Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-11-29
Territory Of New Mexico
Governor Otero's Report.

end that the school sections therein
shall be available Mt once for leasing
purposes under the law above referred
to, thus greatly enhancing the bene-
fits derived by the public schools of
New Mexico through this COMPRESSION.
al donation. At the present time a
great many applications for the lease
OF such school sections can not be TAX.
en- up by the land commissioner be.
cause these former grants have not
been surveyed and subdivided.
Coircidcnt with the development of
the industrial affairs In the territory,
the governor states that great advance
inent has been made along educational
lines. He states that before 1850 New
Mexico had been an outlying province
ir the Kingdom of Spain and the Re-
public W Mexico, neglected and I'M
cared for by either government, com.
PEELED to depend upon herself and her
own resources, to contend against the
arid climate. while at the same time
carrying on war continuously for more
than a quarter of century with saw
age Indians within her borders. Nat
urally the cause of popular education
suffered much. being entirely suspend.
ed, ut times. in all save a few OF the
more populous communities. But az.
ter repeated appeals, covering period
OF more than forty years. congress. in
1898. passed an act donating II the ter.
ritory lands for various public inst.tu.
lions. and sections 16 and S3 for the
benefit OF the public schools. Long
prior to that. however. the people had
taken the subject In hand and by legis-
lative enactment provided an excellent
system of public gchool laws. support
ed by heavier direct tax than was
ever laid in any state or territory for
the purpose, viz, 3 mills on the dollar.
These laws have been materially i'm
proved from time to time. until now
New Mexico has an educational system
that appeals to the pride Of every citi-
zen.
Briefly summarized. the school stat
istics are as follows: School popula-
ton, 62.S64; increase over previous
year. 1855. or 1876 per cent. Enroll.
ment OF pupils in all schools, 42,s25;
average daily attendance, 1885. Num-
Der OF schools, 1875; teachers employed,
046. Number Of higher territorial in.
stitutions. q cit high schools. Z; kin
dergartens. 4; private schools, 6. The
average number of months taught In
N unhnnlc AL n
teachers. $412.340.2S; annual receipts
$S3S.01S.70: annual expenditures, &723. ;.
0is.32; total value OF school property
$2071.702.25 Enrolment OF public
schools proper: Year 1899, 21.761 !;
1900. $3.50; 1901. 1921; In city
schools. 7,243; in rural schools. 1884
in higher territorial institutions, 907.
Expended In improvements on public
school property during the year. $242..
$3.50. Average monthly salaries paid
teachers In higher institutions, sos. Sc
Average annual cost of educating pu.
pills In higher educational institutions,
s159.G6.
The general interest among the PEG.
pie in the public schools Is constantly
growing as the good work accomplish
ed by them Is seen and appreciated.
| The educational association OF the ter.
ritory Is a great factor in this respect.
In his report to the governor, the
superintendent Of public instruction
asserts that New Mexico is now rails.
ing by direct taxation OF her people
more money per capita for educational
purposes than any state in the Union,
and II Ia claimed that the ratio of hit.
eracy has been steadily reduced dur
ing the past few years until now less
than IS per cent OF the population are
unable to read or write. and so per
cent OF the people now speak the Eng
llsb language.
During the past two years charters
for many new railroad corporations
have been fled with the territorial sec,
rotary. the capitalization OF which
amounts In the aggregate to $s2,3s6,
500. Charters filed during the past
year call for the construction OF S34
miles of new road and actual construc.
ton work IL now In progress upon
more than one half of this new mile
age. The total railway mileage of New
Mexico Is now more than 5000 miles
with every indication that II will
amount to nearly 1000 miles before
the close of another year.
Following the lines Of this railroad
development in particular, a healthy
flow Of immigration has poured into
the territory during the past year
composed largely OF residents of the
central western and northern states
In search Of new homes. and of mining
men from the colder regions Of the
north. As a result many new towns
have sprung into life. and new mining
camps established which are growing
at q healthy rate and will serve to add
very materially to the taxable proper
ty OF the territory.
The improved systems OF irrigation