Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-12-14
ROSWELL
PROGRESS
Views of One of the Oldest Set.
tiers Of ths Pecos
Valley.
CONDITIONS
PROSPEROUS
Changes in Revenue Laws Timely
Judge Pope Respected and
Liked.

Mark Howell, treasurer and ex-Off1clO
collector of Chaves County, who was
in the city yesterday from Roswell, Is
one of the oldest residents of that,
enterprising city; he went overland
from Las Vegas q years ago, before
railroad to the Pecos Valley was even
thought a possibility. He saw the pos
sibilities of that section early in it's
history as an agricultural and horti-
cultural center and time has borne wit
ness that he showed good judgment in
settling in that region of the Territory.
When he went to Roswell, there were
seven houses located On its site and
three apple orchards in the immediate
vicinity; now Roswell is thriving city
of five thousand souls and its orchards
have become famous throughout the
United States.
During the past ten years Mr.. How
ell has been in positions that kept him
close to the finances of the county, and
he has some excellent ideas as to tax
reforms and revenue matters. To a
New Mexican reporter he said: There
is a great necessity for legislation in
New Mexico that will relieve the tax
payer. Especially is this the case in
civil suits, in which believe that the
litigants, instead of the taxpayers,
should pay the costs Of suits. Legis-
lation should be provided by which
the plaintiff in a contemplated suit, be
required to give a good and sufficient
bond, from the time of bringing suit.
so that in the event Of losing the same,
the county would be secured.
'In criminal matters the laws Of the
Territory are lax. Very often juries
have been empaneled and are ready
for the trial of the cases, when the at
toineys come along and secure contin-
uances, thus causing the county to lose
the expenses incurred in the securing
of juries and the attendance Of witness
es. In our recent session of court
Judge William H. Pope showed that
he had been striving to economic In
court expenses but in many instances
was handicapped by existing improper
legislation. The Judge Is we'll liked
and respected, tries hard to expedite
matters and perform the duties of his
Office in manner that is just to the
people.
Another reform that would be bene-
fetal to the taxpayers could be brought
about by the legislature, notably in
having the tax on personal property
of owners of real property, placed as
lien on the real estate; and that per-
sonal property taxes be collected at
the time the property is assessed.
Large sums in the aggregate are lost
annually by persons removing their
property from the Territory to evade
payment of taxes, and thus, the man
who does pay, has more to pay.
1T would be great thing for Ros-
well and the Valley if the extension OF
the Santa Fe Central to that city would
materialize and the people of our city
are hopeful that it may occur in the
near future. One of the greatest ad-
vantages to be brought to Roswell by
the road would be to bring coal into
the city from the Hagan coal fields,
which would be done at greatly re-
duced rate than is being paid now and
with cheap coal, manufacturing indus
tries would be attracted to Roswell
and vicinity. The Territorial capital
would be brought into closer communi-
cation with the Pecos Valley and there
are thousands of other advantages,
which would accrue.
when I first came to Roswell,
drove overland from Las Vegas, about
200 miles. Pecos City, 100 miles south
was the nearest railroad point. In
1894 the Pecos Valley road was COM
pleted from Pecos City to Roswell, and
five years later, the road was extended
to Amarillo, Texas. The growth OF
the city from that time Is well known.
Recently, we had some oil excite
ment, that useful liquid being struck
about IL miles northeast of Roswell.
There was q great scramble for land
in that section, but the excitement
has died down somewhat. There Is oil
there, but it is opposition as to wheth-
er it can be secured in paying guam
titles.
"The artesian belt still continues to
increase and all of the old wells keep
up their flow apparently unmolested
by other borings. The indications are
that the Pecos Valley will enjoy q
prosperous year as the ranges are in
excellent condition, as are cattle and
sheep. A great quantity of fruit was