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1939 Map of Nash Draw

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Nash Draw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Industrial potash mining and isolated ranching operations define this arid New Mexico landscape during the late 1930s. The northern reaches are dominated by the heavy machinery of the U.S. Potash Co Mine and the International Mineral & Chemical Corp Mine, connected to the wider world via the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. These industrial sites stand in contrast to the expansive, water-scarce terrain of Nash Draw and the nearby Salt Lake.

Family-named outposts and vital water sources are scattered across the ridges, including the Crawford Ranch and James Ranch. The reliance on subsurface water is evident through numerous named wells such as Nash Well, TUT Wells, and Indian Well. Physical geography is marked by distinct geological features like Livingston Ridge, Forty-niner Ridge, and the Tamarisk Flat, providing a detailed view of the area's topography before the expansion of modern petroleum and mineral extraction infrastructure.