Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-11-25

something more than a million acres.
has been determined to be public land
and restored to the public domain.
! Under the act Of congress. June 81,
1898. donating a limited area of the
public lands to the benefit OF the terri
purposes. the United States commits
sion has selected, located and entered
for the benefit of the various institu-
tons, etc, S20.026.5S acres, including
~79,693.25 acres acres of saline lands.
This act of congress also appropriated
$4,000 acres each to the following insti-
buttons which have not yet been es-
tablished, viz, the miners hospital, in
stitute for the blind and the reform
school. 1t will devolve upon the next
legislative assembly to pass necessary
laws establishing and locating these
meritorious public institutions.
1t was tardy justice, the governor
says, which brought New Mexico this
small concession Of the public domain,
which is as nothing when compared
with the vast area of government
lands within the territory, and in view
Of present needs for utilizing every
possible available resource for advanc-
ing the territory's educational develop
ment, he urges that an additional grant
IF public land be made to New Mexico.
There are more than $4,000, 900 acres
Of the public domain within the Dor
ders of this territory and the area has
been largely increased of late years
through the operations of the United
States court of private land claims.
In view of the large area ~reverting
to the public domain by reason of the
adjustment of titles by the land court,
it is also recommended that the gov
ornment provide some means for hav-
ing this class of public lands immedi-
ately surveyed and subdivided, to the
end that the school sections therein
shall be available at 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.
Coincident with the development of
the industrial affairs in the territory,
the governor states that great advance
ment has been made along educational
lines. He states that before 1850 New
Mexico had been an outlying province
In the Kingdom of Spain and the Re-
public of Mexico, neglected and IN
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 a century with saw
age Indians within her borders. Nat
urally the cause of popular education
suffered much, being entirely suspend
ed, at times, in all save a few of the
more populous communities. But af-
ter repeated appeals, covering a period
of more than forty years, congress, in
1898, passed a. act donating to the ter
ritory lands for various public institu-
tions, and sections 16 and 33 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 ar excellent
system of public school laws, support
ed by a heavier direct tax than was
ever laid in any state or territory for
| 4 no nIIrnnCn viz 2 nil1c ON fhn 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, 1856, or 1876 per cent. Enroll
ment of pupils in all schools, AZ, 1926;
average daily attendance, 1885. Mum.
Ter of schools, 726; teachers EMPLOYED
l,046. Number of higher territorial in
situations. Z; cit high schools, Z; kim
dergartens. 4; private schools, 6. The
average number of months taught in
ali schools, 1875. Total salary paid
teachers, SAP, 340.2S; annual receipts
1888 ,O1S.70; annual expenditures. s723..
OiS.32; total value of school property,
s. ,O71, 702.25. Enrolment of public
schools proper: Year 1899, 21,76l;
1900, 1,5l0; 1901, 1921; in city
schools, 7,243; in rural schools, 1884;
In higher territorial institutions. 9O7.
Expended in Improvements on public
school property during the year $242,.
$3.50. Average monthly salaries paid
teachers in higher institutions, $103. sc
Average annual cost of educating pu.
pills in higher educational institutions.
$l59.66.
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
IitOry is a great factor in this resnact