Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-06-29
THE GOVERNORS TALK.
Things Substantial Relating to New
Mexico Revealed to the New York
Commercial Advertiser.

NoltllltICldl hUNtItlSCIs
New York Commercial Advertiser: II
his manner, in his walk, in his deliberate
ness and twang of his speech, in the
warmth of his handshake and greeting
Gov. W. I. Thornton, of New Mexico, il
the typical embodiment of the "west
erner." The atmosphere which surrounds
him savors of the Sierras, of the bracing
air of the snowy mountain tops and the
temperate climate of the southern por-
tion of the territory. The languor of the
south as we'll as the vigor of the north
seem to find lodgment in his nature.
Though resolute and determinate, he is
not typical hustler, this owing to the
proximity of his home to the sunny
south, where time is of less concern than
IN the east. The governor is very con-
servative in his opinions, as we'll as his
actions, and his policy since he has been
in Office has had favorable results in de-
velopjng the industries of tine territory
and in giving to it gradually the i'm
portarce he thinks it merits among the
states aud territories.
To the Commercial Advertiser reporter
Gov. Thornton, in the course of conver-
sation, impaired some facts concerning
New Mexico which are new, interesting
been in reference to health resorts for
invallds. The governor leaned his elbows
on the marble-top table, caught his head
between his hands and proceeded alter
some dellberation, saying:
"We possess, as far as climate is con-
cerned, the virtues of Colorado and
southern California, and because the ter
ritory is further south the temperature is
milder than that of Colorado"
"Does not the fact of it's ideal climate
attract great many invalids to New
Mexico?" he was asked.
"Well"-with long, far western drawl
81 daresay it does; Il conservative esti-
mate would put the number at no less
than 5000 visitors annually. Since Fort
Union and the new towns of the southern
counties have been made habitable and
accessible to lnvalids trade has increased
in proportion and Improvements have
been rapid"
"The report is that towns of the terri
tory have not been very prosperous, gov
ernor," said the reporter.
"Where did you hear that?" reioined
the governor, bringing his clenched fist
forcibly down on the table. 81 don't
know of their having been particularly
but ] venture to say (and
this is q conservative estimate, mind you)
Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Santa Fe
which is the largest of the three, with a
of about 5000 souls,) are as
rs any towns Of their size in
the Union.'
After this little sincere outburst of local
pride, the governor dwelt with careful
and lengthy detail about new system of
irrigation which is at present being in
troduced by Mr.. Hagerman, of Colorado
Springs. According to the conservative
estimate" of the governor, it is going to
commerce in New Mexico,
an extensive system of agri-
culture and horticulture. Large com
panles have undertaken the financial end
of the work, and thousands of workmen
have been digging bitches and building
reservoirs the past five years. The work
is nearly complete. Two reservoirs have
been built, one, the second largest in the
world, seventeen miles long by three
miles wide, and 1000 miles of bitches,
which will water 100000 acres. Railroads
have been built along the line of irriga-
lion and gigantic headway has been made,
ten or twelve new towns having sprung
up within recent years.
"We produce the same fruits as Cali
fornia," continued Gov. Thornton, sin
very much smaller quantity, of COURSE, all
save the cltron species. But from the
of agriculture our best results
come from the cultivation of the sugar
beet, alfalfa-a species of clover which
makes excellent feed for cattle-and the
cana-agria, bulbous plant Indigenous
TO the soil of the territory, which brings
about $50 ton, dry. We ship it in i'm
mense quantities to England, where the
tannuries abstract the large percentage of
tannic acid it possesses. The production
is about ten tons to the acre. Growing
on the hills like potatoes, 1t costs very
much less to cultivate"
"Are there any large stores in New
Mexico?"
"Why, they'd go begging, my friend.
We've got the good old fashioned general
store, where you can get everything in
the line of dry goods, from piece OF
soap to miners pick-ax."
"And how about minlng' 1s New Mex
leo really superseding Colorado and Cali
fornia in its mining industries"
81 can't say about New Mexico's super
seding anything. I do know, how
over, that INNINGS been pretty brisk,
and that the gold mining alone this year
has equalled the product of the combined
gold and silver mining of previous years.
rurq uoise and garnet mines also pan out
WE'LL"
"I believe that within the next few
years, owing to new and extensive sys-
;ems of irrigation, New Mexico will treble
ts population. Commercial activity will
,e increased tenfold; prices will be high
Ind wages in proportion. As to the
of the towns, I can say that
are making and will CON-
;inue to be made the greater the CON-
nercial activity becomes. New Mexico
s the best field of all for young and
energetic man to commence the NJ aid
ing of his fortune. Irrespective of
political parties, all who are interested in
;he welfare of New Mexico desire her to
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