Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-07
N. C. de Baca, Territorial Superintendent Of
Public instruction.

Hon. Manuel C. de Baca, who has
been appointed by the Governor OF the
territory, superintendent of public in
struction for the territory to succeed
the Hon. Placido Sandoval, resigned, is
we'll known throughout New Mexico as
a man of fine attachments and advanced
ideas and one well fitted to perform the
duties of the high Office to which he has
been appointed.
His appointment meets with approval
and qualification among the citizens OF
the territory, irrespective of party or
politics who wish we'll the success of our
public schools and public education.
Mr.. Baca, whose full lame is Manuel
Cabcza de Baca, is a direct descendant
on his fathers side of the great soldier
and traveller who first traversed and
blazed ont the path for future civiliza-
ton in that portion of the United States
now included within the territories of
| New Mexico and Arizona and the states
of California and Colorado and of whose
deeds of daring and exploit the early
history of our country is replete. And
on his mothers side he is a descendant
of the noble Delgados which name is
intertwined with every act and deed of
Importance connected with the. territory
since its first invasion by daring men in
the sixteenth century.
Hon. Manuel G. de Baca was born at
the house of Captain Manuel Delgado,
his grand father, on his mothers side,
at Los Cerrillos, in the county of Santa
Fe, on the cath day Of May, 1853, and is
now As years of age. He was educated
principally at the St. Michael's college
in Santa Fe, and after graduation at
that school of learning, pursued special
instruction under private tutors and
was admitted to the bar as a practicing
attorney in July 1882, and has ever
since followed his chosen profession of
an attorney at law, in the Fourth judi
cial district of the territory.
In 1882 he was elected city attorney of
! the city of Las Vegas and in 1886 was
elected on the Republican ticket from
San Miguel county a member Of the
9th Legislative assembly and on &C
count of his high abilities chosen
speaker.
In 1888 he was elected probate judge
of San Miguel county and since 1892 he
has continuously held the Office of Unit
ed States District court commissioner
for New Mexico.
Much credit is due to Mr.. Baca for
the establishment of the public school
system in the territory, for as speaker
of the house of the 27th legislative as
sembly,. being a strong advocate of the
free education of the masses, and a
strong supporter of every measure tend
ing to the establishment of public
schools, he as speaker of that body, had
every opportunity, and threw his in
fluence toward every measure looking
toward the establishment of a public
school system in the territory, as before
that period public education was un-
known in the territory. So it may be
said, and to the credit Of Mr.. Baca that
our present efficient public schools are
much due to his efforts and labor
whilst speaker of the s7th legis-
lative assembly and by his continuous
efforts In that behalf ever since, both
as u public officer or private citizen. It
is very appropriate, that one who has
been a strong advocate of the pub
lie school system of our territory should
be selected as the superintendent Of pub
lie instruction to supervise the same, and
judging the future by the past record
of Mr.. Baca, taking into considera-
ton the fact that he possesses fine edu-
cational qualities and his earnest be-
lief in the necessity of the education Of
the masses, 1t is safe to predict his sue
cessful administration of the duties of
his Office and an improvement in the
public system Of the territory.
The New MEXICAN is Of the opinion,
that Governor Otero has selected an eff
cient and competent man for this i'm
portant Office and one who will prove
satisfactory to the people at large and
will work to build up the public schools
Of the territory.