. Some salt is also peddled around and used for domestic purposes. There are also some salt beds near the San Andres mountains, but not as good quality as the first-mentioned salt. Distance from railroad about 175 miles.

VALUATION.

According to tax rolls, which generally show about one-third the actual valuation, the property of the county is valued at $4,501,588; the bonded indebtedness approximately is $180,000.

CATTLE AND SHEEP.

The estimated number of sheep in the county is 200,000; number of cattle, 100,000 head; also several thousand head of horses.

RAILROADS.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company owns and operates 107.76 miles of main-line track and 19.11 miles of side track; also division point and repair shop, round houses, etc., at San Marcial. The county, generally speaking, is in a prosperous condition, caused by the rise in values of the products of the county, especially in cattle, sheep, wool, lead, and copper, etc.

THE SOCORRO FIRE-CLAY COMPANY.

The Socorro Fire-Clay Company is one of the best known corporations in the Territory and stands in the first rank of New Mexico industries. It has been gradually increased in capacity and improved in the quality of the articles manufactured, until it stands now as the best, if not the largest, fire-clay works in the Southwest. When running full capacity it gives employment to 35 men and ships 150,000 brick per month. It has two late-improved brick kilns with a down draft, having a capacity of 50,000 and 60,000 brick, respectively.

The fire-clay brick for smelter furnaces is made by hand into all shapes and sizes and of two different grades. They are really fine, and are growing in popularity with the different smelters throughout the country. Their building brick is made in three colors, buff, white, and red, and has been used extensively in the building up of Albuquerque and El Paso.

A very careful analysis of theays surrounding Socorro has been made, and no less than 350 different kinds, suitable for making brick, pottery, tiling, sewer pipes, crucibles, scorifiers, mufflers, and almost everything requiring a fine grade of fire or brick clay.

This growing and important institution, like many others in the Territory, has succeeded only by good management and strict attention to business, and its success is now established beyond all doubt.

TAOS COUNTY.

The agricultural, mineral, and other resources of Taos County are of such a diversified character it will be impossible for me to give more than a brief outline of their nature and importance in the space assigned me.

Taos County might aptly be termed a paradox in civilization. It is the oldest and newest portion of the United States. Here, according to the traditions of our Pueblo Indians, were homes and farms five hundred years ago. Before Columbus discovered this country a portion of the Taos Valley was under cultivation, and before the Mayflower anchored off Plymouth Rock houses of adobe were clustered about the mouth of the Pueblo Canyon that sheltered the forefathers of some of the present residents or the Taos Valley. The houses of that period were replaced by the present "Pyramids of Taos," which, unlike those of Egypt, were built for homes for the living and not for the dead. The Pueblo Indians, without doubt, were the first home builders and farmers in America that still exist to emphasize the claim of their fathers to that distinction. Notwithstanding the fact that this is the oldest farming community in the United States, there are thousands of acres in this valley of as fine land as the sun ever shone on, that no doubt has the same growth of sage brush that covered it when the Pilgram Fathers landed on this continent. In many places the primitive methods prevail in the planting and harvesting that were common a thousand years ago, notably the wooden plow, the sickle, and the thrashing floor; yet, with all that, the most beautiful crops are the rule.

The mineral resources furnish a parallel to those of agriculture. The first authentic record of the production of gold, in what is now the territory of the United States, was the production of gold from the placers in the Taos Valley, nearly two hundred years ago, when this country was dominated by the Spanish The records of large shipments of gold to the City of Mexico are in existence to-day, and the ore-placer washings, extending for miles along the Rio Lucero, may be seen to-day. Ruins of Old Arastas that were used, perhaps, centuries ago for the extraction of the precious metals can be found to-day in the mountains; yet, without doubt, Taos County has more square miles of mineral territory that remains untouched by the prospector's pick than any county in the great mineral belt of the West. Surely it is a parado. Progress in agriculture is noted during the past year. Improved machinery and improved methods are being introduced by the more progressive farmers. The reaper is

6487- -28

taking the place of the sickle, and handsome carriages by the score are to be seen where the cart and wagon were in use before.

Notwithstanding the excessive drought this season, many fields of wheat will average 40 bushels to the acre, and there is the greatest abundance of agricultural products.

No finer fruit is grown anywhere than here in the Taos Valley. The orchards have come to stay, a failures of a fruit crop are rare indeed, and in some localities entirely unknown.

The greatest difficulty that the farmer in the Taos Valley has to encounter is the market for his surplus. Before the advent of railroads in the western country this valley was the granary of the southwest, and a portion of Old Mexico drew its supplies from here, but in recent years he has been compelled to depend upon a local market that was limited, and this curtailed production. However, the local market is being stimulated by the development of the mines in the adjacent mountain ranges, and another ray of hope from the prospects of a railroad in the near future is stirring the energies of the farmer. A railroad that will furnish a southern outlet, thus reaching the legitimate market for the flour and grain, will make this valley second to none in point of productiveness. The money for this enterprise is already assured, if the details of connection and right of way can be satisfactorily arranged. It is sincerely hoped that before the end of the next year the whistle of the locomotive will be heard in this valley and a new era of prosperity will have begun. With the coming of a railroad, new industries will be developed; this valley will become the feeding ground of northern New Mexico. The thousands of sheep and cattle now shipped to Colorado feeding points will be fattened here. The modern flouring mills will take the place of the old water mills, and reduction works will utilize the great veins of low-grade ores that are now practically valueless on account of the lack of transportation.

MINING INDUSTRY.

