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Show 1276 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. the base of the mountain nearly to the Cafion of the Rio Grande, from the month of tbo United States Mountain Canon to the Canon of Pneblo Creek. On it are Fernandez de Taos, the old Mexican town, near which is the Pueblo de Taos, the old Indian town, former capital of the Pneblo Nation, Ranchode Taos, formerly sub rdinate to the Fer-naudez Plaza, but now nearly equal in population, and Los Cordovas, at the junctiou of the streams watering the other towns. The Rio Grande opposite this valley is boxed in a great caftan abont 800 feet deep, extending 60 miles to the north, on both aides capped with basalt. The Arroyo de Cieneguilla runs just east and south of the banalt, and from the little town on the other river- bank of the same name the stream divides the two formations; on the west is the puqilinh black of the basalt, on the east the variegated, tinted, illy formed granite from the nearly fused quartz and feldspar, with its white, pink, and red shades, to tho dark gray of the more micaceous, friable rock. On the west the direct result of the internal heat is vomited forth upon the earth. On the east is found the metamorphosed sandstone, burnt crisp by the more indirect action. Farther down, the river again cuts asunder the basalt plateau, but to opeu out at La Joya iuto a wide valley, needing but American enterprise to reclaim it from a sandy plain and render it rich in crops of cereals. Eveu the siuip'e efforts of the Mexican have been rewarded with rich vineyards aud fair orchards. The native fruit, excepting the grape, is not of fine flavor, but where the trees brought from the East have been cultivated the result has been very encouraging indeed. La Joya, Los Luceros, Plaza del Alcalde, San Juan, and San Ildefonso ai e found on the river, and Santa Cruz, Pojoagup, Cuyamungue, and Tezuqneon the tributary streams, where crossed by the main road leading to S » nta Fe\ Between Santa Fe* and the Rio Grande is a low range of hills. South of Santa Fe" the main range dies out. The mountains beyoud these, east of the Rio Grande, in prolongation of the main axial line, are more broken up: they lose their continuous ridge- like form. North of the Galisteo are the Cerillos, which are but low hills, azoic in formation, broken by many basaltic dikes. They would be of lirtle importance but for the mines of argentiferous galena and copper. Several thin mines of turquoise have been rudely worked by Indians, Spaniards, and Mexicans. There are throughout the whole region evidences of old mines, worked probably by the Spaniards with Indian labor, before the latter drove their former conquerors from the country. South of the Galisteo are the old Placers, the Puerto or New Placer Mountains, the Sandia, San Pedro, and San Isidro Mountains, in all of which are mineral deposits. The formation in these ranges is mainly azoic; toward the west there are carboniferous crop pings. The Saudi as are capped with fossiliferous limestone. The Placers have auriferous copper- ores, also iron aud coal. The Puerto or New Placers are full of metalliferous ores and deposits, copper, lead, iron, gold, and silver ores. The Sandias have many traces of copper and lead. The ores of the whole region require careful handling, with more skill than has yet been given them. There is no doubt as to their existence in paying forms if properly treated. Abont both the new and old Placers gold- diggings that would give very large returns with hydraulic washing extend nearly around the entire bases. The water- supply is very limited, but with the advent of capital means will be found to bring water there, to reclaim its cost twenty- fold. Real de Dolores, Real de San Francisco, Alamocito, San An ton i to, San Antonio, and Tijeras all are fouud in the basins between these mountains. West of the Sandias is the Rio Grande Valley. South of tho Sandias are the Manzanos, the northern portion of which range consi « ts of a low plateau broken up by numerous canons, the branches of the Tijeras Cafion, Coyote Cafion, Cafion del Norte, Cafion Infieruo, Cafion de los Ejes and Moyas. The western slope is abrupt, indeed cliff- like; the dip of the rock to the east renders it gently rolling country in that direction. Just south of Cafion Moyas the range shoots up into the Mosca Peaks, which run above timber- line. The limestone is again here fonnd. From Mosca southward to Manzano Peak the elevation of the higher points is abont 10,000 feet. The formation is similar to that of the Sandias. The cafious on the west are short and bounded by high, cliff- like walls; those on the east and southeast are longer and more tortuous. The range can be crossed by Hell Canon, also just north of Mosca, following up Tejique Creek, or by Comanche Cafion, south of Mosca. That by Hell Cafion is a rough wagon- road, the others but horseback- trails. The main drainage is to the east; Chilili Tejique; Torreon Manzano, Osha, and Abo Creeks being the principal waters. On the west there are no running streams, but along the base are found Ojo de la Casa, Ojo del Trigo, El Hedioudillo, Cafion de Salas, Ojo del Cafion de Monte Largo, Cristoo, and Justamente Springs. Farther out on the plains are Ojo de la Cabra, the Ojuelos, aud Ojo de los Casos. At the Ojutlos is a tine sheep- ranch. From the base of the mountain the country slopes gently to the river in nearly uniform grade. The river valley proper, or that which can be placed under irrigation with but little tronble, is in places from 3 to 5 miles wide. The soil, while Bandy, is rich in salts nourishing to plants, aud, with water, produces the most inviting fields. Hardly a tenth of the present arable land is now utilized. Many little towns extend along the river from Albuquerque to^ Fort Craig; on the we* t bank are Atrisco, Padillas, Pajarito, Isleta, Loa Luuas, Los Charez, Rancbitos de Belen, Belen, Pueblitos de Belen, Los Jarales, Pun to del Bosque, Bosque, Kauchttos de Sabinal, Sabinal, Pueblito de Sabiual, Picaoho de Sabinal, San |
