Taos County.
Taos is the most picturesque and in many respects one of the richest in mineral resources of New Mexico counties. It is also the oldest in point of settlement by white men, and one of the best watered sections of the territory.
The Sangre de Christo range is the backbone of the county. Its peaks rise to an altitude of over 13,000 feet. From it extend toward the west foothills and the mesa through which the Rio Grande river breaks its way, as well as some fifteen perennial streams which have broken, picturesque canons and mighty gorges, or have eroded fertile valleys. Spreading out fan-shaped on either side of the main range, and covering a large part of the area of Taos on the west and a large area in Colfax county on the eastern slope are rugged mountain masses reaching an altitude of 13,000 feet above the sea. As at Cripple Creek, the formation of the entire region is largely the result of volcanic forces, consisting mainly of porphyritic and trachytic dykes and overflows, intersected by innumerable veins or lodes, carrying gold, silver, copper and iron. Above Twining is the Rio Hondo and the Black Copper districts, both rich in gold, silver and copper. Mines in these districts are being actively and systematically developed by modern methods and many of them are regularly out-putting large quantities of ore that either reward treatment at district smelters, or are profitably milled or concentrated near the mines. Much of the gold ore is free milling and little of it is seriously refractory—the iron content more than offsetting the small percentage of sulphur and other refractory ingredients. The average values are from $10.00 to $50.00 per ton and bodies are frequently encountered that run a great deal higher. The large bodies of ore in the Rio Hondo and the Copper Hill districts yield their values readily to modern concentrating processes and it seems probable that concentrating will prove an important factor in the future development of the mineral resources of the entire county.
Portions of Taos county are heavily timbered and in general the county is the best timbered in the territory. On account of the difficulty in bringing the merchantable timber from the steep mountain sides to the railroad, saw mills are in operation in various parts of the county, the principal being near Questa and Twining.
The visitor finds here many things to interest him, particularly the Taos Indian pueblo, called by Charles F. Lummis “The American Pyramids.” Here one can study the customs of centuries ago, folklore tales, and try to fathom the secrets of the “Kivas,” or council chambers of these Indians, and the many ceremonial functions and mystic dances. (See picture [page 17].)
Hunting in the Rio Hondo District.
“Jack” and His Bear.
The old town of Taos is practically today as it was centuries ago; to see the inhabitants toiling in the gardens and fields, carries us back to the time of Moses, as did the children toil upon the plains of Shimar. Some very old ruins, presumably Pueblo, are to be seen to the right when nearing the main town. An interesting feature is one of the churches of the Pueblo Indians, near Taos. It appears that these Indians rebelled against the United States government once, and but only once, in the latter part of the ’50s, and took refuge in this old church. (See picture [page 17]). Whereupon General Sterling Price bombarded them with cannon from a distant point, until the Indians hoisted a flag of truce from the top of the old church. The effect of the bombardment is in evidence today, the holes made by the shells were never repaired.
Scores of tourists come to visit the Indian Pueblo annually, especially on its annual feast day, San Geronimo, September 30. The Jicarilla Apache Indians, the Navajos as well as the Pueblos from the south send delegations to this festival and the settlers for scores of miles around gather at the Pueblo on that day. (See picture [page 17]).