Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-09-17

Santa Fe was declared the oldest
city in the United States of America
tRaedekers Guide Book, please copy
a, an enthusiastic meeting held by
members of the chamber of commerce
last night in the Palace of the Govern
ors which has come down the cen
turies to back the claim.
For some time the question of the
"oldest" city has been Of interest tc
Santa Feans when they discussed thelr
city with tourists but in the past few
DAYS the antiquity of Santa Fe has
been of unusual interest because OF
the $4,000 envelopes which were tc
bear the slogan Santa Fe. the Oldest
City in the United States
Some one who had heard of St. Au
gustine's claim to the oldest city
suggested that the slogan be changed
to "second oldest city"-but the mer-
chants who ordered the envelopes said
NAY, nay" After all, what is the use
OF taking &c nd place and telling the
world about it?
So the matter was aired at the meet
ing last night. Colonel Ralph T..
1'witchell historian and lawyer, and
former Governor L. Bradford Prince,
president of the New Mexico Histor'
ical Society, rallied to the support OF
the oldest city" boosters, and de-
clared:
There is no documentary proof
there is any city in the United States
that is OLDER than Santa Fe.'
Sylvanus Griswold Morley, the Har
ward scientist and authority on Cen
trail American history, took different
view and declared that in his opinion
Santa Fe lacks evidence that it is the
oldest European city in the United
States.
Colonel Twitchell replied that it is
mere hair splitting and that there Is
no proof of st. Augustine having
city government prior to Santa Fes
Nothing beyond the fact that the
Spaniards were there" he added.
Judge Prince again arose and said
that Santa Fe is not the Oldest settle
ment nor the oldest town but it Is the
Col. ]. D. Sena, who "rustled"
around getting the orders for the 68,-
900 envelopes, said: 81 am pleased to
get support in my contention that San
ia Fe is the oldest city. Why, gentle
men, here we are tonight occupying a
building built by the Spaniards of the
early days. l say let's not take sec
ond place to anybody. We might as
well cede to Colorado Springs better
climate because that place advertises
it has the finest climate in the world
(Applause.)
Great Publicity.
Attorney General Frank w. Clancy
aroused a burst of applause by stat
ing: 81 understand Santa Fe wants
publicity. Let's provoke controver-
sy on the subject of the city's anti
guilty There is no better way to get
publicity"
The chamber then took vote, over
whelmingly passing the resolution to
put the words Santa Fe, the Oldest
City" on the envelopes.
Health Committee.
The work of the chamber then went
ahead. President H. H. Dorman, pre-.
siding. and Secretary Van Stone at the
secretary's desk. DR.. ]. A. Massie was
called upon for health committee re.
port. He stated that the committee
had studied the health ordinances of
various New Mexico cities and towns
and also of several cities of Colorado.
He said he thought it better to make
report first to the mayor and council.
Publicity Committee.
Col. Bronson NJ. Cutting then read
the report of the publicity committee
which is as follows:
"Your committee on publicity has to
report that satisfactory progress is be-
ing made on the map of Santa Fe. Aft
er careful investigation it has been
practically decided that a better and
more accurate map can be made by
having the copy done here is Santa
Fe by experts who are entirely ia
miliar with the topography. When
finished this copy will be sent to the |
map makers who will make the plates !
and print the maps. This treatment |