The times., 1899-12-18
THREE SEEK STATEHOOD.
Arizona. New Mexico, and Oklahoma
Tire of TerritorinI RnnhA

Arizona. New Mexico, and Oklahoma
Tire OF Territorial Ronds.
There will probably be a strong effort AZ
this session of Congress to secure the ad-
mission of the Territories Of Arizona and
New Mexico as States. The trend of opin
ion at the Capital is that the effort will not
produce the desired result. It is said tba.
the same political reasons which have op-
Grated against the admission of these Ter
ritories in the past will operate against
them in this Congress, but it is not main
tanned that they do not possess the popu-
lation and commercial Importance which
entitle them 10 statehood
As nearly as can be estimated from the
school census taken last July. the popula-
ton of Arizona exceeds 100. 900. Governor
Murphy has said that the increase during
the last year has been al least 5000 He
believes that the general census to be taken
next year viii confirm the calculations
based on the school census. The net bond
ed and floating Indebtedness of the Terri
tory on July l. 1899. was $94S ,176, which
was an increase in one year of S74776.
Jhls increase was due TO the issue OF $780,
600 in bonds for the erection of a capitol.
The assessed valuation of taxable prop
erty is s32 500, ,520 an increase of more
than 81, 100000 in the last year Under
the present system the assessment of prop
erty is low and the rate of tax high The
defects in the revenue system Of the Terri
tory are now under consideration by a
commission authorized by the Legislature
a its last session. OF the total area of
the Territory, embracing over y, 500 600
acres approximately 100000 acres are
arabic This is said to be greater
area OF tillable land than exists in some
Of the smaller States of the Union. Irriga-
tion canals are being projected in different
parts Of the Territory and also water stor-
age reservoirs, which when completed will
add largely TO the agricultural area. There
is already considerable farming by irriga-
tion in the counties of Yuma, Graham,
Pinal Pima. Navajo and Apache.
OF the many agricultural and horticul-
tural products much attention has been
given 10 the cultivation of sugar beets, date
palms, melons, cotton, tobacco. sugar cane,
etc Almonds and peanuts are profitable
crops. Among the staple crops are alfalfa
wheat, corn, barley. oats, oranges lemons,
and apricots. Nearly all Varieties of root
crops are grown in the Territory and in
many OF tae valleys throughout the noun
tains enormous crops of potatoes are raised.
Market gardeners in the vicinity OF the
larger towns and villages grow vegetables
every month in the year.
Arizona has over 5000 square miles, or
nearly 4,CC0, 0Ge acres, of pine timber land
and its resources for lumber and building
material are it is said not surpassed, il
equaIed, anywhere in the United States.
The school system of Arizona is modelled
after that OF California The common
schools are divided into primary, grammar,
and high schools. 4 uniform system or
pulsOry. The teachers in charge of the
schools number 373. there being 251 women
and 122 men OF the total number 120 are
graduates Of normal schools. The average
monthly salary paid men is $74.70, and the
womau S64.40 The total of the school cen
sus shows a marked increase during the
year Arizona has two prosperous norma!
schools and a frst-cass university, thor
oughly equipped and successful as an ed
ucational institution of the highest order
The population of New Mexico is esti-
mated at 2S5,S29, of which 25.329 are In
dians. The total assessed valuation of the
real and personal property in the Terri
tory is $40.124,724.79. The total TerTitor-
ial Indebtedness, s., ,997 ,665.12.
New Mexico contains about 70 600 600
acres. of which about 24,O0OOGO are con-
tanned in land grants, Indian. and military
reservations, railroad grants, and Govern
ment entries.
Considerable progress has been made in
the reclamation. by means of irrigation.
of arid lands, and the Governor states that
there are still many opportunities for the
investment OF cspital in irrigation projects
which cannot fail, under good manage
ment. TO bring profitable returns. It is
stated that in the northwestern portion Of
the Territory there are POO miles of bitches
watering $4,000 acres, and, in addition,
there are several tracts of fertile soil &C
cessible to streams which afford ample
water supply, awaiting the attention Of cap
italists. Extensive ditch systems are in
operation in the Mimbres region OF Grant
county In other portions of the Terri
tory the Springer system of irrigation is
in use, with fifty miles of ditches and five
reservoirs, covering p. .0GO acres. and the
Nermejo system, controlling tifty-sevep
miles OF bitches and ten reservoirs, sup
plying 10000 acres.
Oklahoma Will also make a contest for
statehood at the present session. This
Territory is about the size of Ohio, and its
population is estimated at $4,000. Prop
erty is returned at about so per cent of its
real value and only 20 per cent Of the farm
lands of the Territory are on the tax lists,
the balance still being in the name OF the
Government, the settlers not yet having
proved up. Yet, despite these facts, the
territorial tax rate is only % mills for all
purposes.