Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-11-27
MUTTON And STATEHOOD.
Mr., Luna, of Valencia, Makes Some
Strong Points on Several
Timely Subjects.
Boom in Sheep and its Cause.-The Pro-
teCtive PrincipIe-BusineSs and
the State Movement.

Mr.. Solomon Luna, one OF the most
influential citizens of southern New Mex
ico spent yesterday at the capital and Il
chatty talk was had with him last night
by representative Of the New MEXICAN.
MIR. Luna is one of the heaviest flock
masters in the southwest. lie says
cattle are in fair condition in western
Valencia and Socorro, but that the sheep
are in superb trim for going into the
winter, the recent SHOWS having melted
and left the range juicy and the water
holes full. Mr.. Luna was here to sell
10000 head of sheep to Il Kansas City
market man, but they couldn't agree on
figures. Mr.. Luna asks 81 head and
was offered $3.50. He has just sold 5000
head at 81, and will stick to these figures,
believing that the advance will soon be
general to that price. In explaining the
present
DEMAND FOR NEW MEXICO SHEEP
from the outside Mr.. Luna said
ut was long ago discovered that the
mountain valleys OF New Mexico pro-
duced the finest mutton in the world. Its
flavor is simply unapproachable; properly
handled on the market this meat is the
equal of venison. Colorado consumers
have been drawing their choicest mutton
from New Mexico for several years on this
account, but it seems that not until the
past fall did the Missouri river markets
come to an appreciation of the difference
between New Mexico mutton and that
produced on the wiry grasses OF the Kan
sas plains or the rank, coarse vegetation
of the Missouri bottoms. Since ascer-
tanning the advantages of the New Mexico
product Kansas City market men es.
pecially are
EAGER TO BUY FROM Us.
Probably 100000 head of sheep have
been sent to that market from this
territory during the past fall, and the cash
is here instead. At present Kansas City
is slaughtering 10, 900 head OF sheep day,
the most of which comes from New Mex
icos ranges, and which, owing to its juici-
ness and extra flavor, brings higher
price than mutton produced anywhere
else. We shonld all strive to encourage
this trade by increasing our tocks in the
future.
On the subject of wool, Mr.. Luna said
the past year had been most propitious
for New Mexico. Il find" said he that
the people are not charry in ascribing
this prosperity to Republican influences
and the TACT that
THE TARIFF PROVISIONS
are being properly adhered to by the gov
ernment authorities. l nevor could I'M
derstand how man who produces wool
and hides and lead could vote any but the
Republican ticket. And this brings up
the statehood question, which | find is
growing among the mass OF voters at a
very gratifying rate. The more it is agi-
tated, the more the people realize its
benefits. The New MEXICAN deserves the
support OF every friend of progress for its
earnest advocacy of
THE STATEHOOD MOVEMENT.
Bot l was going to say that no matter
what should be the political complexion
of New Mexico's delegation in congress,
even should We as a state send Democrats
to congress, they would per force have to
stand by the principles of protection-they
would be followers of the Randall wing
OF the Democracy, because they would not
be so blind but to see that the sentiments
OF the people who produce here wool,
hides and useful metals, could not be in
discreetlv trifled with. 1t would cost
them their heads. Some OF the Demo
Gratis know this and it is the secret Of the
present
WEAK-KNEED OPPOSITION
on the part OF the Democratic few.
Now, about statehood in the abstract,
[ am for it first, last and all the time.
We must push forward with the times.
Look at the great business boom that has
come to Montana, Washington and the
other northwestern new states; and the
immigration flocking in there.
NEW MEXICO IS SUPERIOR
in every natural resource, and with Il
state government we would have bust
ness boom the like of which no section OF
the west ever experienced. want to see
the American system OF free schools es-
tablished here; the business interests OF
New Mexico demand that its children
shall understand the English language.
How much better off would New Mexico
now be If the English speaking schools
had been established here forty years ago.
We have lost enough time. Let us profit
hv the lessons Of the past"