OCR Text |
Show 144 The priucipal streams of this section of the country are the Pecos and the Canadian. The foriuer drains an immense area. Taking its head in the namerons small lakes on the east nlope of the Santa/ Fe" range, it gathers these waters together with those of the Las Vegas range, the eastern slope of this latter range being drained by the Gal-linas, which empties into Pecos beyond the mountains. Tbe foot- hills of the Santa F6 range run down just southeast of Santa Fe" nearly to the Galisteo. Tbe Arroyo La Java, the southern fork of the Galisteo, heads opposite tbe bead of Cafion Blanco; tbe two constitute the terminal drainage- lines of the range west of the Pecos. Tbe Conchas, a fork of the Canadian, rises entirely without tbe range in the plateau and, cuttiug a cafion down through it, debouches on the plain a: the Rincon de las Conchas; thence flowing nearly due east it empties into the Canadian about six miles above Stone Raucb, known to the Mexicans as the plaza of Don Francisco Lopez. The subdrainage- basin of the Cafion Blanco and Galisteo is very limited. To tbe south tbo greater portion of the water south of Cafion Blanco sinks in the plain, being cut off by tbe run running south of the Arroyo La Java and the above- named cafion. To the south of Galisteo Creek rises a new formation or succession of uplifts, not a continuous range, but rather spasmodic uplifts, which Usually abound in mineral veins. The Placer, San Ysidro, San Pedro, Sandia, and Manzana Mountains rise from the Placers, each distinct in itself and together forming a group. The Sandia, running for 10 or 12 miles with tbe dip of the rock to the east, the western face being nearly vertical, the eastern slope smooth, have at their southern end the Cafion Tijeras. East of the Sandia, and separated from them by a broad, beautiful valley, lie the Placer Mountains on the north, then the Tuerto or New Placers south of them, then the San Ysidro, and on the southwest of these the San Pedro, a low line of wooded mountains. All of these have gold, copper, and iron in veins and deposits, and traces of silver aud lead. Coal is also found in the vicinity. The placer- diggings are very fine. I saw several nuggets found in the Tuerto or new placer- diggings, weighing 2 or 3 ounces of very tine quality gold. The little mining now done there is by a very rude rocker or batea. No Bteps have been taken to form a reservoir of water; indeed, everything shows bnt the individual efforts of men who cared but to make a livelihood or had not the capital to properly work the placers. There was no work being done on the veins or deposits, and never had been much more than prospect- shafts. It is said, however, that prior to the Mexican war, at the little town of New Placer, there were some 4,000 souls living on the products of these placers ; frightened away by the approach of tbe American Army, they never returned. One Mexican, the principal man of the town, stated, and his story was corroborated by the other old men of the place, that he once found a lump of gold which weighed 11 pounds 9 ounces avoirdupois. I give the story for what it is worth. He certainly had done so, or else had told tbe story so often that he, as well as everybody else in the town, believed it. Tbe Ramirez lead or deposit- it is bard to tell which in its present unworked state- is a wonder in size. Prospect- sbaft* show it to be well defined by a wall- rock on at least one side. It runs with very slight dip to the east nearly 30 feet thick at the points of exposure. The country- rock is porphyrite. The ore is easily quarried; mainly of copper- carbonates, it carries quite a proportion of gold. The San Ysidro Mountains should have mineral wealth from their formation, although no leads have been as yet worked. In every respect the section was the most promising we had seen during the summer. With the San Antonita, San Pedro, Cafion del Agua, aud Agua Litnpia Valleys running through it, furnishing the best grass we bad during the season, with water enough for large sheep- herds, plenty of timber on the mountains, which will be of great value when the railroad is built, which will be forced to pass through this region or within 10 or 15 miles of it, as it is the only timber near fit for ties, the section is a valuable one, and it seems unfortunate that it » » covered by land- grauts, tbe Cafion del Agua and San Pedro, whose owners have so far left its wealth undeveloped. In the San Pedro Valley and to the south of here, in the Manzana or Monte Largo range, we found fields which did not depend on irrigation, which is quite unusaal. To the east of the Tuerto, San Ysidro, and Manzana Mountains extends the great dry basin, fiuely grassed for 8 or 10 miles from tbe mountains, but dependent upon the water therein to be utilized for grazing. At tbe little town of La Madera, at the northeast base of Sandia Mountains, was a saw- mill, at which they were making lumber or the timber from along the base and sides of these mountains. Four or five large sbeep-herds were seen grazing in the San Pedro Valley. Nearly all the hay used in toe towns Bernalillo, Algodoues, Sandia, and Santo Domingo, aud much of that for the Government corrals at Santa F< S, is drawn from here. ... The most prominent point of the Manzanas is Mosca Peak, rising from the range wit& two sharp points, the southeastern one of which was used as triangulation- statioo. 1( will prove of great value in carrying the triangulation. from Mount Taylor, Santo y range, and Las Vegas range to tbe south and east. The mountains are finely K1* 88^! and game is very abundant. The range north of Mosca, to the Tijeras and Ontierre* |