Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-05-31
NEW MEXICO
In the 18TH and 18th Centuri0s-A Sketch
by Horatio 0. Laid, A. NJ, Mem
Der of American HistOr-
iCaI Association,
4 CENTURY UNDER SPAIN,


such rs is 80 frequently discovered i'll the
history Of Spanish colonies. There was
a monOtonous succession OF thirty gov
ernors representing the dominion Of
Spain. There were incessant political
jealOusies and legal quarrels, and series
OF ordinary events during hundred years
OF slow development,
TIE FRANCISCAN MISSIONS
anguished during this period. For
some reason they had failed to touch
the individual life of the natives and raise
them to the commendable degree Of civil
ization which they had produced on the
Pacific coast in Father Junipero's mis-
sions. The Pueblo tribes had but. little
sentiment. The Christian religion did
not rouse their ambition or awaken their
intellectual powers as it has done among
many other races. Idolatrous worship
was not abandoned by them, but con-
cealed. There were in 1850
FOUR CEN1ERs OF TRADE
with the cities of chihuahua and Mex
leo. These were the towns OF Santa
Fe, Albuquerque, La Canada del Taos
and FL Paso Each had a population OF
about 1000. The Apaches, Comanche8
and Navajos were constantly on the war
path throughout the territory, and the
Spanish coonists, often involved in war
with them, generally maintained their
supremacy. Humboldt gives the popu-
latiCn Of New Mexico in 1903 as 10000.
! This province contained at that time
500 square leagues, ami there were only
seven inhabitants to the square league
including the Indians. This enumeration
was based on that made by the Spanish
government in 1893 OF the entire extent
of Mexico. Santa Fe as the seat of gov
eminent was the destination Of all in
corners to this province, though with a
population OF 5000 it vas inferior to
Albuquerque and probably to Fl Paso,
which was the most attractive town in
/ the province, whose suburbs, cultivated
with maize, wheat and vineyards reseln-
bled, according to Humboldt, the finest
parts of Andalusla.
1900 TO 1890.
The first part OF the nineteenth CEN
fury marked the beginning of great
change in the prospects and fortunes Of
New Mexico. A revolution in the polit-
cal, social and material condition OF this
province was betokened by the first ap-
proaCh of Americans to her borders in
1905, when James Pursley, wandering
near the Rocky Mountains, was guided
by some Indians from the Platte river to
Santa Fe, where he remained several
years. The Louisiana purchase aroused
the interest OF people of the United
States in these vast regions.
LIEUT.. zFBCLoN MONTGOMERY PIKE
vas sent on an exploring exPedi-
ton in 1906 up the Arkansas
and Red rivers. He was lost in the
valley OF the Arkansas, and while
searching for the source OF the Red riy-
er crossed the mountains on foot with in
credible penis and suHerings, encamped
ignoranty on Mexican il on the Cone
JOS river. The expedition was captured
there by Mexican soldiers and taken tC
Santa Fe. They were kindly treated by
Coy. AlenCaster, and sent under guard tC
Chihuahua. They were also hospitaoly
received by the Spanish governor OF
chihuahua, Coahuila and New Leon, and
returned to United States territory
through Texas in 1907.
THE INDUSTRIES OF THE PEOPLE
Of New Mexico were confined at these
times, according to the observation OF Lieut..
Pike, principally to agriculture and stock
raising. Some OF the plantations and
stock holdings were very large One
planter entertained him at Ell PasO who
had 20 900 sheep and 900 cows, There
was
But ONE NINE IN OPERATION.
This was copper mine in the vicinity OF
Socorro which produced 20 900 mule loads
Of copper annually, and all that was
needed for the provinces. The New
|
military service against the Navajos and
ApaChes, and thus, Injured to war and lsO-
lated from civilization i'll the south, they
were then brave people and kind and
hospitable to all who came within THEN
borders.
THE END OF THE SPANISH RULE
, in Mexico and its provinces came
4 with the proclamation Of the
! independence of Mexico by Itur.
: bide in February, 1921. Iturbido was
soon proclaimed Emperor of Mexico
with the title of Augustin /. His reign
was short. In Marcn, 1923, he was
forced to abdicate and banished from the
country, to which he returned the nex
year only to be shot as an OUTLAW, five
days after his landing.
THE MEXICAN REPG BLIC
was created November 10, 1928, and New
Mexico became one Of the four territories O.
the federation composed of nineteen states
with these territories, under q constitu
ton resembling that of the United
States. 1t has always been her lot to b.
either a province or territory, and rulel
by governors appointed by an exterior
authority.
BARToLoME DACA
was the first governor Of New Mex
leo under the federation appointed il
1924; he held office till September
1925 and was succeeded by sever
"a governors, each with brief terms OF au
thority, till 1887, when New Mexico was
created department ofthe republic IN.
der
ALBINo PEREZ,