Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-08-27

marking the scholastic year of 1906
1907.
A better location for the military
institute of New Mexico would be diff
flcult to find than the site selected
for it on the mesa overlooking the
thriving city Of Roswell. The grounds
enclosed embrace forty acres of land
almost as level as floor, and especial
ly is this true of the athletic fields
and parade grounds. The campus
forms a pretty park with its well kept
lawn, its shubbery and flowers, and
its stately shade trees. The tract of
land the school occupies was donated
eleven years ago by Hon. j. J. Hager-
man, the venerable and publicspirited
father of Governor Herbert ]. Hager-
man.
The New Mexico Military Institute
was established by an act Of the Ter
ritorial legislature in 1888. In 1896
Mr.. Hagerman generously contributed
the land for building site but it
was not until three years later that the
school was finally opened Meanwhile
the Territorial legislature authorized
an annual Territorial tax levy for the
maintenance of the institution, and the
issuance of bonds to the amount of
fifteen thousand dollars for the pur-
pose of erecting the buildings required
Tho bonds VI - sold in due course of
time aud the contract let for the con-
structiOn Of the main building,
The school has grown steadily from
the first year of its existence. and is
regarded as one of the most popular
educational institutions in the south
west. Within year after it was open
ed the original buildings were found
to be inadequate and two more build
ings for cadet quarters were erected
at once. In 1900 a gymnasium was
built and fitted out with apparatus for
the use of the cadets. In 1902 another
barracks building was put up, this lat
ter containing fourteen rooms, all OF
which open IN wide veranda.
In 1898 Congress granted to the in
stitution fifty thousand acres of public
land in the vicinity with which to pay
for permanent improvements by the
sale and rental of this large tract
Money was obtained in this way for
the erection of a commodious mess
hall and modernly equipped private
hospital Since 1895, when the first
tax levy was made, each legislative
assembly has increased the annual ap
preparation for the maintenance of the
school, and thus it will be seen that
finances have not been lacking tC
stimulate its development.
The group of buildings togethe,
with furniture and fixtures have cost
in the neighborhood of $4,000. The
| structures are all substantial and are
models of their kind in architecture
The main barracks are virtually foul
stories in height. There are three regu
lar stories of brick and a basement .oi
gray stone. The building is lighted
throughout with electricity, heated b,
a private steam heating plant, ant
has complete system of water works
the sewerage. The other buildings are
also arranged with an idea of santa
! ton and convenience. The mess hal
and its equipment cost $4,000 The
building was erected two years ago
and is exclusively for the purpose o
subsistence. The dining room is 3,
feet wide and 81 feet long. The of
ficers and instructors make thei
homes at the institute and are reQuii
ed to eat their meals in the mess hal
with the cadets. The table board tha
is provided consists of plenty of goot
wholesome food, and in quantity ant
quality is not excelled by that of an.
other similar school in the country.
The institute is fast becoming ON
of the most successful of its kind.
The latest addition was the erection
of the hospital for the care of the sicl
4 or injured cadets. 1t has a complete
equipment and it's facilities are ample
A physician is employed regularly b
the session to look after the healt
OF the cadets and a professional .lurs
takes care of them when they ar
confined to bed. The hospital building
| is isolated from the others as pre-
caution in case of contagious or In
fectious diseases. The basement G
the main building is fitted out 10
chemical and physical laboratorie
and a spacious room ON the first foo
is devoted to the use of the library
The cadets are kept under militar
discipline as long as they attend tn
school, and ample time Is found afte
| study hours to devote to military TAI
tics In addition to the regular acat