NEW MEXICO, a territory belonging to the United States, formerly a state of Mexico, in lat. 31° 22' to 37° n., long. 103° to 109° 9' w., 350 in. from e. to w., and 350 to 400 from n. to s., with an area of 121,201 sq. miles; bounded n. by the state of Colorado; e. by the Indian territory and Texas; s. by Texas and Mexico; and w. by Arizona. Its chief towns are Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos, Silver City, Mesilla. Its chief rivers are the Rio Grande, which crosses the territory from north to south; the Pecos, a branch of the Rio Grande; the Colorado, on the California boundary; the Gila, which rises in the Rocky mountains, and flows westward into the Colorado. These rivers and their branches water broad and fertile valleys, and supply the lack of rain by irrigation. Two great chains of the Rocky mountains or Cordilleras pass through the eastern portion of the territory from north to south, and lesser mountaiu-ranges diversify the west, rising to elevations of 12,000 feet. The climate is cold in the elevated regions. hot in the plains, but everywhere dry and healthy. Heavy rains fall in July and
August. but the rest of the year is dry. The productions are wheat, maize, fruits, and tobacco, with abundant pasturage. There are numerous mines of gold, silver, copper, iron, and salt. Merchandise is transported from St. Louis and Texas in wagon or mule trains. The Indian population consists of 25,268 who sustain tribal rela tions, and 1309 out of these relations—total, 26,577. The tribes are the wild and pre datory Navajoes, Apaches, Utahs, Comanches, etc., who possess large herds of horses, and make perpetual war upon the neighboring settlements. This territory was explored by the Spaniards in 1537, who opened mines, established missions, and made sonic progress in civiliziug the natives. In 1846, Santa Fe, the capital, was taken by an American expedition under gen. Kearney. At the close of the war in 1848 New Mexico was ceded to the United States, and erected into a territory in 1850. White population in 1S70, 90,393.