The silver star., 1899-02-02
NEWS FROM THE
WESTERN REGION.

The report OF the commissioners ioI
New Mexico to the Transmississippi
exposition at Omaha has been filed
with Governor Otero. The report Is
filled with interesting facts and figures
relative to New Mexico Industries and
: prehistoric features. The exhibit at
tracted much favorable attention. In
all twenty gold medals and diplomas
{, were awarded New Mexico at the ex-
| position.
The biennial report Of the committee
| in charge Of the New Mexico deaf.
dumb and blind school In Santa Fe has
| Just been made TO the governor. Only
S4,OOOwas appropriated by the last Leg
| islature, and OF that but S2,4OO has
been received. The committee urges
| additional buildings and an appropria-
| ton of 5000 for the repair Of the
present buildings and the mainten-
ance of the school
The members of the local branch OF
the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ
| of Latter Day Saints at Salt Lake have
| taken a vigorous stand against the
seating Of Congressman-Elect Roberts
Of Utah. Their protest has for Its basis
the charge Of polygamy against Rob
! erts. and in no uncertain voice nave
they defined their attitude and contrib
uted their influence against the eleva'
| tion of a polygamist to congressional
| station.
The city council OF Florence has
awarded the water works contract TO
the Geddes aud Seerie Stone Company
| of Denver for the sum of $97 300. and
| an intake dam in the canon at $40 per
| square yard. the estimated cost OF
which is $1,000. The company agrees
to begin work upon the system inside
of twenty days and complete the work
/ by June 1st. The figure is considered
very fair price for the city and the
time required for construction remark
ably short. as over sixteen miles OF
] pipe must be laid.
Late Information from the Zunt pu
eblo. in western Valencia county, New
Mexico. tells OF sad state of affairs
among those Indians. Smallpox is rag
/ ing with terrible results and deaths are
numerous. Since the disease broke out
/ 217 deaths have occurred. and 600 H.
/ dians are sick, of whom possibly about
one-half will recover. DIR. Knapp OF
Santa Fe and several nurses are in at
= tendance on the Indians. but are not
able 10 give much relief. Miss Far
rotc is in charge of the postoffice, the
postmaster being n victim OF the dis
ease. and all mail passes through the
hands of Dr. Hinch of Gallup and is
accompanied by a certificate showing
that ii has been thoroughly disinfected.
The members of the Wyoming Lcgis-
lature are considering the advisability
of adopting the American cottage sys-
TEN OF caring for the insane who are
durable. and under proper conditions
may be made partially sclf-supporiin.
in lien of the proposed addition TO the
state asylum nj Evanston. involving an
appropriation Of $4,000 TO $4,000 The
state has vacant and ready for use al
Fort Mckinney. in johnson county.
adequate and convenient quarters for
large number OF its insane. where the
altitude In ideal. and opportunity for
farm and garden work for the afflicted
IL perfect. Governor Richards declares
himself strongly in favor of the adop-
tion OF the cottage system for caring
for the insane and is urging the matter
upon the consideration of the law
makera
Governor Thomas. NJ meeting re-
Gently held. gave the county assessors
and the joint finance committees OF the
Senate and House OF Representatives
some OF his ideas on the revenue qucs-
tlon Of Colorado. The governor was
emphatic In his declaration that the
remedy for the financial Ills which now
beset the state lay In the revival Of the
old law which limited the power of
counties In the matter OF tnx levies.
'The financial condition of this state"
said his excellency. twas good up until
the time when the limitations placed
upon the county tax levies were re.
pealed. To-day the state Is face TO
face with the statement that the value
Is.fh hrr ..-sx Il.
n libel upon our state. Mulhnll places the
valuation at 81. .1O0OO.OOO. but I think
he is too high. should place II at
$GOO.O00,O0O or SSOOOO0.OOO. II you
wish to make way wifi this dscrep-
ancy. limit the powers OF the counties
TO levy taxes as you have limited the
state. which must he content with its
four mills assessment" Governor
Thomas WAS backed vigorously by
Speaker Smith OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives. who declared that such a
bill would surely pass the present Leg
islature.
. document Of great importance To
the business interests of Colorado and
. Wyoming was filed with the county
clerk In the city of Cheyenne the other
day. II represents lease Of seventy.
five mines OF the celebrated IInrtvillc
run REGION Dy thc wyoming Halfway
and Iron Company to the Colorado Fuel
and Iron Company for u period OF TWEEN.
~ years. The terms OF the lease pro-
. vide for the payment OF royalty OF IL
cents per ton for NIL the ores removed
and used at the Pueblo furnaces. and
10 cents per ton for nli ores sold to out.
side parties and designated as "com.
fnercinl' iron. The Colorado compnny
agrees to pay royalty on 10000 tons OF
ore for the first ycar as minimum
whether the ore IL taken out or not,
nnd Increases the amount each year on
, the same conditions until II amounts
I TO 'pN.OOO tons annually. One Of the
conditions OF the lense Is that the fuel
and iron company will secure the build.
Ing OF n branch railroad to the propcr.
~ from some existing line Of railway,
construction to he commenced within
, SIX months. md ahinmenfs to heuir,