Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-05
About s3e, 1000, GOO Taxable Property.

About $50, 100000 Taxable Property.
The only fair way to judge of the wealth
and resources of a territory like this is by
examining its tax list, and unfortunately
that of New Mexico does not corroborate
the sanguine statements of Gov. Otero and
the printed pamphlets of the immigration
society. 1t may be suggested that the peo-
pie have not made honest returns, but, If
that is the case. they have no right to COM
plain. The tax lists show total of $780,
23I2S of property subject to taXation-a
falling off of about 100000 from the pre-
vious year. The total loss in items is So
4S4,02S, and the total gain SO, 1S4, 316. The
gain is in railroad property, city lots, bank
ing capital and the increase of mineral and
timber lands almost exclusively. The loss
is in the value of agricultural lands and in
the number of cattle and sheep. Everybody
will tell you that the live stock of New
Mexico is decreasing very rapidly in num-
bers and value. The tax returns show .---,.
1t is so, for the value of the cattle fell off
half a million and the value of the sheep
a quarter of a million during the past year
The manufacturing development of the ter
ritory is also a subject of boast, but the
tax returns show a large falling off in that
particular. also. There was a reduction in
the number of carriages and wagons sad
dies and harness. horses and mules, watch
and clocks books. gold and silver plate
tools and other property. Indeed, the re-
turns of the tax assessors show prog
ress in wealth. On the contrary, If they
are to be relied upon. New Mexico Is going
backward or Is at least at standstill.
The revenue of the territorial ground for
1901 $685. 1888; for 1902 1t was $685., 1928
for 1903 1t was $419, 462. 1 have not been
able to get any later figures. The tax rate
for 1901 was 14.28 mills per one dollar; for
1902 it was 1900 mills: for 1903 1t was 1851
mills: for 1904 1t was IA mills. The bonded
Indebtedness of the territory on June 80,
1904. was 81 ,0e2. 800. and the sinking fund
amounts to sos, 165.
The mineral product Of the state for 1903
was valued at 81 .4S9O16. 1 have been I'M
able to get any later figures. This total was
made up of the following items
Gold. Observation-Disclosures. 1884, 6S5
SILVER. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1860
copper. ...................... S6O, I31
Lead. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 94.936
The output of coal amounted to 1.359. $50
tons, and 1883 tons of coke were reported.
Titles to Old Land Grants.
Gov. Otero in answer to a question, said:
II am glad to say that the titles to the old
Mexican and Spanish land grants have all
been fully settled in a satisfactory manner
by the United States court of private land
claims, which was created by an act of
Congress in 1891. On June is, 1904, the
court went out Of existence, having investi-
gated the claims to ownership of over 49,
100000 acres of land and having confirmed
the titles to about 100000 acres. The re-
mainder of the claims were rejected as I'M
sound.
III man wanted to settle In the territory
how would he go to work to get a piece Of
land2" asked.
1.-THE citizen Of the United States who
wants to come to New Mexico to settle can
either purchase land now held under private
title or secure a homestead or desert land
entry under the land laws of the United
States, If he is entitled to do So" said Gov.
Otero. ''The 100000 acres of government
land remaining is what might be called