Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-01-20

by reason of limited and restricted ac-
ton. | commend their whole report to
your earnest consideration.
My attention during the last two
years has been called to the condition
of county collectors accounts with the
territory 1t appears tLat ii has been
the exception, for outgoing collectors,
to close their accounts with the terri
tory, and as a result balances aggre-
eating a very large amount appear in
the Office of the auditor unsettled and
unaccounted for. This is a bad condi-
ton of affairs and should he changed,
and | believe it could he by the crea-
ton of the office of travelling auditor;
as such an official will be able to Sc
cure the returning of assessment rolls
properly and correctly compiled. and
in connection with the territorial
board of equalization, do much to-
ward obtaining full, equitable and just
assessments of all classes of property
throughout the territory, and the plac-
ing of accounts between the territory
and county collectors on a business-like
basis.
To show the %fluctuating character of
the values placed on property for taxa
ton, | call your attention to q com
parison between the rolls of 1901 and
1902. The total assessed valuation for
the territory. subject to tax for the
latter year being s3S, 633, 99S.27, an in
crease over 1901, of S1,656, 945.S3, and
which increase is made up by sixteen
counties making a total gain of 81
325. 938,42, and the remaining FIVE eoun
ties decreasing in assessed valuation
SECS. $500, leaving the net increase as
stated above.
GLASSES showing increase and de-
crease follow.)
Rio Grande River and Tributaries.
There is still pending before con.
gress hat iniquitous measure known
as the Culberson or Stephens bill,
which is intended to deprive u citi-
zens of water flowing in the Rio
Grande and other streams in the terri
tory. for the benefit of certain citizens
of Texas and Old Mexico. The gov
eminent now has a suit pending in the
Third judicial district court of this
territory to prevent the building of a
dam across the Rio Grande at Ele-
plant Butte. The sole foundation of
which suit is that impounding the wa
ters at that point will affect the navi-
cation of the river at a point 1900
miles below. | have caused the terri
tory to apply to the court to be allowed
to intervene in that suit as a defend
ant, on the ground that the 100000
acres of land donated to it by the
United States will be directly affected
by the result of the suit. This petition
for Intervention has not yet been acted
upon, but in case it is allowed, it will
be necessary for the territory to eX-
pend some money in defending its
rights by the procuring of witnesses,
scientific data, ETC., and l would rec
ommend that a reasonable appropria-
ton be made for the purpose of de-
Tending this suit which is founded
upon the theory of the Culberscn or
olSDnChO "a dDONt ItltIItu W anu is
Of such great Importance to our terri
tory.
Rio Mimbres Flood Sufferers.
You are all aware of the terrible
flood on the Mimbres river last Sep
TENDER, which practically destroyed all
improvements, orchards and crops in
that beautiful valley, rendering home
less and destitute about 800 families.
The citizens of Grant county contrib
uted most generously to relieve the
suffering, which has been done tenn
porarily. The disaster was of such
magnitude that l issued a special
proclamation calling upon the differ
ent municipalities and charitable or
CARNATIONS for contributions to relieve
the distress, and | now submit to you
the propriety of making a special con
tribution of money for the relief of the
poor people during the winter.
This was done at the time of the
White Ash Coal Mine disaster in 1895
and | believe no better use could be
made of a portion of the surplus in the
treasury h by appropriating a rea
sonable amount to be expended undel
the direction of the board of count,
commissioners of Grant county to hell
these poor people through the winter
They are nearly all native people
farmers, and wholly dependent upor
their little farms and orchards fol
support, unfamiliar with any Other
means of making a living. and utterly
helpless until they can raise another
crop, and | commend this suggestion
to your most serious consideration.
Game Laws. =
The present game laws of the terri
tory should be amended in many par
ticulars. A fine of $4,000, or tire,
months Imprisonment, or both, shoul,
be imposed on any person or person
killing antelope, elk or mountain shee
in this territory, for a period of tet
years from and after the passage G