New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-12
THE TERRITORY or NEW-MEXIC0.
IT'S CONDITION AND RESOURCES.

SHALL 1T BE MADE STATE f-INDCSiKiEo-iA
GRANrs-MR. ELKINs's CAREER.
Judqe Henry L. Waldo solicitor in ew-Mexico for the
Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, and one OF
the leading Democrats of that Territory, was IN the
city on business during the last week. To TRIBUNE
reporter. who asked him about the admission OF New
Mexico as State. he replied
any impression is that the great body OF the people
of the Territory opposed TO its admission nj the
present time The principal objection is that Terri
toral government is more economically administered
than State government would be. Almost the only
nersons advocating admission are those seeking poiit
zeal preferment, honOrs and patronage. Among
Democrats a serious objection is that the territory Is
Republican on fair vote by 1,2OO to l,ooo IN The
late election there were two Republican candidates
for delegate in Congress. Their combined vote was
2 700 over the Democrat. They each received now
ever good many Democratic votes HOW iarge tnc
majority wouid he under Democratic administration
and possession of the patronage we prefer TO wait ana
see Nv belief is that the Territory VIII be
Republican Away down at the bottom the opposition
10 the enabling movement is the matter Of taxation
There have been several attempts TO secure the
passage Of an enabling act ~ So,
The one thar came nearest to success was IN lSIf
The bill for admission of the Territory passed the
House by q twO-thirds majority and also the senate
But it received an amendment IN the ceua'e' am
coming back TO the House failed by four votes on
motion to take it from the Speakers table and adopt
the amendments The passage Of the bill through the
Uouse WAS due to the efforts of s. b. ElkiDs, then
delegate from New-Merico. II was his speech on the
bill that carried the measure by handsome MAJORITY
He rested part of the claims Of the Territory for adms
sion on treaty obligations. His speech STANDS as one
OF the ablest made the subject Ofthc admission OF
Territories as States" 49,
What arc your vote aad population
"In the recent election our vote was ZI,OOo Our
population is between 100, 900 aud 100000 OF
these 80 900 Americans-cattie-men and miners.
Everything Ia counted American that isn't naive
Mexcan The population has increased rapidly in the
last four years. aided by the ccmpistion OF the SANTA
Fe road -
What are your principal industries
"Outside of mining wool growing and cattle raising
are the principal pursuits There IL some agriculture
in the Rio Graude valleys but 1t Is wholly ~ irrgs
canals Cattle raising is prosperous Inc proposeedi
great does affect As TO the leasing OF wild
public lands my idea Is that they should he treated
in a different way from ordinary lands. The water
supply is very limited. When you obtain water
supply yOn secure control of large section tributary
Ia the water which is yaueess To any one who cannon
reach the water. In my Judgment, the hcxlran
method of parcelling out this class of land In large
sections and selling 1t at redaced price is the proper
one do not believe the Gov srnment should become
a landlord think tho wild lands should be sold, but
at such rate will be fair compensationIsay 40
cents to bit per acre hey sGooa DC o OF of the
swamp lands The swamp lands were capable oil
being enhanced in value. These lands are not Under
the system of cattle raising in vogue IN the west
The owner must have control of largo tract Of land
The attempt to fence land has been found highly
injurious the herds, by reason OF the restraint TO
which they cannot be accustomed Wooi-growins Is
prominent industry. now somewhat depressed"
Is mining extensiyel"
In some parts. The principal mining districts are
Grant Sierra and SOcorro Counties. Sierra newly
formed county The Santa Fe Railroad Is building
branch eight miles long from Socorro to the Masdeene
Mountains, where there are almost ineIhansnbie
deposits of low grade silver and lead This branch
will give considerable industry TO mining iheie Is
a smeter at Socorro and one at Billings: Inc
Kinpston and KingsbOro sections are quite men,
Haggin and Tevis. Of California the express men, own
mines in these towns"
"What have you TO say about the spanish ana
Al lo. ts in
1he failure of the Government to settle these titles
has greatly retarded the prosperity Of the Territory
Nv opinion gained largely by my service as Chief
Justice Of Mexico. Is that the quickest and best
mode of settling the grant question Is by commission
The courts have not the time 10 give TO the matter
By the way this leads TO say that the proposition
TO appoInt all officials from among residents OF the
Territories set forth In the platforms OF both parties
would not be wise TO the judiciary Lawyers III the
Territories fit and capable to be judges generally nave
a practice Which brings them in three times much as
| the salary paid judges by the Government, and OF
they will not accept the positions me lawyers
who do not have such practice are moi nj for the
position Owing to local jealouses have my doubts
as to whether the plan will work as to other Offices
"What about the climate 7"
"Portions of New Mexico have the best climate on
| the continent" ~
| Ncw-Mexic0P
81 have known him since were boys together In
| New-Merco We attended the same college, when be
was graduated with honors in go saw in the recent
| campaign that like other men in politics. he was sub
eced 10 bitter personal assaults, which did him great
| Injustice | am opposed to his Republican politics, but
otherwise no favorable thing could be said of him that
| would not Re true and that wsnld not heartily
| ipdorse I know of honorable man in all the
relations of life His career in New Mexico was very
prosperous and popular In his time he was the leading
lawyer OF the Territory lie also organized the first
| National Bank of Santa Fe and its president
for thirteen years. Though active business man
Mr. Eikins has never lost his love OF books He Is
scholarly In TASTE and devotes his leisure hours TO
study and reading. Few business men in the country
are as well versed he in the literature Of tho day
\ His social character is likewise unassailable. No
| American Mexican engaged 40 entirely the
confidence of the people was generally esteemed
| by the native population. His first election as dele
\ gate in Congress was by 1000 to o,ooo majority
civ en- him while he was travelling in Europe. both the
Nomination and election being without his knowledge