Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-10-10
GOVERNOR THORNTON TALKS
New MexicO's Executive Responded
Entertainingly to Queries of a Den
yer News Interviewer.
PROGRESS or IRRIGATION In new MEXICO
Territory Well Fitted for Statehood and
Generally Want 1t - Population
Larger Than Census Shows
Ferguson will be Elected.

Ferguson will be Elected.
Denver News: 1t is estimated thai
there are fully 800 New Mexicans in the
city, coming from all parts of the terri
tory.
Gov. Thornton, who is tall, we'll ap.
pearing gentleman, likes to talk of New
Mexico. His residence there has made
him thoroughly familiar with it's resources
and people, of whom he speaks laud.
ingly. Said he yesterday after he had
witnessed the parade:
= "Metters at present are very quiet 10
New Mexico, which is probably true OF
most sections of the country. The only
real advancement that is being made is
in the localities provided with large irri-
cation systems, such as the Maxwell grant
and the Pecos valley. In the latter they
have the Hagerman system of reservoirs.
The Hagerman reservoir is the largest In
the world with single exception. The
exception is located in Asia. But the
reservoir is far ahead of anything of the
kind in this country. 1t is thirteen miles
in length, that is, the series of reservoirs,
and the largest of them covers 5000
acres of land to depth of fifty feet. The
irrigation capacity Of this immense water
storage plant is 100000 acres, and the
valley is we'll supplied with the necessary
canals and laterals. There is always am.
pie water, too, for the Pecos river has a
popularity not seen In any other river of
Now Mexico.
CONSTANT SUPPLY.
"The water in the Pecos comes con-
stantly to the surface from springs, 80
that you may drain the river and then if
You 10 few miles below you will find
plenty of water flowing through the chan
mel. Water seems to be plentiful in that
neighborhood. In the vicinity of Ros-
we'll artesian wells can be found almost
anywhere at depth of from 200 to 400
feet.
"In mining can not speak so favor
ably. Our silver and lead camps suffered
with the fall of prices and are at stand
still, but attention was given to searching
for gold, with the result that several
promising camps have been opened up
and the older ones made mere productive.
The camps in the northern part of the
ohu uhoAo
are good returns from Santa Fe county,
in the central part, and Grant county in
the southwestern. Copper mining has
also suffered, and notwithstanding there
are promising propositions, they are at
standstill."
"What are New Mexico's claims to state
hoodw
II think tho territory is we'll fitted to be
taken into the Union," replied the gov
ernor. "T.., sentiment of the inhabitants
10 universally in favor of such action. The
people who talk against it and say We are
not fitted for self-government do not un-
derstand Us. 1t is true that fully 70 rer
cent of the population is composed of
natives, but the native citizens, when let
alone, are the most law-abiding people.
The crimes that are committed in New
Mexico are mainly the work of Americans
or of natives led on by Americans. The
natives are very on-aggressive and timld.
They are easily impressed, and can be led
in the right manner, but they can also be
az easily led in wrong way.
"Then, too, We have larger population
than the territory was credited with by the
census takers. The territory is 80 large
and the population scattering that it was
very easy to overlook large percentage.
I have made an estimate of the popula-
ton at 225,O0O, whereas the census gives
10000. In making my estimate visited
the Catholic churches and examined the
registers Of births, which are very care
fully kept. then took the same basis
used by the church in the estimate-that
ls, twenty one for each birth, and arrived
at my figures. The native people show
little disposition to change their mode of
life and their customs, and the majority
are still living as they formerly did"
NEW MEXICO DEMooRAT1o.
"How will the territory vote in the COM
ing electionf"
s;It will 20 Democratic, think. The
only reason for doubt on this point lies in
not knowing how the native wool grow.
ers will vote. There are about 100000
sheep in the territory, and many feel that
they were deeply injured when the tariff
was taken off wool. But on the financial
question there is only one sentiment. We
are for free and unlimited coinage, and
the American citizens who are members
of the Republican party will vote for h
B. Ferguson, the Dem ocratic nominee
for delegate, because of this issue.
Gas whole think New Mexico hat
made steady progress during the pas
years, and it will continue to advance. Al
said, the only industry that is at all Ian
gushing is the mining interests"
The governor expressed himself as high
" pleased with the festival.
| II was very much impressed" he said
"with the parade. II was one of the fines
I have ever seen, and deserves all tn
praise that can be accorded it. In fact
everything have seen since my arriva
In Denver indicates that there is less de
preston here than in the eastern cities
which have visited recently. I believe
though, that this is true of all the western
country a. compared with the east. Their
is moro money out here and fewer mel
ont Of employment than in the more east
ern portion of the United States."
y A.~ Mao fyAnfy