Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-18
A BRILLIANT SPEECH
Ex-Governor L. B. Prince Today Ad-
dressed the Trans-Mississippi
Congress At Houston.
STATEHOOD FOR new MEXICO
Professor Elwood Mead, Of the United States
Department Of Agriculture, Spoke On
Irrigation-0ther Addresses On
Topics Of Interest.


Topics Of Interest.
Houston, Tex, April 1S.-The second
days session of the Trans Mississippi
commercial congress was largely at
tended, the time being taken up mainly
in interesting addresses on various SUBJ
jects.
The Hon. L. Bradford Prince, of New
Mexico, spoke about the admission Of
territories to statehood, saying in part:
'The idea which wish to emphasize
is that in respect to the three terrific
ries of New Mexico, Arizona and Okla
homa-certainly so far as New Mexico
Is concerned-admission to statehood is
not thing to be begged for as a privi-
lege, but should be conceded as right
mo circumstance now exists in rela-
ton to the people of New Mexico which
tustifies their being longer deprived of
their full rights under state govern
ment. Its population is 26O,500, exclu-
sive Of Indians. No territory at the
has contained so many people. The
population is almost exclusively Amer
lean. The foreign element Is smaller
than anywhere in the country. except in
| certain southern states. To many In
/ the east the large number of voters of
Spanish descent is looked upon as a
| misfortune. This Is mistake, for New
Mexico has that conservative element
in connection with the energetic and
enterprising American from the east
which gives to it special advantage as
self-governing community.
"In financial strength it Is amply able
to support state government, and the
sole obstacle to rapid advancement is
the continuous territorial condition"
Mr.. James A. Troutman, Of Kansas
delivered an address entitled "A Gen.
tury of Trans Mississippi Develop
ment."
Mr.. Lyman E. Cooley, Of Chicago
spoke about 1.-THE Lakes and Gulf Wa
terway."
Professor Waterhouse, of St. Louis
delivered an address on "Trade with the
Orient"
Mr.. Elwood Mead, of the United
States department of agriculture, spoke
about the Needs of Irrigation" He
said in part:
'The arid region embraces an area
larger than any European country save
Russia, and is capable Of supporting a
| larger population than now lives east
of the Mississippi river. In this vast
/ made for a population of 100, 900
souls. To effect this result is a task in
feriOr to no other in the realm of states
| manship or social economics. It's pub
| lie lands comprise the nations farm,
and are the chief hope of those who
have little besides industry and self-de-
nial with which to win landed inde-
| pendence. AS it Is now, this land has
but little value. In many places a
township would not support settler
/ and his family. This is not because the
land lacks fertility, but because it lacks
moisture. Where rivers have been turn
| ed from their course the products which
have resulted equal in excellence and
amount those of the most favored dis
| tricts of ample rainfall.
| "Whiie much may be left to the ac-
ton of states committees, there is still
a wide field for national efforts. Only
the nation can legislate as to the pub
lie lands and reform the abuses in con-
nection with the present system Of land
laws. There is strong popular demand
in the west for legislation providing
public aid in the construction of works
of too great magnitude and cost for
private enterprise. There is growing
belief that one of two things should be
done. Either the arid states should be
placed in a position to extend this aid
or the general government should ex-
tend the work it Is now doing in the
reclamation of certain Indian reserva-
tions to the reclamation of the unoccu-
pied public lands.
"Only the national government car
make the best and broadest study OF
the various economic questions related
to the development Of agriculture or
arid lands. The Investigations of thu
office of experiment stations into thu
methods employed in distributing ant
using water, and its efforts to secure
more uniform and efficient water law
are destined to have Untold value II
correcting existing evils and in promot
ing development upon broader lines II
the future. What Is true of the effort
of one branch Of the national govern
ment applies also to the work of tn
geological survey and to other division
Of the department of agriculture. TIL
national government is already activ
along all these lines. and the field of 1t
labors is wide and inviting"
|
Albuquerque Items.
Bryan will have Navajo blankets t
burn. At Albuquerque he was presen
ted with another one by Hon. A. m