Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-02-11
HISTORICAL SOC|ET\'S FIRST MEETING
IS A SATISFACTORY SUCCESS
A Thoughtful Audience Hears Several
Interesting Discourses on His.
torical Matters

over Sucn ideas, said the Professor.
IF could have my way, the history
.of the United States as taught in the
public schools would begin with the
early history Of the Southwest, par.
tcularly that of New Mexico, instead
Of beginning with the landing of the
English at Plymouth Rock. And pre-
dict that the near future will see the
first chapter of United States history
based upon the valuable documents
resting in the archives of the Historical
Society of New Mexico Professor
Tight then placed himself on public
record as being absolutely in favor
OF the establishment of an archaeol.
osical school here at Santa Fe and
he strepuoisly denied all rumors tnat
ne was in any way opposed to the
proposition. However, he greatly de-
plored the fact that certain amend.
monts, thoroughly undesirable, had
been added to the Archaeological bill
as it passed the House, and he trusted
that these undesirable features of the
Dill would be eradicated in time. Said
he: We should all be for New Mex
lco, first. last and all the time, and
Just because one place is more desir.
ably and logically situated as a head.
quarters for an institution that will
unquestlonably rebound to the bene
tit OF the entire territory, there is no
good reason to arouse any feeling of
sectlonalism. We should all pull to.
gether for the Territory" He then
called attention to the ruthless man.
ner in which New Mexico has been
and is still being pillaged of historic
treasures and also of its historical
documents. This must stop, and W,
are the ones to get together and stop
It, he said He referred to the so.
called borrowing" upon the part of
the United States government. of the
archives of the Historical Society.
with promise to return in one wear
year the greater part of the docu-
ments, and the balance within five
years "Hhese valuable historical
documents have never been returned
and it is high time that we insist"
declared Professor Tight. He then Of
Tered a resolution calling upon the
governor and the legislature. to use
every means at their command to
bring about restoration of the arch.
Ives to the Historical Society. The
resolution was unanimously passed
The next feature of the evenings
program was to have been a lecture
by Ex-Governor L. Bradford Prince ON
The Preservation of Historical Ruins
and Records Owing to the lateness
or the hour, the speaker stated that
he would not make lengthy talk but
would seek to be as brief as possible
he called attention to the state of
the various ruins and historic land.
marks in and around Santa Fe. These
he said were being destroyed and
mutllated because of lack of care all
OF which small expenditure of money
might easily prevent. He mentioned
the Abo, Gran Quivira, the Garita, the
monument on the Plaza and the Cath
ollc church at Acoma. Ex-Governor
Prince plainly indicated how deeply
he felt regarding the timely preser-
vation of these historical places. He
was thoroughly convincing in his elo-
quence. In closing he stated that he
hoped that New Mexico like many of
the states, would soon have Society
organized for the preservation of the
historical properties of the Territory.
The following resolution was then
offered by Professor Tight, seconded
by Representative James Mullins of
Roswell, and unanimously adopted:
Resolved That the Historical So
ciety of New Mexico protests against
any mutilation of the Soldiers monu-
ment erected in the Plaza of Santa Fe;
that being historic structure erect
ed by direct action of the Legislatures
OF 1866 and 1857, under charge of the
Chief Justice, Territorial Secretary
and Territorial Treasurer, and intend
ed as lasting memorial of the loyal.
ty of the people of New Mexico and
an expression of their patriotism and
gratitude to their defenders