Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-06
NEW MEXICO'S OPPORTUNITY
The Territory is Asked to Cooperate
with the Santa Fe Railroad Com
pany in Matter of Promoting
Industrial Development.
COMMENTS OF A TRAINED OBSERVER
Mr.. James A. Davis, Industrial Com
missioner of the Santa Fe, Now on
An Official Tour of New Mex
leo, Speaks Favorably of
This Project.

Mr.. James A. Davis, industrial commis
sioner of the Santa Fe railroad, who ha
been making tour of the territory fo
the porpose of familiarizing himself wit
existing industrial conditions, and posi-
bilities along industrial lines for futur
development, was in the city yesterday
and talked to representative of the NEy
MEXICAN concerning his impressions o
New Mexico, and the advantage to b'
derived from cooperation between tn,
system which he represents and the peo
pie of this territery.
Mr.. Davis says some very nice things
of New Mexico, but he has no OBJ ject il
giving us "taffy," and his statements shoulc
be accepted rather as the critical observa
tions of man trained to see things at
they are. AS coming from stranger ano
dlsinterested party, his words of praise
will have all the more weight in the mat
ter OF convincing the outside world that
New Mexico is indeed wonder land. Mr..
Davis has travelled extensively on both
continents. The observation of industrial
conditions has been his business for many
years. The productions of every country
of Europe are as familiar to him as the
productions of the various states of the
American Union. He watches develop
ment from an international standpoint,
and possesses detailed information in the
matter of production from every quarter
of the globe. The comments of man of
such broad knowledge are worth great
deal and may be set down as standard.
The industrial plan of the Santa Fe
railroad, so far as it relates to New Mex
lco was made known to the people of
this territory some weeks since in gen
eral way through authorized newspaper
publications. At this time it was an
nounced that the company would assist
in the development of certain industries
as found practicable throughout New
Mexico. The visit of Mr.. Davis is fur.
therance of this project, which if aided
by the people in a manner commensurate
with its Importance, will result in i'm
mense good to the whole territory. The
Santa Fe does not pretend that in lend
ing hand in the matter of industrial de-
velopment, it is engaging in any philan
thropic work. Railroads are operated as
a rule upon strictly business principles,
and there is no good reason to suppose
that the Santa Fe is any exception to the
rule. The idea in taking up this pro-
ject to increase the volume of traffic. AS
Mr.. DAVIS says in the appended inter.
view, the interests of the railroad and the
people of New Mexico in this matter are
identical. What benefits one benefts the
other. Hence the cooperation, which
must be apparent to oil. The people of
the territory should not let this oppor-
tunity slip. No equal opportunity for
advancement and development has ever
presented itself in this territory. Prompt
and energetic cooperation at this time
will mean the inauguration of an era of
prosperity that will land the territory of
New Mexico in the very front rank of
producing states. Why nots Nature has
done her part. The natural advantages
are all here, and waiting to burst forth
into new and vigorous life. This great
railroad system is the g ,od fairy, who
now extends to the people of the terri.
tory the magic wand with which the
transformation may be brought about.
Will they accept it! Here is what Mr.,
Davis has to say on the subject:
If New Mexico had nothing else but it's
bracing health restoring climate as a
resource it ought to quadruple its popu-
lation annually until density equal to
any eastern state is reached. cannot
believe that any balmier atmosphere ex-
lists. I have never been in it if 1t does,
and I have done some "moving on" too
But atmosphere is not all. have seen
more undeveloped wealth in the last week
than ever dreamed of. Only people
with energy and a fair share of money are
needed to make New Mexico richer than
the Indias. have seen soil Is to Is feet
deep. l have never seen or heard of 8
mine that there was not possible equa
to in this territory. There are mineral
substances of metallic and non metallic
values In inexhaustible quantities. II
fact am simply overwhelmed with won
der when I realize not only the extent
but the diversity of the resources of this
little appreciated section of our territory
Every agricultural product known is be
ing produced or is possible of successful
cultivation. have seen miles and miles
of coal land and have seen hard and sof
coal brought from the same mine. One
of the greatest and most discussed indus
tries in the United States is carried or
in the territory on constantly enlargine
scale. In fact no matter what their ex
perienoe, their taste, their pursuits
their skill or other state of health ma!
be, New Mexico in my opinion can pro
vide for all who may come here.
The Santa Fe management appreciat,
these facts, and wants to cooperate will
the people of the territory in developing
its wealth and bringing it's resources t.
the attention Of every man who has
dollar to invest, homo to seek or hi
health to regain. We realize that our in
terests are inseparable, that the succes
and progress of New Mexico mean on
own prosperity and that this is depend
ent on the prosperity of the territory VI
traverse.