Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-11-23

lofO, lne territory renamed uuuer lHe
domination of Spain and later Mexico.
Governor Otero touched graphically up
on the heroism of the Conquistadores
and dwelt upon the noble efforts OF the
devoted Fiars on behalf of civilization
and Christianity. Continuing, he point
ed out that New Mexico owes much to
Missouri. It's present laws are modelled
and copied from the Missouri Code and
it was Willis P. Hall, later an honored
member of Congress from Missouri,
who did most of the work of compiling
the Kearny Code. AS General kearny
reported to President Polk, it was Gen
eral Doniphan's command that accom-
plished the peaceful conquest OF Ne"
Mexico, and General Doniphan was
Missourian. Later the ties that bound
New Mexico to Missouri, grew even
stronger. All business of the South
west that poured over the historic
Santa Fe Trail wended it's way from
Missouri, particularly st. Louis, and
many of New Mexico's foremost sons
were educated in the metropolis OF that
state. After telling in detail OF the in
innate commercial, social and other
ties that linked both commemorative
in those early pioneer days, Governor
Otero said that it is not SO much OF
past history that he desired to speak
as the present progress and achieve
ments of the Territory. It's education.
al advancement, it's industrial growth
it's wonderful resources, it's excellent
laws, it's perfect climate and it's ener-
getic people, were each in turn dilated
upon. The fact that it's farm products
in ten years increased in value from
$4,000, 900 to 10,000,000; that it's mines
have thus far produced S1S,OO0,OOO IN
gold alone; that its prospected coal
fields cover ten thousand square miles
upon which ten billion tons OF coal are
in sight and accessible; that it's public
domain includes over 5O,0OO,0OO acres
and that in the past four years almost
three million acres were taken up un-
der the homestead and desert land acts,
was emphasized. He spoke OF the
wealth concentrated in New Mexico's
stock interests, it's six million sheep,
it's million and a quarter of cattle, many
of them high grades, it's thousands OF
goats and horses. Nor did he omit to
mention that New Mexico maintains
score of Territorial institutions; that
it pays annually over three-quarter mil
lion dollars for educational purposes
and that the value of it's public prop
erty outside of land holdings is $4,000
900, or one-twentieth of it's assessed
valuation. The excellent financial con-
dition of the Territory and the further
facts that it pays it's bills, dollar for
dollar; that it is reducing it's compar.
atively small bonded Indebtedness year
by year; that its thirty banks are
fourishing; that in the past four years
| $50 companies incorporated with a
capitalization of $500, 100000 to do bus
mess in New Mexico. were used as ar.
guments to demonstrate the Territory s
fitness and readiness to assume the re-
sponsibilities of state government
Governor Otero concluded with oil
rect appeal to the states of the Louis
lana Purchase to assist the Territory to
attain the dignity of a state as there is
no sound reason why after it's long and
patient probation and after repeated
demonstrations of it's loyalty, it's pat
riotism, it's fitness, it's anxiety for the
boon, it's financial and intellectual abil'
ity to manage it's own political affairs,
it should not be admitted with its pres
ent boundaries intact and under Its
present name, as one of the sisterhood
of states, commonwealth of which its
neighbors have every reason to be
proud.
Those who heard the address highly
complimented Governor Otero upon it
for it was not only fine oratorical ef
fort, but also a cogent historical and
statistical presentation of the facts
which entitle this Territory to recog
milton and assure it's growth, stability
and prosperity in the future.
Judge John R. McFie was the orator
of the day and made a splendid oratior
dwelling in detail upon many OF the
points that had been touched on by
Governor Otero. He pointed with justl
fable pride to New Mexico's education
al advancement as manifested by its
public school system, and to the eqult
able and swift enforcement OF the laws
He praised the native people of the
Territory as exemplary citizens, more
American, in fact and spirit, thar
many of the citizens of other common
wealths. He testified that the native
juries are the soul of conscientiousnes'
and that no better juries can be fount
anywhere He spoke of the excellen
financial standing of the Territory, it,
limitless resources, it's railroad line
and it's irrigation enterprises and thei
significance for the further develop
ment of the southwest. He predicted
a glorious and prosperous future TO
the coming Sunshine State. Wells Elk
position Band, the finest on the ground
rendered choice selections during th'
ceremonies.