Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-06-05


Producing each of the speakers. and in
Hon. F. A. Manzanares he
the fact that he was "a no
BILE son Of Las Vegas" In delivering the
great key of the building to Governor
Otero Mr.. Manzanares said:
Transfer of the Great Key.
THE duty has been assigned to me OF
the part taken by the terri
tory of New Mexico in the construction
Of the capitol building. and Of. deliver
ing It, fully completed, to the legally
custodians of the same; but
before doing so permit me to narrate q
hi ief history Of the last five years OF
LAS you all know, the capitol rebuild
ing board was created by an act ot the
territorial Legislature. which act at the
same time appropriated the sum Of $75.-
900 for the construction and compilation
of the capitol, with the assistance Of
such convict labor and material from
the penitentiary as we could we'll util-
ize
"We undertook the work, which was
found from the very foundation to be
more difficult and expensive than had
been calculated by the legislature in
appropriating the above named SIM:
and the result was that, notwithstAnt-
Ing the care and economy observed by
the board, with the valuable aid Of their
architects. the money was exhausted,
leaving the building unfinished; the
fact Is, we failed to replace with $4,000
and penitentiary aid a building that
had previously cost the territory over
$25O,O0O; but in due time we appealed to
the generosity and liberality Of the leg
islature which responded promptly, ap-
propriating 100000 more, with which ad-
ditional sum the building was COM
pleted; and you can all see that the
completion crowns the work. To-day
that work speaks for itself, and needs
no other orator; mute and lfeless as 1t
seems it has a living and an audible
voice for all who behold it. and no one
can misinterpret its language: nor will
any one. 1 think, longer cavll about its
design or it's frontage.
Nov, fellow-ctizens, let me. by way
Of reminder. observe that we stand
to-day within the limits of the terri
tory, which, during the sixteenth CEN
tury. was discovered and partly settled
by the intrepid and civilizing influences
Of the valorous Spaniards under the
leadership of Cabeza de Vaca, Corona
do, Espejo and Onate, and that, not
withstanding these facts, we are un-
generously kept out Of the galaxy of
free states, and regarded by the con-
gress of the United States as minors
under age and without the prerogatives
and sovereignty enjoyed by the states
OF this glorious union, and hence we are
subject to their capricious dictation-
an evil we all must strive to remedy.
And now, one word more. For the
grand consummation which we cele-
brate to-day we are indebted primarily
to the territory Of New Mexico, under
| the successive governors of the last
five years, with the concurrent action
Of the two branches Of the territorial
legislature. to whom collectively the
thanks Of the people are due.
Aid in a saecial manner the thanks
Of the people of this territory Of New
Mexico are due to my associates on the
capitol rebuilding board. including the
retired members, all of whom have lent
their valuable cooperation to the af-
fairs OF the board without any incen-
tive Of pecuniary remuneration.
1.-THE thanks of the people of the ter
ritory are equally due to the honest
architects who so assiduously devoted
their time. and so ably prosecuted the
work Of construction In all its details
to completion.
And, in expressing our gratitude. we
sive wardens Of the penitentiary for
their valuable cooperation.
And last, but not least, the thanks
Of the people and of this board are due
to the generous officials Of the rail-
roads, who saved the territory thou
sands Of dollars by their concessions of
reduced rates on the material trans
ported by them and used in the build
ing.
II will now conclude by formally de-
liverlng this building to the governor
and board Of custodians for, and In be-
half Of the capitol rebuilding board. re-
leving said board OF any further re-
sponsibility."
When the applause following Mr.
Manzanares' speech had ceased, Gov
ernor Otero was presented to the audi
| ence by the chair, saying he needed no
introduction. The governor was greeted
enthusiastically, and frequently inter-
rupted by applause as he proceeded. He
spoke as follows:
Gov. Otero's Address.
Mr.. President. Ladies and Gentlemen
Il congratulate you. and the people Of
the whole territory Of New Mexico. up
| on this auspicious occasion, when the
new capitol building Is turned over by
the committee to whom was intrusted
its reconstruction to the territorial au-
thorities, for the use of its legisls ture
and officers.
also congratulate you and the terri
tory upon the character and construc-
ton Of this building. and the compare
lively small amount of money which
has been expended thereon; 1t being in
all respects more desirable and better
adapted for the purpose than its prsde-
cessor upon these grounds. which was
destroyed by fire eight years ago. That
| was a beautiful building. and cost the
territory s25O,O0O. After its loss tha ter
ritorial officers were obliged to find
quarters where they might. In different
ma rts of the civ and the lerislatti IRE