Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-01-13
NEW MEXICO OF THE PRESENT.
From san TrsneIseo ChronIele.

]
larged. Great systems of modern irri-
CATION are multiplying her fruitful
acreage. The incubus Of the past, the
uncertainty Of land titles, is being re.
moved by the new land court. Whole
some and benefcent legislation is
adding to the general prosperity. Thus
in every way the tendency is upward
and onward.
by the census of 1890 the population
of New Mexico was placed at l53,G76,
without counting the Indians on the
reservations. BY many the majority
Of the people are looked upon as for
eign born and not in harmony with
American institutions, but IL is
strange that this objection should
arise in a land that absorbs half a
million Of foreigners yearly and which
manages to assimilate the very worst
elements Of continental Europe.
Kew Mexico was acquired in 1916,
hence all its inhabitants, except a
comparatively few very old persons,
were born on American soil. For al
most half a century this people have
been electing their legislatures, max
ing their laws and carrying on their
local government under the American
system, and the great mass OF them
are just as thoroughly American in all
their ideas as are the people Of any
other Western state. They have
shown themselves as loyal as any in
the Nation, for during the rebellion
New Mexico, out Of total population
Of 93,5G7, sent G,591 men to the army.
Her volunteers fought at Valverde,
Peralta and on other fields, and at
Gloriana, together with their com
rades from Colorado, defeated the enc
my and turned back the column which
was advancing northerly from Texas
with the intention of cutting of the
Pacific slope from the remainder of
the country.
Every one familiar with tho faT
West knows that the principal danger
in new communities arises from The
unsettled and irresponsible characteI
Of much of its population-nomadic
boomers Of day, intelligent, ener-
getic ard enthusiastic, but lacking
stability, and many.a state and terri
tory has suffered from such an Gle
ment. In New Mexico, however, the
solid, stable, responsible and conserya-
tive element in her native population
counteracts this danger. These pco-
| pie are attached to the country; they
are identified with the very soil Itself.
and being naturally opposed to rasl
schemes which involve extravaganza
expenditure and debt, they form. when
taken in connection with the over
Jealous American, an admirable com-
bination.
In no respect has New Mexico been
making such rapid progress as 10
public education The late census
developed the fact that while the
population Of the Territory increased
p per cent during the decade from
1880 to 1880, the number Of children
enrolled ~ the schools increased 233
per cent. The crowning work Of the
Legislature of two years ago was that
relative to public education. There
are % 500 pupils enrolled in the pub
lie schools of the Territc7y, and 5000
in attendance upon the various private
educational institutions. The public
schools are supported by direct taxa
tion and during the past year over
$780, 600 has been expended in sup
port of these schools.
At the recent election fer Delegate
in congress 81, 600 votes were cast, and
under the law every voter had TO pay
a poll tax Of 81 into the public school
fund before his ballot could be de.
posted. In the past year some $500,
600 has been expended in the erection
of public school buildings ia yarlou,
parts of the Territory. The Superin
tendent Of Public Instruction says
AAA bANulN1l AulNlEoN - DNiAE onOh "
in the Spanish-speaking counties in
behalf Of the new public school Law
which requires that the English Ian
lguage shall be taught in all the com
mon schools Of the territory"
1t may reasonably be claimed thai
New Mexico is possessed of greater
natural resources than any other sub
division Of the union. Only one Stat,
| approaches i5 in this respect, and thai
is California, and the possession Of
almost limitless beds of coal botl
bituminous and anthracite, give New
Mexico superiority even over thai
favored State.
Within two years Eve extensive in
rigation systems have been set OF
foot, bringing under ditch from 40,
600 to 100000 acres OF land each, ant
these are not only being enlarged, buf
their success has encouraged othe
similar undertakings. The largos