Bisbee daily review., 1908-02-06
GARFIELD IN
 REPORT SAYS
 ARIZONA D. K.
Secretary Declares Territory
 To Be In First Class Condi-
 ton With Increasing Popu-
 Iation and Taxable Increase


 WASHINGTON. Feb. 5.-Secretary of the Interior James R. Garfield to- day made his annual report of tae affairs included in his department. Concerning Arizona the report of the secretary is as follows:
 Conditions in the territory are steadily improving. There has been gradual increase in population, which is now estimated at 1S5.00. The fl nancial condition is better than ever before. Taxable property has increas- ed in the last three years from $45,- 000, ,000 to SIT 900, 900. and the rate oi taxation has decreased. There is no difficulty in more than caring for the current expenses of the territory and the retirement of its bonded indebt- edness.
 The organization and the use of the rangers have been most satisfactory in the enforcement ot law and order.
 The annual school census, taken in May. gave 33,167 as the number of children of school age G to 21 years) in the territory. The total number of children's enrolled in the schools was 25,370. This apparently would indi- cate that nearly 5000 children fail to attend school; but it is explained that most pupils finish school at about the age of IS, although they are enumerat- ed in the school census until they are 21. Practically all of the children who attend no school are of Mexican percentage. To remedy the evil of non-attendance at school, the late leg islature enacted law which makes attendance compulsory, under severe penalties Tor parents and guardians. There were 293 school districts, em- ploying 628 teachers; 10S men and SIS women. The average monthly salary paid men teachers was S93.S0; for women it was $71.0S.
 Not only is the mining wealth of the territory developing very rapidly, but the agricultural possibilities have been enormously increased by the de velopment of irrigation projects and the experiments in dry farming
 As regards New Mexico the report contains the following:
 There aas been an almost unprece- dented increase in population during the past year. More than 16,000 homestead filings on over two and one-half million acres were made. It is significant that this increase in the agricultural population is not to any great extent in the river valleys, but is along the mesas, which until re- gently had been given up entirely to grazing. This fact is due to the sue cess of the dry farming method. If this proves an ultimate success, it is estimated that nearly 50,000,000 acres of land in New Mexico will be available for it.
 The population of the territory is now estimated at almost 100000, gain of nearly 100 per cent since 1900.
 The principal new mineral develop ment has been coal. The explored areas cover a million and haT acres. The stock industry next to agriculture is still the main support of the people of the territory. The reclamation ser vice has completed two projects in the lower Pecos valley. In this com ing season the settlers will receive the full benefit of this improvement.
 The Financial condition of the terri tory is excellent.
 III SuuCdliOu, pfOSISsS tS 6pSduy. More than 1000 teachers are employ ed and the total enrolment of scnol-I ars is 5O,000 out of a school popula- tion Of S0,000 children of school age. The territorial institutions of higher learning are better attended than ever before.
 There has been some serious diff culty in the disposition by the terri tory of certain lands granted to it by the federal government for education al purposes. It has been necessary to institute proceedings to test the valid ity of transfers involving about Il .000 acres. These suits are now pending in the lower courts.
 It is most gratifying to know that both Arizona and New Menco are now almost entirely free from the lawlessness that obtained few years ago.