Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-12-15
Presented to Peop|s of Roose-
welt County by Justice Pope
at First Judicial Session.
IN new COURT HOUSE
Impressive Ceremony Attended by
Many Citizens. Addresses by
Presiding Judge and v. {.
Lindsey.

| The first term OF the District Court
for the new county if Roosevelt was
provided by law to be begun on the
third Monday in October. That day
conflicting with the beginning of the
October term of the District Court in
Chaves County, the two counties being
in the same judicial district, the court
| for Roosevelt County was convened,
and adjourned until the second Mon
day in December, the 18th.
On that day the court convened at
Portales, a comparatively new town
on the line of the Pecos Valley and
Northeastern Railway, 80 miles north
of Roswell.
The county commissioners having
accepted from the contractors on De-
cember first very handsome and con-
veniently arranged court house. De-
cember 18th, 1904, will go down in the
history of Roosevelt County as the day
of the dedication of it's first court
house, as well as the date of the in
auguration of a judicial system At 4
o'clock in the afternoon on that day,
the grand jury and many citizens, in
cluding a number of ladies, being pres
ent in open court, the following pro-
ceedings were had:
The Court: Mr.. Chairman of the
Board of County Commissioners, and
Citizens of the County of Roosevelt:
Some months ago, while at Santa Fe,
received a letter from one of your
citizens, informing me of the approach
ing completion of your new court
house 1t then occurred to me that 1t
would be entirely appropriate to Sc.
cure, il possible, token from the
President for presentation to the coun-
ty. which bears his name, upon this,
the first day of the occupancy of this
building for judicial purposes. Ac.
cordingly the following letter was ad.
dressed to the Secretary to the Presi.
dent:
COURT OF NEW MEXICO.
Santa Fe, N. NJ, June 14th, 1904.
The Secretary to the President, the
White House, Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir-The last session of the leg
islature of New Mexico created the
county of Roosevelt. 1t comprises
number of very prosperous communi-
ties in the eastern part of this Terri
tory and is in the judicial district over
which l preside. The people of the
write me that their handsome
court house will be completed next
and l am desirous that upon
the occasion of it's dedication there
shall be placed in it's court room
framed photograph of the President,
whose name the county bears, endors-
ed with his autograph. The purpose
Of this letter is to ascertain first,
whether the President would for such
4 purpose be willing to endorse his
signature upon a photograph to be
sent him; and if so, second. what Is
considered his best photograph for pur.
poses such as this, and from what pho.
may it be obtained? The
purpose of this last inquiry is, of
course, in order that may secure one
to be sent for his endorsement.
I am aware in writing this letter
that the President has probably found
it necessary to decline similar requests
in the past; but the facts constituting
the basis for the request seem to be
10 exceptional, and the appreciation
following his granting it will be so
general and sincere, that feel that
I'm not asking too much in addressing
,ou this letter.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM H. POPE,
Associate Justice, Etc
Upon June 21st, letter was written,
Untitled as follows:
WHITE HOUSE.
Washington, June 21, 1904.
My Dear Sir-In response to your
etter of the 14th instant, have pleas.
ire in sending you, with the Presi-
ent's compliments, the accompanying
photograph upon which he has placed
n autograph inscription.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM LOEB, Jr.,
Secretary to the President.
Ion. William H. Pope,
Associate Justice
Supreme Court of New Mexico.
Thus showing as you have already
oticed, that instead of employing
18th my request to have indicated
hat photographer would furnish the
est photograph, the President prompt
:, through his private secretary, for
'arded such photograph, suitably en-
orsed with his signature.
CONTINUED on Page rhrse)