Eastern tanners prefer them to all others on acconnt of their fineness of grain and toughness, and they are largely used in the production of imitation morocco and other leathers, as well as for glove stock, for which they are eminently suited. If the butchers and herders will exercise proper care in removing the pelt from the carcass and curing it afterwards they can obtain fancy prices for them. Pullers and tanners have complained at times that excellent skins have been ruined. for leather purposes by reason of careless skinning and handling in the primal stages, an objection that should and can be easily remedied by the exercise of intelligence and care on the part of those who skin the animals and prepare the pelts for shipment to the pullers.

OBSERVATIONS OF A STOCKMAN.

Writing from his beautiful Val Verde home ranch, near Dorsey, Colfax County, under date of September 1 of this year, Hon. Will C. Barnes makes the following observations on "the live-stock industry in New Mexico" during the year 1902:

SEPTEMBER 1, 1902.

SIR: It has been said that the real test of a man's strength of character is his ability to withstand and throw off reverses; to come out of them a stronger, braver, and better man, and to rise superior to every misfortune.

In the same line of thought, the stock industry of New Mexico has demonstrated its sound foundation, has proved that it can rise superior to every blow, and that as an industry it stands to-day on as solid and substantial a basis as any in the nation. The year 1902 will long be remembered through the whole Southwest as the driest, most unsatisfactory season for over twenty-five years. There may have been years of less rainfall, but it was at a time when the country was not so largely taken up with stock raising, and therefore no particular hardship could follow any lack of rainfall.

But with millions of domestic animals spread over the mountains and plains of our Territory, all depending upon the native grasses for their feed, it becomes a serious matter when the rainfall, none too heavy in any part of this arid West, is withheld for as long a period as it has been during the present year. Probably it was the more keenly felt because the previous year, 1901, was so very kind to us all. Never before was the country clothed in such an abundant and satisfactory crop of grass. The rains had been bountiful; the valleys, plains, and mountains were buried with a grassy covering; stock of all kinds were fat; the water holes full, and the stockmen of New Mexico had reason to be well satisfied with their lot. In that same year in the corn-raising States of the Middle West the terrible drought had spread its devastating wings over all the country, and as we here in New Mexico had always sold them our surplus live stock we found ourselves practically without a market.

But with such worlds of feed to carry them over the winter the stock raisers of New Mexico, in easy financial circumstances generally, were content to hold over their surplus until the next year, trusting that abundant crops in these States would bring them buyers in plenty. So that 1902 found the stockmen of the Territory carrying a double supply of cattle on their ranges with a new crop coming on. The winter and spring of 1902 were remarkable in the almost total absence of any snowfall. Even in the highest mountain ranges, where there is generally snow to be seen the year round, there was almost no snowfall whatever. The winter was a very mild one, and while no loss was felt or serious shrinkage noticed during the winter months, it was when spring came on that the serious conditions began to alarm the stockmen. With no snowfall to start the spring grass and fill up the water holes and prairie lakes the spring came on dry and windy. It is no exaggeration to say that, generally speaking, there was not a spear of green grass all over the Southwest as late as May 25.

Stock raisers were in despair, the young lambs were dropping in every band, calves were coming everywhere, but no green grass for the mothers. When at almost the last moment of endurance a general three days' rain fell over almost all the Territory. It was a slow, soaking rain, and falling as it did upon a parched and thirsty land, the effects were little short of marvelous. Grass sprang up almost in a day; the calves and lambs were saved, and everybody breathed freely once more.

But nature evidently intended to try the courage of New Mexico's men a little more, for the one rain was all that we were granted, and soon with the hot winds and cloud

less days, the grass was again parched and dry, and we watched the skies eagerly and wearily for signs of rain, but none came for weeks and weeks.

Except in a few places no rain fell during the months of July and August, when our summer rains should fall, until late in the latter month, when, generally speaking, the entire southern part of the Territory was soaked through and through by a week's heavy rain. Grass soon started and is still growing, and, in southern New Mexico at least, the conditions of feed and water are fine. Cattle are rapidly taking on flesh and the great drought is only a thing of the past.

In northern New Mexico, however, there has been little rainfall, stock is generally in no shape to stand a hard winter and owners may have to ship out to other States fully 50 per cent of their herds to safely winter the balance.

A PERSONAL VIEW.

