A NEW AMERICAN STATE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 93, 17 September 1874, Page 4

A NEW AMERICAN STATE.

[From the New Mexican correspondent of the New York Times.'] The proposed admission of New Mexico as one of the States of the Union is not popular with the Spanish or Mexican element, which constitutes five-sixths of the population. These would prefer to keep the distinction, whatever it is, of being the oldest territory of the United States. They are opposed to admission chiefly for two reasons :—First, because it would increase taxation; and, second, becuuse it would probably invite a large American immigration. If there are two things that more than any other the natives do not like, they are innovation and the Yankee. The present population of this territory is variously estimated at from 110,000 to 135,000. Of this the American population numbers about 8000 ; the wild Indians (Navajoes, Apaches, and Utes), 15,000 ; and the balance are Spanish in descent and habit. The territory has an area of 121,201 square miles, extending an average of 352 miles north and south, and 332 miles east and west. Of this area there are surveyed 189,493 acres in the military reserves, 1,302,960 in the Indian reserves, 3,860,582 in confirmed private grants, and 3,248,463 acres in townships subdivided. The general face of the country is constituted of high level plateaux traversed by a range of mountains. The rivers of the territory form parts of the water systems of both the Atlantic and Pacific slopes. The climate of New Mexico is milder than that of Colorado. The atmosphere is pure and dry, and, except in the higher latitudes of the more northern part, there is scarcely what may be called winter. The salubrity of the climate is remarkable, there being an evenness of temperature, and no malaria or epidemic diseases are known. From the signal service report it appears that at Sauta Fe last year the highest temperature was 88deg, the lowest sdeg below zero, and the mean 48deg. Total rainfall for the year, 9‘B7in ; mean of barometer, 29'835. The altitude of the Rio Grande Valley at Santa Fe is 6840 ft, over 1700 ft higher than the Denver. At Albuquerque it is 5026 ft and at El Passo 3800 ft. Additional to the attractions of pure bracing air and sunny skies are the numerous hot springs. At the Pagossa Springs, on the San Juan, near the Utah borders, the water is so hot that the inhabitants in that neighbourhood commonly cook meat in it by a few minutes’ boiling. The famous hot springs, Ojos Galientes, near Fort M’Rae, on the Rio Grande, burst out from the foot of a Mesa and form several large natural bathing pools. They have a temperature of about 136 deg Fahrenheit, and contain soda, lime, mag nesia, and other chemical ingredients ; and they have great repute throughout the territory for their medicinal properties, many remarkable cures of scrofula and other cutaneous diseases being reported from the use of the waters. There is a group of 20 or 30 hot springs beautifully located in the Valley of Gallinas Creek, The temperature varies

from 80deg to 140 deg. The water is as clear as crystal. It was analysed by Mr Frazer, of Professor Hayden’s surveying party, and found to contain carbonate of soda, carbonate of potash, and chloride of sodium. The proprietors talk of establishing a resort for invalids here, but at present the springs are put to a different purpose by the poor washerwomen of the neighbourhood, who have found that the water makes excellent suds. The agricultural capacity of New Mexico is greater than that of Colorado. Streams are more abundant, and there is a larger area that does not require irrigation. In grain, vegetables, and fruit New Mexico is more than self-supporting, and large quantities are furnished to the military posts of the plains, while wheat, corn, and wine are freighted into the adjoining territories. Stock raising will probably always be the chief industry in this territory. The plateaux, valleys, and hill sides are covered with various indigenous grasses, furnishing the best of pasturage for sheep and cattle. There is what they call the “ gama grass,” which grows rapidly during the rainy season of July and August, ripens in the autumnal suns, and dries upon the stalk, furnishing nutritious food for winter. There are many wealthy Mexicans who count their cattle by tens of thousands. The lower classes, who are generally but little else than slaves, are employed as herders at a small pittance. In fact, there is no part of Uncle Sam’s domain where greater inequalities exist than here. These are scarcely what we call the middle classes. The rich and the poor are here ; the former revelling in wealth, and carrying more power than the old slave masters of the South, and the latter living from hand to mouth, “ hewers of wood and drawers of water,” ignorant and degraded, and of vicious natures. The wool product of New Mexico is of greater importance than is generally supposed. It is certain that the herds scattered throughout the settled parts of the territory east of the Rio Grande number millions. A single family in Bernanilla county, the Armigos, who have been in the sheep business for centuries, foot up their different herds at half a million. They drove over 40,000 head northward into Colorado last summer and sold them. They sold over 200,0001 bof wool last year, netting the snug sum of 41,000 dois. The mining interests of this territory, though not of any great importance as yet, are no doubt destined to become as valuable as those of Colorado. The trouble with Indians and the great expense of getting machinery into the mines is the principal drawback. As the country becomes settled with the enterprising and daring American, and the Indians are content and remain on their reservations we may] look for large results. It is claimed by the sanguine that Santa F 6 is built on a silver bed. It is certain that ore was dug up in one of the streets a few months ago that assayed 250d0l per ton. It is a part of the history of this territory that 1704 the Spanish people entered into a compromise with the Pueblo Indians, by which the former, who had been driven out of the country, were permitted to return upon the express condition that they should not open or operate the mines. This agreement was kept, and up to about the time of the Pike’s Peak stampede, 15 years ago, the work of mining in New Mexico was entirely suspended ; and since that time work has been carried on only at intervals, and at great risk. But there is a vast extent of country containing gold, silver, copper, iron, and other minerals. The settlement of New Mexico by colonies will probably be undertaken as soon as the means of reaching the territory becomes better and less expensive. The methods adopted in Colorado three or four years back seem to have been entirely satisfactory, and the advantages of colonisation would be all the more apparent in this territory, where by banding together supplies could be the more economically obtained, and the attacks of Indians or the treachery of the natives guarded against. The territory is shortly to derive great advantages from the completion of railways within its borders. Whether a state constitution or state rule would accelerate its progress may be thought doubtful, though it must be admitted that the name of being a state generally helps at first in securing immigrants. It may be well to consider these facts however . —That the territory has a debt of 80,000 dols; that while it is rich in natural advantages and resources—mineral, pastoral, and agricultural—and has population sufficient to entitle it to statehood, yet its people are behind the age, have no public school system, few churches, but one small daily paper and half a dozen weeklies, but two or three banks, no manufactures, no railroads, and that the great mass of the people are neither in sympathy with the outside world nor in harmony with the spirit of the age.”