MINING.

Among the mining districts of our Territory the Hillsboro district, near Hillsboro, in the county of Sierra, should be especially mentioned from their past and present yield of gold, and by reason of those features of recent discovery and development which promise enlarged operation and production.

The annual output of gold, silver, and copper obtained from quartz veins and from placers has been something over $350,000 for the past few years, or since the mines have begun to be worked at all scientif ically and systematically. Of this yield but a small portion has been taken from the placers, yet the greatest promise of the district lies in these extensive gold fields, and their output was very large for some time after their discovery in 1877. The process of working them was to haul the gravel some 4 or 5 miles to the Percha River, but only the rich gulches and pockets would justify such expense, and now the water must be brought to the ore. Quite recently California experts, after an exhaustive examination of placers, have recommended to their principals an investment of $600,000 in reservoirs and hydraulic work with confident promise of large profits. The ground is easily shown to contain gold in paying quantities.

There are no vexatious laws to hinder placer mining in this Territory, and in any event these placers do not converge upon any agricultural lauds. With certain payment in gold of all revenues and profits, it is not likely that these fields will much longer be unworked for want of the capital necessary to raise the water from the stream beds.

The Tripp mine has lately developed a very large and high-grade body of gold ore, and present indications point to it as being the largest find so far in this district. This mine is being worked by Hon. William H. Andrews, of Pennsylvania, and good results will no doubt follow.

The Wicks mine has sunk its shaft from the 200 to the 300 foot level, and has developed a fine body of ore the entire 100 feet, larger and richer than anything above the 200 foot level.

In addition to these two mines, there are many others that have been showing an increased development and production, and the balance of the mines are producing their usual production, and are shipping their regular amounts, which serve to employ many men outside of the prospectors.

CATTLE INTERESTS.

The cattle interests have never been brighter or better, and the grass on account of the abundant rainfall is fine; the cattle men are fast retrieving their lost fortunes, and the herds are increasing with wonderful rapidity.

SOCORRO COUNTY.

The following report was furnished by Mr. W. E. Martin:

Socorro County occupies the central latitudinal portion of New Mexico, and extends westward from Lincoln County to the Arizona line, a distance of 230 miles. It is the largest county in the Territory, and is peculiarly fortunate in the wealth and diversity of its resources. The valley of the Rio Grande extends through its center, and its surpassing fertility is attested by the numerous thriving settlements embraced within its boundaries.

Of these towns the city of Socorro, the county seat, is the largest. Situated at the foot of the Socorro Mountains on land gently sloping toward the river, sheltered from the northwest and southwest winds, with an elevation of 4,665 feet, it has justly

earned its reputation as an ideal health resort. Its water system is perfect, and conducts the water, famous for its softness and purity, from the inexhaustible spring at the foot of the mountain to all parts of the city. In 1892 the Court of Private Land Claims granted to the city of Socorro 4 square Spanish leagues of land, centered by the Roman Catholic Church of Socorro, thus assuring perfect title to those acquiring lands within its limits. Without possessing a single individual who might nowadays be termed rich, yet for substantial, well-to-do citizenship Socorro can vie with any city of her size in the Union. Her enterprises are controlled by men of standing and public spirit. Blessed with a generous, hospitable, and elevated society, she stands ready to respond to every progressive step that shall tend to develop the but yet half-awakened resources of the county. With a population of some 5,000, Socorro is past the stage of growth when it is possible to e body in a short report a reference to each of its many enterprises. With her smelters, fire-clay works, natatorium, large mercantile establishments, mills, etc., she has certainly taken material strides toward becoming a large and prosperous city. Of her three flouring mills, the steam mill of John Greenwald & Co. has recently been enlarged and improved, and is turning out flour from the peerless Socorro County wheat, which is equal to the finest products of Eastern mills. Among her recent improvements the splendid distillery of Abe Coon, the great orchardist, deserves mention. This structure is built of brick, and is furnished with the most modern appliances for the manufacture of distilled liquors. Though in operation only a few months the product whic. Mr. Coon is turning out has achieved a gratifying reputation.

Two large public schools, a Catholic seminary, and that magnificent structure, the celebrated school of mines, which opened this year with a greatly increased attendance, give evidence of the fact that Socorro is not behind in educational advantages. The happy situation of Socorro from a sanitary standpoint has long been recognized by the medical faculty. Its benefits have been so pronounced that a project is now on foot to establish a large sanitarium above and about 2 miles distant from the town, on land deeded to it by the city.

San Marcial, a thriving railroad town, is the next largest in the county. Magdalena, on the Magdalena branch of the Santa Fe Railroad, is a busy mining town, and the largest stock shipping point in the Territory.

MINING.

