Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-31

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50. However, grazing lands and i'm
provements thereon are assessed at
SIS. S92, 03O.75 and adding thereto horses
valued at $9o3,034; mules s102,627;
goats $194.442, and swine $16,187; and
II will be seen that outside OF per.
sonal and other property owned by
the grazing interests, the latter pay
one.third Of the taxes of the territory
AMI together with the railroads al
most one-haif Of the taxes. Az far
az tax paying III concerned, the mining
industry cuts very little figure In New
Mexico. for mines, their improve
ments, mills and product are assess
ed at only $s03.593. Yet, according to
stock quotations at the Boston mine
exchange this week, one mine In San.
Ia Fe county alone has a market value
of half a million dollars although San.
Ia 10 county returns less than $780,
900 as representing the value Of It's
mines, their surface improvements,
mixs and mine product. In 1900 al
ready,the sensu which rather underes.
mated than oyerestimated the wealth
of New Mexico. declared that the farm
values Of New Mexico In that year
were over $55. 000, 900. The assess-
ment for 1908 declares that the value
Of agricultural lands and improve
ments In New Mexico Is less than
one-tenth OF that or $~5,183,918. All
the reservoirs In New Mexico are
valued at only $11.s20 and the lrri-
eating bitches at $17,3ls. Burros are
valued at 1876; carriages and wag-
ons at $3l7.607; sewing machines
$4,000; saddles and harness $4,000;
and merchandise at $2,032,026. Ac-
cording to the assessor only $13,067
Is invested In manufacturing by New
Mexico people, while almost
times as much, or over $88 5000 Is In
vested In farm implements. Saloon
and Office fixtures In the territory are
valued at $l2f,00O; and the amount Of
cash on hand III $236.2 O5 or about
SO cents per person.
People manage TO worry along with
$4,000 worth Of books, less than 15
cents worth a piece; and $27, 600 worth
OF watches and clocks. which would
give every one q nine cent watch or
clock. Gold and silver plate In the
territory Is worth only s5,Gl3 which
Indicates that every bit Of It Is only
plated war In jewelry the terri.
tory manages 10 scratch together only
$22, 000, which seems to Indicate that
New Mexico women do not poster their
husbands very much for diamonds ana
other precious stones. However, even
though the territory Is shy on jewelry
and silver and gold plate, It has In
vested $4,000 In pianos. organs and
other musical instruments including
those OF the Capital city band. New
Mexico people manage 10 get along
win very little household furniture,
less than 50 per person or about $40
worth for the average family, the total
being $4,000. There Is only $19i
worth OF wheat In tho territory which
seems to Indicate starvation this win
ter. or corn and barely the assessors
found $2.526 worth and OF hay 1891
worth. which might be conveniently
stored In one of Santa Fe's ware.
houses. There was only $1,000 worth
Of wool held In New Mexico when tho
assessor made the rounds and $166
worth OF coal which shows that Santa
Fe isn't the only town that vas out
Of coal ut the time.
When II comes to Analysing the re-
turns from the different counties. the
uaotsSnhtnt Ioii uhuhts tIH uoIt M
tonlshing revelations. not OF the
wealth but Of the poverty OF New Mex
leo people. While Colfax county uses
over 100000 worth 81 furniture. Bern
alillo county with the rich city OF
Albuquerque and twice the population.
worries along with $4,000 worth or
about 81 per person. How bare most
OF the homes In Albuquerque must
look. The irrigation bitches ana res.
cryoirs IN Bernalillo county arn't
worth a ccnt according 10 the :
ment returns while those Of Otcro
county are worth $4,000 or more than
those OF any other county In the terri.
tory. Poor Santa Fe county owns
$4,000 worth OF notes and book ac-
counts. more than any other county.
while Chaves comes second with s37,.
900 B~crnaliIlo county only owns SIS.
900 worth Of that kind Of wealth. All.
though Albuquerque and B~ernaliilo
county exhibit great pride in their