Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-12-28
A Discussion Of Many Subjects OF
Importance to New Mexico and
It's People.
AN INACCURATE CENSUS.
The Climatic Treatment for Consumption
A Field for Irrigation Projects-For-
est Reserves from the View Point
of New Mexico.

IllIiaol lSpcht - 49,
the following extracts from
the governors report are being pub
Iished:
1.-THE aridity of New Mexico arises
partly from her location, partly from
her altitude and partly from her topog-
raphy. Her location is in the midst of
the formerly so-called Great American
desert, her borders about equidistant, or
500 miles each, from the gulf of Mexl-
and the Pacific ocean at their near
est approach. The gulf of California, at
its northern extremity, lies some 15v
miles closer, but it's water surface is in
considerable. The low lying plains east
of the Rocky mountains draw the
moisture-laden winds from the gulf OF
Mexico, causing them to pass eastward
of this section, but at the same time
drawing over the territory the winds
from the Pacific and from the gulf or
Before these can reach New
Mexico, however, they must climb,
height by height, the ascending pla-
teaus of Arizona, eliminating in the
bald-faced peaks off the continental d.
vide. All know h a the warmer the
air the more water it will hold; and, on
the other hand, the more the air is
chilled the more it parts with its moist
ure. Every succeeding altitude but
wrings more water from the air, just
as each stronger grip of the hand
saueezes more water from the sponge.
When these almost desiccated winds
reach New Mexico only the mountain
chains and peaks al draw further
moisture from them, leaving h val
leys and table lands with but the scan
tiest of scant supplies. This is why the
average rainfall in the valleys of this
territory will not exceed u inches pei
annum, two-thirds of the entire supply
falling during the summer.
"But altitude increases aridity by de-
creasing atmospheric pressure, ant
thus accelerating evaporation. The ell
ovation of New Mexico averaging
about one mile above sea level ~ant
reaching in the higher valleys to nearl!
two miles, it can be seen at once tina
water here most readily gives off it
vapor. Especially is this true when ia
ken in connection with the dry condi
ton of the air and the almost ceaseles
movements of the winds. The moistur'
that falls is Immediately taken up int
the air again. A snow of 2 or 3 inche
in depth will pass away in a few hours
leaving the ground dry, having appar
emily returned into the air instead o
melting. A refreshing shower in a da,
or two will have disappeared, leavin'
no mud behind. This is why any kin
of a.cloud is rare, and a day durint
some part of which the sun does no
shine is almost unknown.
OPEN TO SETTLEMENT. +,
New Mexico contains nearly 79,Ooo,
900 acres. OF these there are about "a
900, 900 acres contained in land grants
Indian and military reservations, rall
road grants and government entries
which leaves available an area of abou
SIS, 900, 900 acres of land, capable of sur
porting an immense population runnin
up into the millions.
thousands of acres of wild lands al
to be had by complying with the Unite
States land laws, much of which Is cor
tiguous to water, and is desirable #
colonization purposes when bitches an
water storage reservoirs are provide
The land grant question is no longer
bugaboo in New Mexico, and throug
the action of the land court titles 4
vast tracts have been cleared up an
settled. Some millions Of acres hay
been confirmed by the courts to pr
vate ownership, while, on the 9TH
hand, an equal acreage has been rejec
ed so far as the grant claimants al
concerned, and the land added to II
Public domain, subject to entry"
APPEALS FOR STATEHOOD.
The governor makes a vigorous a
peal for statehood. He reports a nun
/ Der of his arguments in previous r
ports, and also offers some new one
He says:
'.The results of the census of 1900
New Mexico have not yet been official
: promulgated, but enough is known
make it certain that the figures will Fl
4 somewhat short of the estimates prir
ed in my last annual report, and W
6 consequently prove a disappointment
all friends of the territory. There a
e substantial reasons for believing tn
I an examination Of the census enumt
alton of 1900 will not properly show t
population Of New Mexico except in t
southern tier Of counties, notat
! Grant, Donna Ana, Chaves and Edt
A wherein the enumeration is believed
q be very nearly correct.
p 1.-THE reasons for this belief desei
/ consideration. The total number
:. voters registered in New Mexico
1898 was about $4,000, and the to
number of votes cast for delegate
. same year was 35,S43. No doubt Is
~tertained that all the voters registel
were actual residents OF the territ'
at the time, but for various reas'
failed to vote. So 1t Is fair to say Il
the registration Of 1898 indicated a p
ulation of 100000, exclusive Of India
= and 1t Is known that the steady deS
opment Of the mining, timber, ST
growing, agricultural and horticultu
industries Of such counties as Der
lillo, Chaves, Colfax, Dona Ana, Ed
/. Grant, Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba. !
~ juan, socorro and Taos has been m
N than sufficient to hold the population
b. the territory at the number indica
es by the registration Of 1898.
q, $50 the conclusion 10 unavoidable t
o. the census enumeration, which cree