To add to our sorrows, the edict of the Federal Government that all fences upon public lands must be taken down caused a great many cattle to be thrown upon the market, the owners preferring to go out of the cattle business entirely rather than turn their stock to range upon the public lands.

What the effect of this order will be upon the cattle industry of the Territory it is hard to say at this time, but the immediate effect has been to turn upon the market a large number of thin and really unmarketable cattle, principally the stock that otherwise would not have been sold, entailing great loss upon their owners. There are those who profess to believe that these cattle will soon be replaced, and that other men will embark in the business that these owners have deserted. This may prove true, but in the writer's opinion it will not.

CONDITIONS CHANGING.

The open-range cattle business is a thing of the past. The cattleman of the future will own or lease his land. He will raise his cattle in fenced inclosures, where other feed than the natural grasses will be raised and fed during times like these we are passing through. His cattle will be better bred, better raised, weigh more, and bring more on the market than ever before, and a drought will really have little terror for him.

A new element has also come into the business this past year. I refer to the "stock buyer," who has for many years made his appearance upon the New Mexico and other Western ranges and bought our cattle and sheep right at our ranches and shipped them East himself. He was the "middle man” of the business, and often large profits were made on a single season's business, where the buyer got in early and made his contracts before the demand became very heavy. This year, however, for some reason he has been conspicuous by his absence, and the stock raiser, after waiting in vain for the buyer to come, has been forced to do his own shipping.

What with telegrams from his commission house in Chicago, telephones and daily mails, the stock raiser, no matter where he lived, has kept in pretty close touch with the business world, known the market conditions, how the crops were growing, and whether it was going to be a good year to sell "feeders" or not, hence the buyers, finding they could not pick up "snaps" as they had been wont to do, deserted the West, and the buyers of feeders in the feeding States went to some one of the large shipping points, like Kansas City, Omaha, and Denver, and bought their supply in the stock yards there.

It has this year resulted in a great congestion of feeder cattle in the big markets, as it seemed as if every man who had a car load of feeders, either sheep or cattle, turned them onto the market at one time; but as soon as the new order of things gets to be more generally understood, I think prices will be quite as satisfactory and shipments will be scattered over the year more, but we will have to raise even better stock than ever and pay more attention to what the feeders wish in breeding.

A GREAT SHIPPING YEAR.

Speaking for the cattlemen, the year 1902 will see the heaviest shipment of cattle to Eastern points of any one year since the business began. Among the sheep men very little selling has so far been done. The wool clip for 1902 was sold at more than satisfactory prices. The lamb crop was not so heavy as in the previous year, yet it was in the main very good, and will probably reach about 60 per cent, taking the Territory all through, hence the sheep owners are not particularly worrying over the situation.

At the same time, I believe that the stockman, who holds over his increase from year to year, hoping for better prices, will in the long run be the loser by the operation. Taking into consideration the percentage of natural losses, the danger of overstocking his range, and many other items, I believe a man who sells each year, getting the best price he can, keeps out of debt, improves his herd by buying good bloods as he can, and "owes not any man," will make the most money.

The health of New Mexico's stock continues remarkably good. Practically there is no disease of domestic animals here with us. Among the cattle there was a slight outbreak of Texas fever, brought into the Territory from foreign parts on imported cattle, which was promptly and successfully handled by the cattle sanitary board without the least loss or injury to our cattle interests.

The sheep sanitary board has taken hold of the scab matter very vigorously, and will soon have it under complete control, and a careful system of inspection and dipping will guarantee New Mexican sheep to be as free from this almost universal disease wherever sheep are as the sheep of any other State in the West.

THE ANGORA HERE TO STAY.

The goat industry, which a year or two ago was only fairly started, has, during the past year, made great strides, until now New Mexico is easily in the lead as a goatraising community.

It is estimated that in one county alone, Sierra, there are at present over 30,000 high-bred and registered Angoras, while in the entire Territory there are probably fully 250,000 goats. The business of goat raising is one that has been little understood and few have cared to take it up. However, the indications are that goat raising will in five years be almost as important an industry as sheep raising.

The best part of it all is that the goat is being raised on feed and ranges that have heretofore been considered almost worthless and produced nothing.

The Angora is essentially a brush-eating animal. He cares nothing for grass, but thrives on trees, shrubs, and underbrush of almost every kind. If there is any kind of a bush or browse that a goat will not eat I have yet to see it. Oak, palo duro, buck brush, mountain mahogany, manzanillo, and other indigenous shrubs that cover the mountain slopes in certain counties in our Territory are his favorite feeds, and the goat raisers are certainly entitled to the reward that is said to be due to those who "make two blades of grass to grow where one grew before," for they have utilized a hitherto almost waste product of our ranges.

