Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-12-03
MAJoR W. H. LEwELLvN.
He Talks ofNew Mexico TO a Denver
Newspaper Reporter.


ellyn published In the Rocky Mountain
Neies. the Major tells the people OF
Denver many interesting things con
cerning New Mexico, among them are
the following;
''The Territorial legislature" said
Major Lewellyn, in answer to in
quifies, "wiIl meet on the third Mon
day Of January. The Legislature con
sIsts OF twelve members OF the council
similar to the state senate of Colo
rado-and tw~enty-four members of the
legislature proper. The session Is
limited TO sixty days by act of congress.
1t is probable that both branches Of
the Legislature will be organized by the
republicans. The late election showed
that that the Territory IL safely repub-
llcan by q majority of 1900 or 1,400.
Upon this basis we fee. that we can
ask a republican congress to admit our
Territory into the nc The question
of admission is one Of the live questions
before the people,"
"Who will be the next GOVERNOR"
was asked. "There are half q dozen
candidates 10 the field. Some OF them
we would very much dislike to see at
the head Of public affairs in our Terri
tory. The husband OF j. Ellen Foster
is of this class. While we might ac-
cept j. Ellen, we draw a line on the
husband. You can say that we don't
want him either A Mr.. Wallace, said
to be Of Las Vegas, and u relative Of
McKinley's is also in the field. We
don't him either. 10 fact VIC don't be-
lieve he is "a citizen of the Territory
and we object to carpet baggers.
There are Don Pedro Perea, Of Der.
nalillo; Captain Collier, editor Of the
Ration Range; lion. G.. b. Prey and
Judge Morrison, Of Santa Fe, who is
also spoken Of In connection with the
consul %generalship at the City OF
Mexico. Judge Morrison is a strong
man and is personal friend Of Nc
Kinley."
"Will any measure of special inter-
be presented before the legisla-
"The legislature will devote itself
to business, and the time will
not be lost in quarreling. l am very
sure of that. A certain portion Of the
Territory is asking for the enactment
of a herd law, covering new regions Of
the Territory. There will be q hot
fight over the matter. The cattlemen
will oppose the extension of the region
requires cattle to be herded.
There are reasons on both sides and il
southeastern New Mexico wins, it will
be only after a sharp fight.
ssAnother important q is an
attack upon the system by which coun-
y officers are drawing enormous salar-
es. The salaries OF the sheriffs in
counties Is astonishing and q
attempt will be made to bring
,alaries within reasonable limits. The
ZEE bill will occupy a large part of the
ime this winter.
"Another feature which Is causing a
treat deal of talk, is a proposition to
'reate a nnmber of new counties. We
ave counties In New Mexico 250 miles
cross, and in some cases the popula.
and wealth are ample to provide
or two counties.
MEMORIAL ON SILVER.
"We will memorislize congress on
be silver question, for there is no doubt
s to the predominancy of the silver
eminent in the Territory. AT the
anne time, the sheep industry is very
arge and silver and protection would
meet the desire OF a majority Of the
of our Territory. The legisla-
will also legalize the reward of
5 1000 offered by the governor for the
rrest and conviction Of the murderers
Colonel Fountain and his son."
"Has New Mexico been showing any
larked improvement within a year or
voP ?" inquired the reporter.
"Persons who are not acquainted
it'll the output and OF the
'erritory will hardly credit the figures
q are able to present." was the reply
New Mexico has 1900, 600 cattle and
thin the year there have been shipped
ut Of the Territory over the Santa Fe
Dad alone, $4,000 cars of cattle and
neep. Our output Of wool is 14,O0O,-
DO to 16, 600, 900 pounds a years, and
are producing in minerals at the
tie of $3. 000, 900 a year, " though
lie silver mines of the Territory are
osed. A vast amount of lumber is
mt out Of New Mexico into Colorado,
nd two smelters, one at Silver City
I'D the other at Kelley, a Magda-
ma, are in operation. A large smelt-
e plant is about to open in the
llzabethtown district, where quite a
amber of Colorado people are inter-
ted.
"a great English corporation, !" cou-
nued the major, "%recently awarded a
rye contract 10 Mr.. Bradley, Of this
ty, to build dams, reservoirs and
mails in the Mesilla valley On the Rio
rande river. 1t is proposed to furnish
ater for irrigating something like
$1,000 acres Of land. The valley OF
Q Rio Grande, from Espanola to the
sxes state line, is capable Of support.
g 1000, 900, and over q large part Of
Q valley an abundance Of water can
obtained. Tue valley OF the Rio
'ande on account of climate, soil and
tural advantages, is destined TO be
own as one Of the most productive
lleys of the entire continent.
Watrous Notas-