Socorro County's mining resources are being rapidly and widely developed. At Water Canyon, 16 miles west of Socorro, the Timber Peak Mining Com any, a Philadelphia corporation, have just completed a road some 7 miles long at a cost of nearly $8,000. This leads to their mines on Timber Peak, where they have opened up an immense body of ore for the operation of a modern reduction plant of 150 tons capacity. The mill is in process of erection and will be running this fall. The mines in Water Canyon, Six Mile Canyon, and in the Socorro Mountains are all within 3 to 20 miles of the magnificent smelting plant at Socorro, and the haul to the smelter being down grade, makes it possible to operate mines in those sections containing low-grade ores with success. At Graham, in the western part of the county, the Helen Mining Company is operating, by water power, one of the bestpaying mills in the Territory. The utilization of this power cost over $25,000, and its capacity can be judged from the fact that the company are now constructing a bucket tramway from their mines to the mill, and have recently purchased an electric plant which will furnish sufficient power to run all of the mills in the Mogollon mining district.

At Magdalena the graphic smelter, erected about three years ago, has been running successfully on ores from its own and other mines in the Magdalena mining district with but one shut down since its construction. Without going into statistics, it is sufficient to say, as indicating the development of the mining industry in Socorro County, that six mining companies have been incorporated within the past year for the purpose of operating in this county. These companies are controlled by men of capital and experience, and all of them have begun the immediate and extensive development of their properties.

The many perpetual streams flowing through the mineral belts of the county, and the abundance of timber, with the equable winter climate, make it possible to work the mines throughout the entire season at a minimum outlay.

Besides the precious metals, there are many valuable lead and copper properties. Just recently large quantities of lead and copper were discovered a short distance east of Socorro, which are receiving the attention of capitalists.

The Carthage coal mines, 10 miles east of San Antonio, are being steadily operated by A. i. Hilton, of San Antonio. Coal of the best quality is found throughout the county. The smelter at Magdalena is fired with coal mined in that vici ity, and it needs only additional railroad extension to open up valuable coal fields in the county.

AGRICULTURE.

The valley of the Rio Grande, from its source to its mouth, is as rich as the valley of the Nile, and all the products which are raised in the most favored sections of the country are here raised in the greatest abundance, and are of the finest quality. At every State and international exposition the grain, fruits, vegetables, and grasses of the Rio Grande have competed with and excelled the finest products of our most favored agricultural States.

In the western part of the county the Frisco, Tularoso, and Gila rivers, with their numerous branches, irrigate valleys of equal fertility to the Rio Grande. Being in a higher a titude, they are of course better adapted to the raising of apples, potatoes, and the hardier products. Their amazing prolificacy can best be realized when it is remembered that their soil is the accumulation for numberless ages of the wash from the mountains, and it is not unusual to go to a depth of 15 or 20 feet before a substratum is reached.

As in other parts of the Territory, and the whole irrigable West, vast areas of land in the county are lying untilled for want of an adequate system of irrigation, especially in the Rio Grande Valley. This land only awaits the introduction of storage reservoirs to repay a hundred fold the outlay therefor.

PREHISTORIC RUINS.

To the archeologist and the savant the valleys of the Frisco and Tularoso present features of the deepest interest. It is here that the remains of the Pueblos of the history less races who cultivated the valleys in ages past are found. To the health seeker, for whom the rod and gun have no attractions, the delving among the stone ruins for the artistically painted and skillfully made pottery, for shell and turquoise ornaments, and the curious implements of war, agriculture, and the chase of a people who were certainly not strangers to the arts of civilization, affords a healthful and diverting occupation of intense interest to the speculative mind.

STOCK.

During the past year 8,000 cars of cattle have been shipped from Magdalena. Owing to the high price of beef, many of the principal stockmen have entirely cleaned up their ranges of beef cattle, so that the splendid grazing grounds will not be overburdened for several seasons to come. For the past ten years the stockmen have bred to Shorthorn and Hereford bulls, and there is very little, if any, low-grade stock in the county.

Probably no industry in the county has met with such impetus during the past year as that of sheep raising. Many individuals have gone extensively into the business, and several large corporations have been formed, the largest of which is that managed by the well known stockman, Montague Stevens, who is associated with General Miles and others in the western part of the county.

All of the principal sheep herds of the county have been bred to high-grade Merino bucks, largely imported from Europe.

Nearly all of the small ranch owners living in the mountainous sections of the county are engaging with profit in the business of raising goats. There is no market less subject to fluctuation than the market for mohair, and with the certainty of good prices and the excellent adaptation of a large portion of the county to the raising of the finest breeds of Angora goats, it is one of the most desirable enterprises for the man of small means to engage in.

WESTERN SOCORRO COUNTY.

Western Socorro County comprises a stretch of territory several times the size of the State of Rhode Island, that will, when it is settled and thoroughly developed, become one of the richest portions of New Mexico. First is all that rich mining country in the Mogollon Mountains, which, though yet practically undeveloped, except in a few instances, is now the greatest gold camp in the Territory. And there are many other parts of western Socorro County yet unprospected which will without doubt some time in the near future prove rich in mineral.

Then there are numerous streams, in the most fertile valleys, where the most prolific agricultural crops and fruit can be raised. Besides all this, there are immense ranges for cattle and sheep, always covered with