Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-12-14
NEW MexIco's PROSPERITY.
Digest Of Governor Otero's Annual Re-
port 10 Secretary Of Iaterior.
STRONG prMAsp FOE STATEHOOD.

hhV nhnuhi ttHptt " uONs miKutl "A.
Otero, OF New Mexico, was made public
by the department OF the interior last
saturday, and IL q carefully prepared and
interesting paper. II Is In fact the
strongest argument New Mexico could
possibly make for statehood.
During the past two or three years
New Mexico has made rapid strides on
the highway OF progress. The TERRITORY
contains nearly 7g,0O0.00o acres, or
these there are about "a 900, 900 acres
contained In land grants, Indian and
military reservations. railroad grants
ana government entries, which caves
av liable area OF about 90, 1000, 900 acres
OF land. capable OF supporting an i'm
mense population running up into the
millions.
Thousands Of acres OF wild lands are
10 De had by complying with the United
states land laws, much OF which Is con-
tguous TO water and Is desirable for
coionization purposes, when bitches and
water storage reservoirs are provided.
The land grant question, says the gov
ernor, Is no longer a bugabOo in New
Mexico, and through the action OF the
land court titles TO vast tracts have been
cleared up and settled. Some millions
OF acres have been confirmed by the
courts TO private ownership, while, on
the other hand. an equal acreage has
been rejected. so far as the grant
claimants are concerned. and the land
adle cd to the public domain, subject TO
entry.
Governor Otero places the population
OF New Mexico, exc usiye OF Indians, at
200 900, The Indian population Is 20.
32g. This makes u total population OF
$50 S2g. The governor makes a strong
plea for statehood. After repeating his
FORMER arguments In this connection, he
says:
"Since that time our assessed value for
taxation has increased, and constantly
growing. while tbs population, caused
by immigration. is also increasing rap.
Idly New Mexico solt more than 49,
100000, pounds Of wool this year, which
IL 3,OOO,0O0 pounds more than ever be.
fore IN her history. while her mines of
copper ard gold are being developed In a
manner never known before. More csp-
ital has been invested In their develop
ment during the past year than pre-
vioasly, especially In Grant, 0tsro, Ber-
Daliilo and Santa Fe counties"
dOverD0r Oter0 points to the fact that
New Mexico sent 10 war twice a. many
volunteers as Idaho, Montana, North Da-
kots, South Dakota aud Nevada com.
6ined. and yet tbs territory Is refused
sta ehO0d.
The governor recommends continued
appropriations for the preservation of
the adobe palace. the residence OF the
governor general under Spanish and
N exican rule.
He also recommends that the salary OF
OF the judges of the supreme court
of New Mexico be increased to S., 900 u
year.
There has been 200 miles OF new rail-
road constructed within the territory
during the past year by the following
companies: Miles.
hi Paso h Northeastern. ........ .l5l
Pecos Valley Il Northeastern. ....... 100
Il Sacramento Mountain. 30
AtchisoD, Topeka " Santa fe. .......l Il
The advantages OK irrigation In the ter
ritOry are coavincingly ret forth. The
experiment OF raising beet sugar In the
Pecos valley has proven a pronounced
success.
la summing up the our of New
Mexico, Governor 0tero says:
THE resources of New Mexico are
b0undiess, inc the possibilities Of de.
in the territory OF New
~ uhhVttiOhb u I'LL
by those Of any other state or
territory in this union. On account Of
the varied elevation sim ,st everything
that iJurishes In tho temperate zone,
. d many fruits that b long to the trop-
les grow TO perfection In Nav Mexico.
As q stock country II Is exceiled by none,
Ia addition to which large, rich deposits
OF gold and silver. coal, iron, copper,
marble, building stone and
many dlff-rsnl kinds OF precious stones
are found; New Mexico being the princi
pal source Vt supply Of the world for
turquoise, which is OF the finest quality
and c lor. What We need to develop
the mines, rs well a. the AGRICULTURAL,
stock growing and other capabilities
Of our territory, is capital, aud large
fortunes are in store for those
who have the money and ia.
iustry 10 develop the wonderful re-
sources OF New Mexico. New Mexico
needs more people; people who can in-
'sst Ia her mines and other Industries,
which, IL developed, would make our ter.
fitory one Of the richest on the globe,
md when the world at large becomes
convinced Of this, New Mexico will enter
upon AL era OF prosperity never before
dreamed OF.
"Ihe ranges for sheep and cattle were
never In better shape. and stock OF all
Is in excellent condition. The
herds and h1cks have increased In size
value very materially since the open.
.Dg OF the year, and with plenty of grass
assured the sales Of sheep and cattle this
'all will bring large sums Of ready money
INTO the territory
'Every prediction made for prosperity
a the year Is now In u fair way TO be
fulfilled. and New Mexico will exceed
Almost all former yearly records In the
amount OF revenue derived from produce,
'heep and cattle NJ the close OF the years