Soldiers, ranchers and miners in the Big Bend

Casey, Clifford

This study contains three themes of the Big Bend including: U.S. Army occupation, mining, and ranching. A description of early activities in the Big Bend area: Early Anglo-American Activities, 1849-1910; Military Activity in the Area - Camp Santa Elena; Land and Land Ownership of What is Now Castolon; La Harmonia Company and Its Activities, 1919-1961; Ranching in the Big Bend; Early Owners of the Land; Homer Wilson and His Ranching Activities; Problems of Ranching in the Big Bend Country; The End of Ranching in the Big Bend Park Area; Quicksilver Mining in the Big Bend of Texas; Quicksilver Deposits in the Big Bend of Texas; The Mariscal Mine; The Mariscal Mine and the Big Bend National Park. This article is an ethnographic and historical account of lifeways around the Big Bend. Included in the article are observations of the geographical and geological terrain, possible interactions with flora and fauna, waterways, and various other accounts of natural life. Testimonies of the various cultures (Apache, Comanche, Mexican, Spanish, ...), commerce, peaceful and military activities, ranching and farming, mining, and other various lifeways in the Big Bend area are noted. "... three studies, although bound together, were prepared separately by Dr. Casey. They deal with three distinct themes of the Big Bend story--U.S. Army occupation, mining, and ranching. Each paper reveals the lengths to which man will go to test nature's resiliency and exploit her resources. Although prepared for the National Park Service, these papers have not been edited by the agency, except for minor changes in their format to give continuity. Dr. Casey's work is a scholar's unretouched product, speaking for itself and its author." (abstract from report)