That the raising of goats will prove a most profitable and satisfactory business has been clearly demonstrated in several counties of New Mexico, and there is no doubt but that the number of these valuable animals now upon our ranges will be more than doubled during the coming year.

Coming back again to our starting point, the writer can see no reason for the stock raiser of New Mexico to feel discouraged.

True, we have had a bad season. Well, what business is there that does not have its reverses, its off years, and times of depression? The stock raiser of New Mexico, whether he owns sheep, cattle, or goats, is in fairly easy circumstances. He owes practically nothing, his profits are large, and he does not propose to let one bad year offset a dozen good ones.

To anyone thinking of embarking in the business of raising live stock I would say, "Now is the appointed time." It will be many years before stock of all classes is as cheap as it now is. The business is of the free open air; the ordinary petty annoyances of business life are unknown; strikes, politics, and other evils of our present rushing business life are not of any concern to him as far as his business goes, and the old world wags along pretty evenly for the New Mexico stock raiser. There are boundless opportunities for going into the business in New Mexico. From the Colorado line on the north to the boundary of Old Mexico on the south, the mountains, valleys, and plains of our Territory are practically open to all. Her citizens are public spirited, progressive, and liberal; our schools are as good as the best anywhere; our local and Territorial governments are wise, liberal, and economical; our towns and cities are growing like weeds; railroads are being built into every corner of the Territory, and the newcomer in New Mexico will find here a climate unsurpassed all the year round, and one in which it is a joy to live.

Hon. M. A. OTERO,

WILL C. BARNES,

Val Verde Ranch, New Mexico.

Governor of New Mexico.

PRIZE ANGORA STOCK.

As indicating New Mexico's standing as a goat breeding country it may be here stated that at the National Live Stock Show in Kansas City, Mo., this season ten of the highest prizes for angoras were awardod to Mrs. M. Armour, of Kingston, Sierra County; and D. C. Taylor, also of Sierra County, took one first prize and made the record sale of the stock show, selling the 2-year old New Mexico bred buck "Aztec" to A. Kemble, of Muscatine, Iowa, for $1,400.

NEW MEXICO EXHIBITS.

SANTA FE, N. MEX., June 5, 1902.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following final report as to the work of the commission appointed by you last fall to arrange for and install an exhibit from New Mexico at the South Carolina Interstate and West Indian Exposition, held at Charleston, S. C., from December 1, 1901, to May 31, 1902.

This commission as appointed by you consisted of the following-named persons: William H. Pope and Hugh N. Willcox, of Santa Fe; Arthur H. Harllee, of Silver City; R. W. D. Bryan, of Albuquerque, and Ava E. Page, of Roswell. The commission organized by the selection of William H. Pope as chairman, Arthur H. Harllee as vice-chairman, and R. W. D. Bryan as secretary and treasurer. Subsequently the commission was increased by the addition of Mr. J. W. Benham, manager of the Hyde Exploring Expedition, having large interests in San Juan County and in Bernalillo County, with its Eastern headquarters at Fortieth street and Sixth avenue, New York City.

The problem which confronted the commission at the very outset was the lack of funds, there being no appropriation provided by the legislature for the purposes of this commission. However, upon conferences held with the Hyde Exploring Expedition, it was found that that corporation was willing to undertake an exhibit on behalf of the Territory of New Mexico should the commission provide for its use the sum of $500, to be expended in preparing the space allotted by the exposition authorities to the Territory of New Mexico. Mr. R. W. D. Bryan, the secretary and treasurer of the commission, energetically took up the matter of raising this amount by private subscriptions, with the result that he was entirely successful, the full amount being contributed by the public-spirited people of Albuquerque. These funds placed at the disposal of Mr. Benham, the manager of the Hyde Exploring Expedition, assured the exhibit. Supplementing the splendid work done by Mr. Bryan in securing this money, the other members of the commission secured a number of articles for the exhibit, Mr. Harllee's work in enlisting the interest of the people of the southwestern portion of the Territory, and Mr. Bryan's work in arousing interest in the central portion of the Territory, being especially worthy of mention. In addition, Mr. E. D. Williams, of Las Cruces, aided in securing an exhibit from the Mesilla Valley; the bureau of immigration aided by the preparation of literature for distribution at the exposition, and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad furnished free transportation for the exhibit over its lines. The chairman of the commission made a trip to New York during the month of December, 1901, for the purpose of arranging details with the Hyde Exploring Expedition, and a few days later met the representative of that company at Charleston and finally arranged with the exposition authorities for the space desired. This latter was secured in one of the best buildings on the grounds, just across from the Florida exhibit.

