Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-11
ASKSFOR STATEHOOD
Annual Report Of Governor 0tero
Showing Progress and Intel
ligence Of the People,
Remarkable Development of Natural Re-
sources and Industries Advancement
to High Moral Plane Solemn Com
pact As Yet Unfulflled.

The annual report Of Governor Otero
to the secretary of the interior was
made public by the department Satur-
day. The press synopsis as telegraphed
says: The governor estimates the pop
| ulation of the state at 2S5, 1923, and makes
an urgent appeal for statehood. He
| says:
Il most earnestly renew the recon-
mendation in my last report with ref
erence to the early admission of New
Mexico. The reasons given at that time
for admission are stronger now by rea-
son Of increased population, wealth and
Intelligence. Since that time u as
sessed value for taxation has increased
and 1t is now more than $40, 900, 900, and
constantly growing, while the popula-
ton, caused by immigration, is also
increasing rapidly.
New Mexico sold more than 49, 900, 900
pounds of wool this year, which is S,OOO,-
900 pounds more than ever before in her
history, while her mines of copper and
gold are being developed in a manner
never before known. More capital has
been invested in their development dur
ing the past year than previously.
For fifty years the territory has been
asking for this recognition granted by
solemn treaty stipulations. AS long ago
as 1850 New Mexico adopted a state con
stitution and elected a governor and
two United States senators, and it's ad-
mission was only prevented by the
adoption Of the celebrated compromise
measures of that year. Twenty years
afterward it held a constitutional con-
vention which formulated a most ad-
mirable constitution.
In 1876 a bill to admit it to statehood
passed both houses of and
failed to become a law. In 1889 there
was a constitutional convention lasting
nearly a month, composed of men Of the
highest character and ability, and their
iabors resulted in the presentation of a
constitution which l have no hesitation
in saying was the best formulated in
the United States. Copies We're laid be-
fore both houses of congress and sew
eral bills were introduced for it's admis-
sion; and since that time each session
of congress has seen bills introduced by
members of both political parties for
the admission of New Mexico as a state,
which has so far failed, and for which
failure no good reason has been given.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.
THE material prosperity of the ter
ritory of New Mexico is not more mark
ed than is it's moral advancement. The
various fraternal societies, the various
church organizations, are in charge of
refined, cultured men, and are we'll rep
resented. Next to the schools, the Amer
lean immigrant inquiries concerning the
church facilities. All the leading de-
nominations are represented in the ter
ritory, the towns being graced with
handsome edifices, where attractive SER
mons are delivered by able and educat-
ed ministers, and where well-trained
choirs add the pleasing enticement of
music to the Gospels tender entreaties.
THE manifold of New Mex
leo command notice from the home |
and the immigrant, among other
reasons because it will be years befor,
the territory of New Mexico will pro-
duce sufficient to fill the demands of the \
home market. Pastoral and allied in |
dustries are inviting to the young farm
er Of the east who Is seeking a broader |
field in which to toll, and where his re-
Enumeration will be more muniicent
than the central and eastern states al
low.
THE mineral wealth of the territory |
and the surrounding states puts a high
err premium on agriculture than is pos
in Illinois, Indiana or Ohio. 1t Is
only in recent years that the manufac-
ture of flour commenced in Colorado,
and has since partly supplied the de.
in New Mexico. Previous to that
the supply vas drawn from the east,
200 car loads coming to Las Vegas in a
year, and to other towns In like
proportion. Every day in the year now
roll into the territory from the
laden with the products of other
states which can be- made or growa
our territory. There is an actual
need within the territory for 90 900, 900
Of -four annually.
ERA OF ADVANCEMENT.
THE era of advancement having set