The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-13
THE LAST n rERRIroRIEs.
A Proposition 20 Make One state Ont OF
Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

A Proposition 20 Mako One State Dat OF
Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
From 1875 to 1906, six territories OF the
United States were admitted to Statehood
Montana, Washington, Idaho. Wyoming. Utah,
and Dakota-the last as two States. North and
South Dakota. Prior to that Colorado was adj
mitted on Aug. /. 1876. and Nebraska on March
/, 1867. There are now remaining only three
Territories in the United States, exclusive Of
tho District OF Columbia, the Indian Territory.
and Alaska. which makes no serious preten-
sions to Statehood. These three Territories are
Arizona. New Mexico. and Oklahoma, and
when all three are admitted into the Union. II
they ever are, the United States will extend
literally from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
from Canada to Mexico.
Arizona covers an area of 10000 square
miles. New Mexico covers an area OF 122. 900
square miles. and Oklahoma, with No Mans
Land. covers an area of 80. 900 square miles-in
all 275, 900 square miles, or 10, 600 square miles
more than the entire area of the Lone Star
State of Texas. The present population Of
Arizona is about, 10000. of New Mexico l55,;
900, a-d OF Oklahoma about 100000, or 100000
In all. The population of Texas is about 2.750,-
900, or more than ten times greater. The oh.
either Arizona or New Mexico are equally strong
!n. both political parties. The Republicans in
by the silver senators from the Rocky Mountain
or mining camp States have no desire to
embarrass the course of legislation further by
the admission Of two additional States largely
given over to mining and grazing. in one of
which the English language is not In general
use among the Inhabitants. The Democrats
who favored the admission of New Mexico and
Arizona some years ago. and objected to the
discrimination which they said at that time
was shown against the Southern Territories and
In favor OF the Northern ones by the Republi-
can Senate. are pretty generally opposed to a
further diffusion Of political honors. for to adj
init new and sparsely populated States would
be to further decrease the influence OF those
long ago admitted.
1t lisa fact that New Mexico and Arizona
were originally one territory and included
portions OF the present States of Colorado and
Nevada. Subsequently portions were cut off to
make up the present States of Colorado and
Nevada and in 1868 the Territory of Arizona
WAS established. cut off from the remaining and
larger part of New Mexico. The proposition is
now made and Is being seriously defended, that
preparatory to their admission into the Union
as States, Arizona and New Mexico should
be reunited and that Oklahoma should be
Joined with them and the three made
Into one State with a land area OF
about the same size as Texas. but with a total
population now only one-tenth rs great. The
new State would start under conditions which
would give reasonable promise OF a sufficient
Increase In the future to fulfil public require
ments. The admission OF the three into the
Union as one State would probable forstall
much OF the opposition to the admission OF any
OF them separately and would eliminate at
last the territories from the Union.