The exhibit was installed the early part of 1902, and previous to President Roosevelt's visit to the exposition. It attracted a great deal of attention, both on account of its novelty in the handsome array of Navaho blankets, Indian pottery, and other Indian articles which it contained, and also on account of its very creditable representation of the resources of New Mexico. The impression made by the exhibit upon the public and upon the exposition authorities is shown in the fact that there were awarded to the Territory of New Mexico, on account of this exhibit, 3 gold medals, 14 bronze medals, and 1 honorable mention. The list of awards is as follows:

Upon the conclusion of the Charleston Exposition, on May 31, the New Mexico commission tendered this exhibit to the Louisiana Purchase Commission as the nucleus of the New Mexico exhibit to be made at St. Louis in 1904, but the latter commission did not feel willing to accept it upon the terms proposed, which were the expenses of repacking and the transportation back to St. Louis. The Charleston commission being without funds to arrange this latter and being requested by the Charleston Museum, the second oldest and one of the most complete of the museums in the United States, to donate to that institution this exhibit for permanent use, adopted the latter course. The result will be that this exhibit, having served its purpose in connection with the exposition for the past few months, will constitute a permanent advertisement of the resources of New Mexico in a section of the United States where these resources are but little known.

On behalf of the members of the commission I desire to thank you for the honor conferred upon us in our designation as commissioners and also in this manner to acknowledge the assistance which has been rendered us by the people of the Territory, the Hyde Exploring Expedition, and its efficient manager, Mr. J. W. Benham, in providing for this exhibit.

Very respectfully,

Hon. M. A. OTERO,

Governor of New Mexico.

THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION.

WM. H. POPE,

Chairman.

No general exhibit was made from New Mexico at the Buffalo PanAmerican Exposition, the legislature having deemed it expedient to husband its resources for the Louisiana Purchase Centennial at St. Louis, Mo., in 1904. However, a number of individual exhibits were made there by citizens of the Territory, among them being a rare and valuable collection of Navaho blankets by Messrs. James A. and Arthur Seligman, of Santa Fe, who were amply repaid for their efforts by receiving several handsome awards, aside from honorable mention, and many flattering comments by the Eastern press. This exhibit has done much to attract the attention of people of the far East to the beauty and utility of the Navaho blanket, a distinctively Southwestern product, for purposes of household ornamentation and general usefulness as rugs, portieres, etc.

LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION.

ALBUQUERQUE, June 30, 1902.

SIR: Imbued with the spirit of the times, which makes it the duty of all men and women within our borders to help make New Mexico's light shine before the world at large, in order that there shall not much longer continue crass ignorance and darkness in high places concerning the manifold riches and splendid natural resources of our beloved Territory, the thirty-fourth legislative assembly wisely provided for the appointment by the executive of a commission known as the "Territorial board of Louisiana Purchase Exposition managers," to consist of seven citizens.

In accordance with the provisions of this law, within sixty days after the passage of the act the governor appointed the following-named members to serve as said commission: Henry L. Waldo, A. M. Blackwell, R. J. Palen, J. J. Hagerman, W. B. Walton, T. S. Hubbell, and Thomas Hughes.

The law requires that the members of the board created by virtue of this act shall be entitled to their actual expenses for transportation and the sum of $4 per day for subsistence for each day necessarily absent from their homes on the business of said board, but no member of the board shall receive any further compensation from the Territory.

The board shall have charge of the collection and preparation of the exhibits from New Mexico for said exposition, and it shall communicate with the officers thereof and obtain and disseminate throughout New Mexico all necessary information regarding said exposition in due and ample time for the proper exhibit of said resources and products of New Mexico at said exposition.

The members of the board shall have full authority in relation to the participation, the display, and arrangement of the said exhibits, and the reception of citizens of New Mexico at the exposition, but shall incur no expense to the Territory of New Mexico in such reception of citizens. It shall make a report of its proceedings and