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by Barry Shafer, Rt. 2, Hox S27-A, Albuquerque, New Mexico Although Albuquerque has an old heritage, it is a modern city. Founded in 170, it was over two hundred years until New Mexico became a state in 1912. Thus, large scale industrial and economical growth didn't begin until well into the twentieth century. Albuquerque has a different type of economy than most cities. Our economy is not primarily de pendent on a single certain in ustry, such as farming, mining, manufacturing, livestock, or lum ber, as are some other cities, but we do combine many of these in our business life. Biggest sagatey in Albuquerque is the Sandia Corporation. Over five thousand employees work at Sandia Base; they include machin ists, engineers, technicians, drafts men, guards, and office workers. Sandia is part of an industry that is vital to our Welfare in war or peace; it has a Nuclear research laboratory where knowledge of the atom was found and is being re discovered every day. It is also ex ploring the peace time use of the atom. Another very important Atomic Energy Commission facility is the Nuclear Energy Products Division of ACF Industries. Incorporated employing over one thousand workers, ACF came into ae querque in 1952 after perform other contract work for the AEC in its eastern plants. Transportation is also an import ant industry in Albuquerque. Mil lions of tons of freight go out and come in via railroad and trucks. The airplane is being used exten sively through scheduled and char tered services. Tourists can readily be called another industry in Albuquerque. Attracted by healthful climate, scenery, and historic background, tourists pour into Albuquerque. This makes the hotel and motel business an important factor. The jewelry, curio, and leather goods industries gain a large amount of business From tourists also. Construction has become a large industry, caused by the phenom enal growth of population. The east mesa is proof of this. Since frame construction is not used widely, most houses in Albuquerque are made of pumice block. This fact, coupled with the rapid increase of house building, makes the pumice block industry significant. Econom ical, strong pumice homes house many Albuquerqueans. From the mesa adjoining Albuquerque, much sand and gravel is extracted to be used in cement making and road construction. Timber from moun tains and forests around Albuquer que is processed through sawmills and moulding plants here. In Albuquerque coal is scarce and expensive, so gas is used. Nat ural gas is piped from wells at Farmington; butane and propane is trucked from wells at Artesia. Gas is distributed by several com panies for heating, cooking and other uses. The livestock industry is grow ing fast in Albuquerque, and it takes many forms. The dairy In dustry is important, as we have three dairies here. Livestock rais ed on the grasslands around Albu querque produce meat that is pack ed in meat packing plants here; our sheep give wool that is shipped to weaving mills. Numerous machine shops manu facture parts for Sandia Base and for sale to the public. A factory that makes cockpits and instru ment panels operates in Albuquer que. There is also a foundry hers that does casting and other types of metal work. Although Albuquerque is not so highly industrialized as some cities, it is a prosperous city and a nice place to live, Poar ih soon OO U pu
Newspaper Details
Albuquerque Tribune
Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Wed, May 30, 1956
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Carol C.
USA 16 Apr 2026
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