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Archive for the 'History' Category

Monday, March 5th, 2012

Hike to Bishop’s Cap Cave

Bishop’s Cap Peak is located at the southern end of the Organ Mountains. It was named because it looks something like a Bishop’s Cap — or so the early namers thought. It is easily seen on the east side of Highway I-25 when driving between Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, Tx.

Bishop’s Cap cave is located on the western side of the peak, about one-fifth of the distance to the summit. The eastern side of the mountain is off-limits. A power line access road traverses the western side of the peak. At the point at which you can see the mouth of the cave, there is a short spur that climbs about 150 feet toward the mountain.

The point where you begin the ascent is marked on the map above (32.18698 -106.61020). You can see the power line road and spur in the satellite image below.

The cave as it appears from the road is shown below.

I rate the hike to the cave fairly difficult. There is no path, it’s rocky, and it would be easy to get hurt. Don’t climb alone, and if you are climbing during snake season, be cautious.

The cave mouth (click for larger image):

Some images of the cave (click for larger image):

The view from the cave (click for larger image):

Tags: History, Hiking, Organ Mountains

Filed in: Hiking, History, Organ Mountains | Comments

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

The Electric Light

Every day some new suggestion is made as to the probable use of electricity. A San Francisco professor thinks the time is coming when swamps and sewers will be deprived of their unwholesomeness by strokes of lightning, or, in other words, by electric currents that will kill the germs and spores that communicate disease to the human system. This is based upon the germ theory of disease, which is to the effect that malarial and other foul air contagions are due to animalcule, or infusoria, which multiply in the victim’s body after inoculation. But would it not be a miracle if all atmospheres were rendered wholesome by electrical discharges? The electric light has made one change in cities which may lead to important results. It has enabled buildings and other public works to be constructed at night as well as day. Laborers are employed in eight and twelve hour shifts, and edifices are completed in less than half the time required when only day work could be employed. In summer laborers prefer to work at night. Scientists tell us, as yet we only dimly appreciate the marvelous changes that will be wrought by electricity in human conditions.

Rio Grande Republican, February 18, 1882 (Newspaper)

First Electric Light in New Mexico

The following advertisement from the June 23rd, 1881 Las Vegas Optic newspaper probably documents the VERY FIRST appearance of electric light in New Mexico.

Regarding the electric light shown in the illustration, the advertisement says:

“All under the most perfect sun-eclipsing ELECTRIC LIGHTS, which are exclusively used to illuminate the VAST METROPOLIS OF EXHIBITION TENTS.”

William Washington Cole, who began his circus in 1871, promoted new technology — “marvels” — in his expositions along with traditional circus acts. The electric light advertised here would have been a Brush Arc Light, which American inventor Charles F. Brush began selling commercially in 1879. Brush had invented the first modern electric dynamo in 1876. One or more of Brush’s dynamos, powered by a steam engine, would have powered Cole’s electric arc lights.

Electric arc lights were quickly shown to be much cheaper than gas, the prevailing technology, and to provide more light. By 1881, Brush had sold over 6,000 arc lights, including the following:

800 lights in rolling mills, steel works, shops, etc.
1,240 lights in woolen, cotton, linen, silk, and other factories
425 lights in large stores, hotels, churches, etc.
250 lights in parks, docks, and summer resorts
275 lights in railroad depots and shops
130 lights in mines, smelting works, etc.
380 lights in factories and establishments of various kinds
1,500 lights in lighting stations, for city lighting, etc.
1,200 lights in England and other foreign countries.

Thomas Edison invented his incandescent light bulb in 1879 which would replace fairly quickly the arc light.

Note that the word “electric” in the advertisement is written with “lightning” characters, a typographic convention evidently already established in 1881.

Visit to Apache Wells

The site known as Apache Wells is located north of Hwy 10, about mid-way between Las Cruces and Deming. About one mile north of Apache Wells is the old route of the Butterfield Overland Stage. The Apache Wells site is marked here:

As a source of water, the site was used by Native Americans and later visitors and settlers.

A scratched stone at the location memorializes the killing of Jon Faulkner in 1894. It is known that this stone is not at its original location, which is presumed to be nearby, so it does not mark an actual grave site. A search of various sources reveals no information about the killing of a Jon (or more likely John) Faulkner in 1894 (anyone know more?).

At the top of the stone is scratched “MAID 29 DE 96,” i. e., made 29 December 1896.

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Also at the site are many Petroglyphs. Here are a sampling:

Figure and horse. The horse may have a saddle.

The wide stride and the over-the-shoulder stick with the bag strongly suggests a soldier.

A beautiful Petroglyph, evidently a man cat. Behind it is a much smaller animal, which could be canine or feline:

Here we have a Petroglyph and a modern scratching:

The Petroglyph is made by tapping with a rock, the letters by scratching. You can see the clear difference in making technique here:

A mysterious petroglyph, partially buried:

Also in the area are many grinding (mortar) holes:

These holes were used by to grind various seeds into meal. The longer the period of use, the deeper the hole. One interpretation of the size variation is that different seeds ground better or easier in different sized holes. So many holes together might also be a sign that grinding was often a group activity.

Filed in: Hiking, History, Misc Images | Comments

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Mine House Spring – Hayner Mine

The structure known as the Mine House is located on the west slope of the Organ Mountains, not too far from the foot of the mountains. Not much is known about the house, except that it was used by the Hayner Mine while the mine was being worked. Some sources say it was a bunk house. The site was selected evidently because of the spring nearby. The date Sept 1930 is scratched in the concrete of the building, suggesting a possible date for its construction.

The road to the Mine House is very rough, as this Youtube video shows.

The site is fascinating to visit:

The Mine House is the usual starting point for hiking to the Hayner Mine, which is 6 tenths of a mile from the house. The trek is uphill and challenging, but not too difficult.

A short distance above the Mine House there appears to be a grave:

The view of the mountains from above the Mine House is spectacular (click image for a larger view):

The view of the Mesilla Valley (click for larger image):

Tags: Las Cruces, Organ Mountains, History, Hiking

Filed in: Hiking, History, Las Cruces, Organ Mountains, Video | 3 Comments