Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-06-28
display Only Second tolThat Of
Colorado Among Westera
States
REVELATION TO
EASTERNERS
Splendid Educational Exhibit
Great Diversity Of Mineral
and Agricultural Pro-
ducts.

Following is the best write-up vet
seen Of the New Mexico exhibit at
st. Louis. It appears in yesterdays 4
Denver News, accompanied by a
good photo Of Governor s1tero:
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, June 27.--Next to
Colorado, the greatest western exhibit
at the worlds fair is carried by New
Mexico, and the display from that ter.
ritory Is attracting the attention Of
the eastern world. In the matter OF
education the display is surprising, as
the average resident Of the country
east Of the Missouri river thinks the
southern territories are unfit for state
hood, owing to their. deplorable ig-
norarce. Under these conditions 1t Is
surprising to read that New Mexico
spends more per capita for state in
stitutions than any Of the more thick
" and better situated states. The
entire display Is likely to lead q some
startling, IL not revolutionary, changes
in popular continent that will re-
dound 10 the credit of the territory
south Of Colorado. Much Of the
credit Of the display Is due to Gov
ernor .Otero, who has been indefatig-
able in his desire to obliterate some
Of the false ideas concerning New
Mexico that had been incorporated
in many of the class books OF eastern
states.
To begin with, New Mexico's ex-
hibit shows a carefully graded course
OF instruction in the kindergarten,
through the grades. high schools and
colleges. The kindergarten work is
excellent. The paper folding. paper
cutting, raffia, weaving, original de-
sign in color and sloya carpentry, as
adapted to- the. grades, rank favor
ably with other schools. The chalk
modelled relief maps are attracting
much attention for their beauty and
practical value. A collection Of bird
skins made by pupils to illustrate the
birds of New Mexico is instructive.
The exhibits from the territorial
institutions for higher education are
along the same lines as that shown by
other state schools. New Mexico has
a splendid school system, the teachers
employed in the city schools, hignI
schools, normal schools and colleges
being graduates of the best schools
in the land. The exhibit is credit
and well worth seeing and illustrates
the efficiency Of the schools The
territory maintains at public. expense
a greater number of institutions for
higher education than any Of the
states, besides number Of denomina.
tional schools.
The educational facilities in all the
departments are of the very best,
The Mineral Exhibit.
One OF the interesting ffeatures OK
the mineral exhibit from New Mexico
q the great diversity Of products
shown.
Nearly every important product OF
the mines, from coal TO precious
stones, are obtained within the bord-
ers Of that territory, specimnes q
which are attractively exhibited at
the mineral palace.
The mineral resources of New Mex.
leo from q most important basis for
her present and future wealth.
1rTlie extensive coal and iron de-
,nosits along the lines Of the Santa Fe
Central. A., r. & s. F., and Rock Isl.
Ina Railways would supply the United
states with these important products
Cor many years. Mammoth blocks OF
coal and iron from these regions are
shown at the fair. together with sui
phur salt. mineral paints, mica, aoes-
tos. building stone, marble. onyx, cop
per lead. zinc and gold and silver
ores Of endless variety and ccmbina'
tions.
The many forms Of copper are par.
ticularly interesting, including large
sheets OF pure metallic copper, as well
as the various beautifully cobred-
specimens of the copper ores. known
'ft
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