Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-18
GOVERNORS ANNUAL REPORT
An EpitOme of Gov. ThOrntOn's Third
Annual Report to Secretary
of Interior.
A DEEPLY INTERESTING DOCUMENT
Among Subjects Discussed Are Popula-
tion, Land Court Matters, Needs of
Mining Industry, Irrigation and
Water Rights.

Several hundred copies of the "Report
of the Governor of New Mexico to the
Secretary of the Interior, 1885," were re-
ceived at the executive Office this morn
ing from the government printing Office
at Washington, and Miss Crane, the gov
ernor's secretary, has been busily engaged
all day in sending them out to the terri
torial press. The report makes PAM
phlet of seventy-five pages and contains
an accurate and entertaining statement of
facts and figures that will be perused
with interest and preserved for reference
by all progressive citizens of the. terri
tory.
The governor estimates that the total
population of New Mexico is about 1885,
600, and that immigration into the terri
tory during the past year will not exceed
5000; that considerable development is
being made In irrigation and a large
acreage of land placed under ditch; that
depression exists in the mining camps of
the territory except those camps where
SOlu 10 prOuuCous
The season has been fairly prosper
GUS one with more than the average rain
fall, insuring good crops in portions of
the territory adapted to agriculture, and
producing an abundance of native
grasses in the greater part of the terri
tory; more than an average yield of al
falfa, wheat, oats and other cereals, has
been secured but there is a failure in
many portions of the territory of the
fruit and grape crop, occasioned by late
frosts.
The court of private land claims has
accomplished very little during the year
so far as the decision of cases is con-
cerned, but the majority of cases are pre-
pared for trial, and many important de-
clsions will be made during the present
term.
The assessed valuation of property is
somewhat in excess of $42OOO,0OO, upon
which an assessment has been made for
all purposes OF 77.10O mills. The total
amount of indebtedness of the territory
is $909,500.
The necessity of changing certain pro-
visions of the act establishing the court
of private land claims is urged, especially
that provision referring to the small
holding claims, which provides that
the time of filing such claims should
expire in 1895. Attention is called
to the fact that many of these claims
are held by persons living within
the boundaries of large areas claimed
under Mexican and Spanish grants, and
that since the expiration of the time Of
fling many of these grgnts have been
declared to be void, and many others still
to be tried will in all probability be found
to be void, the land declared to be publiS
domain and the settlers deprived of their
homes. With regard to all such claims it
is suggested that the time of filing be ex-
tended six months after the decision of
the land court affecting such grants.
1t is also urged that the provision, COM
pelling owners of grants which are con-
frmed to relinquish to the government
such portion of the land as may have
been sold and accept in satisfaction there
for $l.25 per acre, is unjust, as it is in.
adequate consideration for the land
wrongfully disposed of by the govern
ment, experience showing that as gen.
eral thing the portions of the grants set
tied upon by home-steaders and pre-emp-
tors are the choice portions and usually
much more valuable than that remaining,
and is frequently worth from 500 to 800
per acre.
Attention is also called to the necessity
of legislation with reference to the pre-
cious minerals situate within the grants
confirmed. The grantee is entitled to the
surface; the minerals remain the prop
erty of the government. By the provis-
ions of this act, these minerals are re.
served from sale and location except by
the owner until congress shall have pro-
vided for the disposal thereof. The gen.
eral public is excluded from the privi.
lege of mining upon the grants, but the
owner, possessing no greater right, is
given the privilege Of exploring for and
extracting the precious metals. The gov
ernor recommends early congressional
action providing means for condemna-
tion of the surface, and the throwing of
the minerals open to sale and location to
the general public.
There has been no railroad building
in the territory of New Mexico during
the year and no Indications that any i'm
mediate construction will be made with
the exception of the extension of the Pc
cos Valley road from Roswell to Amarillo
in the state of Texas.
The general condition of the Indians
is favorably noted; they are fast beoom-
ing domesticated and devoting them
selves to some extent to agriculture, and
are taking very great interest in the
cause of education.
An extensive report of the public
school Systems and the territorial insti-
tutions is given In the report, showing
all the territorial institutions, educational,
elemosenary and penal are we'll conducted
and amply supplied with funds necessary
to their maintenance. The public schools
have been kept running from four to mine
months In most of the districts through.
out the territory, the shorter terms being
in the country districts.
The necessity Of congressional action
defining the water rights upon such
streams as pass from ono state OF
territory into, another, and especially
to the international question In.
volved between the republic Of Mexico
and the United States regarding the use
OF the waters of the Rio Grande BY the
citizens of the republic Of Mexico, IL
dwelt upon and the governor recommend
that the water Of such streams be placed
under government control, and renewi
that Recommendation as necessary to pro
tsct settlers living lower down the stream
from the unlawful appropriation of tht
water BY settlers living near the head
waters.