The Washington times., 1910-07-15
NEW MEXICO HAS
ITS RACE PROBLEM
Separate Government Ap-
preciated Because of Pre-
dominance of MeXicans.

SANTA F. y n. July 15-The
wisdom OF the people Of New Mexico in
insisting on separate statehood or a
continuance OF territorial government.
has been proved in more vyays than one.
but the principal need Of individual gov
ernment IS due TO the fact that Of her
10000 residents more than half are OF
Mexican birth or parentage
New Mexico differs from her adio5u-
ing sister State-elect in other radical
features. so that not even Texas or
California are as variant in different
sections as would be New Mexico ans
Arizona under one government
New Mexico has an era OF 1Z453
square miles somewhat larger than
Arizona. aside from the greater area
and population. the physical character
istics o. New Mexico are considered 70
entitle her 10 an individual existence IN
the Union. New Mexico occupies a
lofty plateau which reaches its great
est elevation in the north and west and
slopes TO ths south and 20 the south
east. where lies the western paTt OF the
LIanO Estacado-the stazed Dlain-1o
part OF the plateau being less than 800
feet above sea level The altitude OF
Santa Fs, the capitai. is 6,99s feet. and
OF Albuquerque. the principal CONNER
-
that or Carlsbad is 3I22 feet From the
vast tabIeland both east and west OF
The Rio GTande. rise numerous sierras
and more or less isolated peaks belong
ing 10 the Rock mountain system.
Great Forest Area
Several OF the mountain ranges. par
ticularly those Of the north and IN Lin
coin and western Socorro, Grant, and
Z --rr---
! timber, the most valuable being pine.
( although oak, juniper, cedar. birch. ma
( pie, and other trees are common The
Pecos river. Lincoln. and Gila river
forest areas have been reserved BY the
/ United States Pine and cedar are also
abundant IL the foothills throughout the
/ Territory. while groves Of oak and wal
! nut are found in the semi-arid districts
Z where irrigation has been practiced for
] many years
IN many Of the valleys and mountain
+ ranges are vast fields Of grasses al
I fOTdinE abundant food for large fOCkS
and nerds Bear. deer. mountain Hons
{ wildcat and antelope elk are found n
! the mountains
4 The valley lands are fertile, but as
/ the StaIe-elecI lies within the arid re-
] giou a agriculture is conducted largely
/ through irrigation The irriEszed farms
/ form 74I per cent OF all the land under
d
/ Much Of the water diverted from the
/ streams is wasted by crude methods
/ and as vet no reservoirs for the con
/ servatioE Of storm water have been
/ generally constructed
/ However. the reclamation service OF
! the CfcVe~ limeur has completed iTTiEa-
] ton projects within the borders OF the
( State-ele,st. retaining total Of 0.01J
/ acres The Carlsbad project brought
z0.GJ0 acres into fruitfuiness- the Leas-
! burg project the same amount and
/ the Eondu project reclaimed 1900
/ acres Federal reclamation experts
/ have estimated that the Pec0s river
/ drainage area IS susceptible Of EFrIgs-
I ting I3.cl1.og5 acres Of excellent land. o.
/ 20 per cent more than the aggregate OF
/ farm lands now in the Territory
Agriculture Chief Occupation
While possessing important mineral
resources. New Mexico is pre-eninentlv
an agricultural country. more than
per cent OF the people pursuing gsiufu-
occupations being engaged IN farming
and stock raising The farm land Is
! worth S71.Geo.0C0. according 10 Official
! figures. and the live stock on the farms
has an estimated value Of s15,G5a co..
The crops are worth about 100000 an
nuaIIy and consist Gin the order of
value as uamed) OF forage, corn. wheat
orchard fruits. oats. beans. potatoes
barleT. peas. and onions. The duiud S
on the faSms number about 7,5g1 CO., Of
which IwO-thirds aNe sheep