Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-10-23
THE QUESTION
OF STATEHOOD
Solicitor General E. L. Bartlett Gives
Some Reasons for Admitting
New Mexico.
THE TERRITORY'S PROGRESS
New Mexico's Excellent Public School Sys-
tem-The People Have Given Sufficient
Evidence That They Are Able to
Govern Themselves.

The Kansas City Star devotes owe
a column to an interview with Solici
tor General e. L. Bartlett on the ques
tion of statehood for New Mexico
Among other things, General Bartlett
said:
There cannot be urged any valit
objections to the admission of the ter
ritory as state. 1t has a population
of over 100000, the great majority O
the people being native born. IL ha
taxable value of 100000 900, which
ought to be returned for at least thre,
times that amount and will be tn,
coming year. The public school sys
tenn is modelled on that of Kansas
There is compulsory general three
mill territorial levy for school pur.
poses, while school districts may levy
| in addition such taxes as they deem
necessary for the erection of build
ings and other school purposes. The
result of the school system is showr
by the last census in the very largely
decreased proportion of illiterate per.
sons. One of the very best arguments
in favor of the capacity of the people
is shown in the fact that while the
legislature has complete power to pass
laws on any rightful subject of legis-
lation, subject only to the disapprov-
al of congress, during the fifty years
in which New Mexico has been legis-
'ating, only three acts have been dis
approved by congress. 1t is very doubt
full if any other western state could
stand such a test, if it's acts were sub
jected to the scrutiny and disapproval
Of congress. The territorial debt is
only a little over $1,000,000, bearing an
average rate of per cent interest
This debt was created entirely for pub
lie institutions and for providing the
necessary buildings and equipments.
The territory has very fine new cap
itol building, a penitentiary and deaf
and dumb asylum at Santa Fe; large
and well equipped university at Albu-
querque; a school of mines at Socorro,
modern in every respect and we'll
equipped; large and fourishing nor
NAL school at Silver City and another
at Las Vegas. There, also, is located
very large and modern insane asy-
lum. At Las Cruces is the agricultur-
al college and at Roswell, in the Pc
cos valley, is very fine and flourish
ing military institute. All these insti-
tutions are new and fitted with the
most modern aEpliances, while in ad-
10, ir1, al hat pnf
vet in operation, blind asylum, a
miners hospital and a reform school,"
SHEEP AND WOOL THE CHIEF
PRODUCTS.
Mr.. Bartlett talked for some time Of
the great resources of the territory of
New Mexico. He spoke with pride of
the fact that New Mexico is the third
producer of sheep and wool in the Uni
ted States, and this is one of it's chief
although, he said, there are
a great many cattle ranges in differ
ent parts of the territory and a large
number of cattle are shipped annual
ly, most of them coming to the Kan
sas City market. There is a great deal
Of agriculture and fruit raising in the
territory particularly in the valleys of
the Rio Grande, Pecos and San Juan
rivers. A number of large irrigation
are now under way, which
will reclaim and make productive vast
areas of land that are now called arid
and only fit for grazing. The produc-
ton of coal, both hard and soft, is an
other great industry, it being shipped
to California and as far east as Kan
sas City. The gold and silver mines
are now being developed and a num-
ber of new smelters and plants for
the treatment of ores, particularly of
copper, are being erected. The Rock
Island railroad is now building at the
rate of mile day through the CEN
traf and southwest portion of the
territory, to a connection at Ell Paso.
To meet this branch is being con-
from Santa Fe, 116 miles in
length, which will connect the Denver
& Rio Grande, which has it's present
terminus at Santa Fe with the Rock
Island system.
KANSAS CITY ITS NATURAL MAR
KET.
although the prospects are brighter
for the territory than at any previous
time" said Mr.. Bartlett, "it is bound
to take great strides forward, even if
continued under territorial govern
ment. But if admitted as state
there will be an immediate influx of
wealth and population, which has
been the case in every other instance.
Kansas City is directly interested in
the growth of New Mexico. 1t Is the
natural market and she already does
a very large business with the terri
tory, which would increase in the same
proportion as New Mexico grows"
VIII Suppress the 1nsurrection.