The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-02
Shall We Admit New Mexico?

1t may seem strange that bill should be
introduced into Congress for receiving New
Mexico into the Union, when that Territory
in October. 1890. rejected by large
majority q Constitution which had been
framed by her Convention with a view to
her admission. But. rs Governor PRINCE
has explained. the fault was in the form OF
the document and the local controversies
excited by it, and not in any lack Of desire
for the responsibilities Of Statehood.
Perhaps no other Territory has suffered
so much neglect and injustice in various
ways as New Mexico. It was not until
March 8. 1891, that the land.court bill was
passed which secured that settlement Of the
titles to real estate that had been pledged
under the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
forty-three years before. And some pro-
visions in this welcome and bcneilcent act.
like those OF the eleven league claims in
section - and those for the small holdings
of irregular shape. must still be amended
by Congress in order to secure justice to
many thousands Of people. Had such
legislation been granted thirty years ago.
there is no saying what might have been
the influx Of capital and population there as
in California, which was acquired by US ut
the same time.
Then the claims OF New Mexico to ad-
mission into the Union on the scoro Of pop
ulation have been ignored for twenty years.
As long ago as 1870 she had more people
than tho combined Territories Of North and
South Dakota. Montana. Colorado. and
Idaho now forming five States OF the Union:
and about tho time TINT the first Of these.
Colorado. was admitted. both branches Of
Congress had under consideration enabling
acts for the admission OF New Mexico. but
failed to agree on them. The census OF
1880 showed that New Mexico had nearly
three times the population OF Montana.
nearly four times that OF Idaho.
and nearly five times that OF Wyoming. 1t
had even then about twice as large q popu-
lation as that on which Wyoming has since
been admitted to Statehood. The census
OF 1890 continued these strange exhibits by
showing that New Mexico had more than
three times the population OF Nevada. a
greater population than the admitted State
OF Montana, and more than the combined
populations Of Idaho and Wyoming. which
had been taken into the Union when New
Mexico WAS kept out.
The resources and prospects OF New Mex
leo rs disclosed by the last report of its
Governor further support its claims to con-
sidera ton. Its mining industry. according
70 this officer. has increased. and the
product for last year was S3.000,0O0. The
benefit OF tho Tariff act upon the lead in
dustry is plainly seen in all tho camps
where this ore can be found. The pro-
duction OF silver has been slim
ulated also. Increased facilities and
more extensive plants have been In
troduced. and smelling is now done
where formerly ores were shipped away
to be reduced" In Dofia Ana county is the
largest known bed OF gypsum in the world.
The ruby. the amethyst. the topaz. and the
| lapis lazuli are found in the mountains,
Anthracite and coking GOALS exist. and " the
cal measures aggregate nearly 1000
square miles" Cattle aud sheep abound in
the Territory. New fields OF gran aud
grass spIsar in every direction. Three
crops Of alfalfa are harvested In tho north
and four In the south. Governor Ross once
insisted that the wheat. barley. and corn
surpassed In size and weight those Of
the Missouri Valley. But perhaps the