Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-06-29
LINCOLN COUNTY
IS FOR JO|NTURE
G. B. Barber Says
People Want
Statehood.
GIVES MANY SOUND REASONS
Declares There Are Several
Advantages in Con.
solidation.

Judging from the expressions
which | have heard since the passage
OF the joint statehood bill, | can say
with considerable knowledge that Lin.
coin County Is strong for joine state
hood" This was the statement made
by G, B. Barber, one of the most
prominent and successful lawyers of
that county, who Is in the city on legal
business before the Supreme Court.
Il have been observing the attitude
of the people, and | would estimate
that eight out of every ten are in fa-
vor of the statehood bill as it now
stands. Personally, | am for it first,
last and all the time. 1t is my candid
opinion that, taken as a whole, joint
statehood will be really better for the
Territory than single, Comparing the
two, / find that | can advance more
good, substantial arguments in favor
of New Mexico coming into the Union
with Arizona than coming in alone.
Wants Statehood.
When I think of our Territory be-
coming a state, | forget all sentimen.
talities and try to decide what will be
the best thing for the people. Those
who oppose coming in with Arizona
say that even the name New Mexico
will be lost and predict the same fate
to our traditions. These things I do
not think ought to stand In the way
Of our becoming a state when on the
other hand there Is so much to be
gained.
Il have been resident of the Ter
ritory for thirty years and have as
much sentiment as anybody, but that
does not hinder my taking a liberal
view of the statehood proposition.
Perhaps the strongest argument In fa-
vor of joint statehood Is the effect
that it will have on the tax rate. On
account of the low valuation, the pres
ent tax rate prohibits capitalists from
investing in the Territory to as great
an extent as they otherwise would.
If Arizona and New Mexico were to
become one state, the valuation would
be greatly increased and the rate Of
taxation would be proportionately de-
creased.
Not Too Large.
"Those who oppose joint statehood
say that New Mexico and Arizona
would make a state which would be
much too large. had occasion to live
in Texas for short time. Many peo.
pie are Of the opinion that Texas is
much too large, but inhabitants of the
state do not agree. found that when
it was suggested to a Texan that his
state was too large and ought to be
! divided into smaller ones, he was al
most ready to fight When asked
why he thinks his-err.se Is not too
large, lie Till poir' s tha many insti-
tutions, gducgx .Ai end otherwise,
which have been e.tabis;led and will
tell you that he does not care 10 part
with single one of them.
"Then too, there are the appropria-
tions which the joint statehood bill
carries with it to be considered. Pub.
lie lands worth s30,00O,0O0 and an ap-
preparation Of s5,O00,0O0 are not to be
considered lightly. This is more than
double, | think, what New Mexico
would receive if 1t were to be admitted
alone. Taking all of these things into
consideration, believe that joint
statehood is the best thing for the Ter.
ritory.
Lincoln County Is prosperous and
the population is increasing slowly
but steadily When left, it was get
ting rather dry, but the fact that we
have had no rain recently has been
the means Of the farmers saving their
first crop of alfalfa, which is quite
an item in our vicinity. And then,
too, it is early for the rainy season,
and 1t is thought that there will be
plenty of rain later.
Much Dry Farming.
Most of our farm lands are irrigat.
ed, but what dry farming was done
last year was successful. A number
Of people are trying 1t again this year,
but as yet we cannot tell what the
results will be.
"In the vicinity of Lincoln, might
say that the stretch of country ex-
tending from Ft. Stanton ,Sanitarium,
six miles above the town to the point
where the Rio Hondo flows into the
Rio Bonito, sixteen miles below, Is one
great farm. Fine crops are raised
there and the people are prospering.
while the farmers do not depend
entirely upon Fort Stanton Sanitarl-
um for market, that institution Is
helping the community wonderfully.
1t purchases large amounts of alfalfa
besides other provisions and to have
a home market Is always beneficial.
Besides alfalfa. our county pro-
duces cereals of all kinds, as we'll as
some of the best fruit In the South
west, Lincoln County is especially
adapted to the raising Of pears and
apples. An apple is being produced
there which is very much similar to
the Rhode Island Greening, so popu'
lar in the East, and when placed on
the market with fruit from the states
1t has more than held its own.
Many Settlers Arrive.
Although there Is no large influx
Of settlers into the county, people are
arriving constantly. In my opinion,
the establishment of the Lincoln for
4 est reserve has kent MANY people from