New Mexico

Mining.

Though New Mexico was once an important silver producing State, the loth century brought an increased demand for the baser metals, especially copper, zinc and lead, and capital was drawn to their production. Showing a steady increase in out put and value after the depression of 1921 copper became the leading mineral in 1925, its production amounting to 76,427,825 lb. valued at $10,852,751. Production fell sharply after 1930; in 1934 it was 23,63o,000lb. valued at $1,890,400. About 99% of the copper is mined in Grant and Hidalgo, chiefly from the Chino Copper Company's operations in the Central district and from the 85 mines in the Lordsburg district. Zinc production in creased from 9,246 tons in 1925 to 26,522 tons in valuation amounting to $2,280,849. Lead also showed a slight decrease from $817,182 in value in 1933 to $692,973 in 1934. The silver and gold mined in 1934 amounted in value to $686,400 and $954,380 respectively.

In 1934 tons of coal were produced valued at $3,402, 000. Coal areas cover approximately 15,00o sq.m. and are hardly touched as yet. Good bituminous deposits are found at White Oaks, Carthage, Abbey, Cerrillos, Raton, Van Houten and Daw son. The greatest advance, however, has come in petroleum pro duction due to the discovery of vast new oil fields in the South west. The output amounting to 98,000bbl. in 1934, and valued at $127,000, leaped to 14,116,00obbl. valued at $6,490,000 in 1933, and to 16,864,000W. worth $12,700,000 in New Mexico is generously endowed with beautiful stone suit able for building purposes.

Manufactures.

As New Mexico is primarily a mining and stock-raising region, its manufacturing industries, though growing, are still of comparatively little importance. The value of the prod ucts of manufacturing establishments increased from $19,459,000 in 1925 to $21,697,000 in 1929, or 1I%, but dropped to $9,580, 000 in 1933 as a result of the world-wide economic depression. Of the latter figure $4,737,000 was added by the manufacturing process. There were in 1933, 160 establishments paying 000 in wages to 2,996 wage-earners, and using $4,843,000 worth of materials, fuel and purchased electric energy.

The chief industries, in 1933, were lumber and timber products, $1,744,000; and newspaper and periodical printing and publish ing, $719,000.

Transportation.

In 1934 there were 2,915m. of railway in New Mexico. About one-half belonged to the Atchison, To peka and Santa Fe system, whose trans-continental line crosses the northern one-third of the State. Another transcontinental line, the Southern Pacific, crosses the southern part of New Mexico westward from El Paso, Texas. The rural highway sys tem totals in all 47,776m. of which 3,014m. were surfaced in 1930. The State highway system, which includes all the princi pal through routes, totals 10,185m. of which 3,434m. were sur

faced in 1934. Expenditures by the State for highways amounting to about $8,076,000 annually from 1931 to 1935 were derived largely from motor vehicle and gasolene taxes. and Federal aid.

History.

In the period 1525-43 explorations extending from Florida to the California coast paved the way for the later col onization of Florida and New Mexico in the latter part of the 16th century, Texas in the early part of the 18th and California in the latter part of that century. The first of the expeditions was that of Narvaez. The journey of the treasurer of this Florida adventure, Cabeza de Vaca, extended over the period from 1528 to 1536.

The appointment of Antonio de Mendoza as first viceroy of New Spain in 1535 marked the beginning of a period of improved organization in the continental possessions of Spain. Early in 1539 Friar Marcos de Niza was chosen by the viceroy to investi gate the land north of Culiacan and inaugurate a new policy in Indian affairs. When Friar Marcos left Culiacan, March 1539 he was accompanied by Estevanico, as guide, who was one of the four survivors of the Narviez expedition. The party reached the vicinity of the Zuni pueblos, in the western part of New Mexico. In the following year the well-equipped expedition of 27o soldiers under Coronado arrived by the same trail. The Zuni pueblos were conquered and the expedition established win ter headquarters near the present town of Bernalillo. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado was discovered and other parties ex plored the Rio Grande valley and the country as far east as the present State of Kansas.

An expedition was organized by the Franciscan friar, Augustin Rodriguez in the summer of 1581 for the purpose of convert ing the Indians of the lands to the north of Mexico. A year later Antonio de Espejo led an expedition to rescue the friars of the Rodriguez party, who had remained in New Mexico with out protection after the return of their military escort to Mexico. (The name New Mexico seems to have been applied to the Pueblos of the Rio Grande valley in the summer of 1582, al though the name applied by the members of the Rodriguez expedition, San Felipe, and the name given by Espejo, Nueva Andalucia, were probably sometimes used.) Near the close of the century a contract was made with Juan de Onate for the colonization of New Mexico. The expedition was assembled in the vicinity of Santa Barbara in August 1597, and after several delays proceeded up the Rio Grande. The first settlement was made at San Juan de los Caballeros in the Chama river valley, July II, 1598. The construction of the first church in New Mexico was completed and mass was celebrated on Sept. 9, 1598. The present capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe, was founded in 1609.