Considering the lack of capital, rapid strides are being made in the development of the mineral resources of this county. During the present season one new mill has been placed in operation, one is nearing completion, and the third is contracted for. These will have a combined capacity of over 100 tons of ore daily. In addition to that there are three new shipping mines which have been opened, and more would be listed as producers if capital would furnish local treatment for the ores. Millions of tons of low-grade ores are already exposed by recent development work and scores of low-grade veins remain to be opened. What a magnificent field for genius and capital. Genius to devise and capital to construct the plants for the profitable extraction of the precious metals from nature's treasure vaults in the Taos Mountains. However, capital is no longer ignorant of our great mineral resources, as more Eastern money has been invested in the mines of this county during the past year than in all previous history, but the field is practically unlimited, as this county contains over 900 square miles of known mineral territory. It has the advantage of good roads, timber, and water, and is lacking only in transportation. With the present rate of development Taos County in the near future will be second to none in the production of precious metals. This valley with its 300 square miles of the finest agricultural and fruit land, at an altitude of 7,000 feet, protected on three sides by high mountain ranges, and watered by seven rivers, with a climate that is

unsurpassed, is destined to become the home of 100,000 people. Nature has given it the soil, the sunshine, the scenery, the pure air, and sparkling water; it remains but for man to improve, beautify, and adorn nature's work for this alley to become what the Indian legend claimed for it in the past, he Paradise of America.'

UNION COUNTY.

The most northeastern county of the Territory is Union, which was created in 1893. It is 123 miles long by 55 miles wide from east to west. It is mostly prairie land, but in the northern portion is a branch of the Raton Mountains. The land is chiefly used for grazing purposes, but along the many streams considerable farming is done, the soil being well adapted to the raising of nearly all the small grains and vegetables.

ALTITUDE AND CLIMATE.

The altitude is about 5,000 feet, which is an excellent average for all persons having pulmonary trouble combined with a weak nervous system, since the climate in this county is equal to almost any portion of the Territory for all pulmonary affections. The air is dry and crisp,

is neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter even for the chronic invalid.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

Clayton, the county seat, is the largest town in the county, and is situated on the Colorado and Southern Railway (formerly known as the Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf), in the northern half of the county, and about 10 miles west of the Texas line. The population of this town is between 700 and 1,000. It has an excellent water system and electric light plant, modern court-house costing $20,000, and fine public school building costing its progressive taxpayers $10,000, also a modern hotel, costing $20,000 when finally completed. The school census of this town shows 350 children of school age.

Folsom is situated in the northwest portion of the county, on same line of railway, is the second railroad town of importance in the county, and contains nearly as many people as Clayton. Formerly the United States land office was located here, but was removed to Clayton. Folsom has an altitude of over 6,000 feet and nestles near the mountains, surrounded by springs whose waters contain valuable medicinal qualities, and this town is becoming quite a health resort for many people from Texas and other States who come here during the summer season. Folsom has a fine public school building, built at a cost of $7,000; two very good hotels, and many stores and business houses. Folsom, like Clayton, has a large trade from the surrounding country, extending as far as 150 miles.

Other towns having post-offices, but off of the lines of railroad, are Veda, Capulin, Gallegos, Baca, Genova, Tequesquite, Albert, and many others of minor importance.

CATTLE.

Union County has 60,000 head of cattle within its borders. Many, if not the large majority, are well-graded cattle of the Hereford, Jersey, horthorn, and other fine breeds.

SHEEP.

Three-quarters of a million sheep are now grazed in this county, many being Merinos and other well-known and valuable breeds. Scab is unknown among the sheep men here, and but few of these animals are lost here during the winter storms. The price of wool, sheep, and cattle having rapidly enhanced within a year, and these constituting the principal capital of the citizens of this county, the wealth of the county has kept the same pace.

SCHOOLS.

In all the school districts of the county the terms run from five to nine months, and every child within the confines of the county has the opportunity of acquiring at least a good common school education.

COAL.

Good coal is found in the northern part of the county, but owing to the nearness of other coal mines to the present railroad line no mines of coal have been developed, except such as the near-by settlers may do when removing coal for their immediate use.

HOMESTEAD LOCATIONS.

About two hundred homestead filings have been made at the Clayton land office during the past year, nearly all of which have been within this county, and while there is yet much valuable Government land here the indication is that the land containing living water will soon become individual property.

COST OF LIVING.

Exceptional inducements are offered the homeseeker in this county. Should he wish to engage in ranching, he may select his homeste d from the thousand of acres of Government land at a cost of $16 for his 160 acres. He will find the expense of living not materially different from that in the East. Flour costs $2.80 per hundred; meats and grains are cheaper than they are in the far East, and groceries at prices charged in Denver or Kansas City, and in this climate of sunshine, after a few years, the summer heat of eastern districts, unknown in the arid portions of the West, and the rigors of severe winters of the Orient will hold out no inducement to him to leave the country of his adoption.

RAILROADS.

Union County is crossed by the Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railroad, a road running from Denver, Colo., to Fort Worth, Tex., a distance of 780 miles, which enters the county at a point near Folsom and leaves it at Texline, Tex. This road, which was built in 1888, has during the past five years improved greatly its roadbed and rolling stock until it has become one of the best roads in the West. Its passenger service is, because of its new and excellent coaches and fast-running trains, worthy of particular mention, and the traveler, leaving New Mexico one morning, reaches by close connections the city of Denver the same afternoon and Chicago the following evening. The road has, in way of improvements in Union County for the first six months of 1898, laid 10 miles of 65-pound steel in place of