The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-01-28

for 1915 and 1916 in New
Mexico are not resting upon
the knees OF the gods ans more. such
conditions seem to be more clearly
dependent pom our " activity
here at home; to b. more nearly .up
70 US" than ~ before.
New Mexico, with the collapse Of
she overinflated irrigation promotion
OF a few years ago. had good reason
20 feel discouraged. We had few II
any seriously irregular irrigation de-
selopment operations in this state;
our irrigation enterprises were for
the most part aud stiII are sound
throuehout. Yet this state suffered
and suffered very seriously from the
wrongs committed By large and un-
~scrupuiously conducted operations In
other western states. On top Of this
we had a succession Of very dry
years. which taught the ambitious
dry-farmers In the public land sec
lions a necessary but extremely bit
ter and costly lesson. There followed
the period OF business depression. ac-
|companying the election OF 1919. and
scarcely had the adjustment begun
when the European war upset the
|rountry industrially and financially
and the n large Industry. the cop
per industry. which had not been at
fected By the other adverse condl.
tions, was hard hit.
To-day there seems to be nothins
in exterior conditions which can
seriously harm or retard business in
this state. No one a predict the
end OF the war, but business nation
ally Is adjusting itself to war condl-
tions. and tho adjustment Is taking
place here AZ home. A dispatch in
the Herald this week tells of the re-
sumption OF operations in the copper
mines upon an almost normal basis,
Tho industry has adjusted itself 10
the foreign situation and with adjust
ment OF shipping troubles ir prepared
10 go ahead.
Our range Is ia even better shape
than IN 1914. when conditions were
almost ideal. and stOckmen seem to
feel absolutely sure Of another very
successful season. For the first time
IN history coarse wool which is the
principal wool production in our
state, In bringing "a higher price than
fine woods The army demands are
responsible for this. while h war
with its requirements for wool and
It's embargo regulations, " certain 10
Keep the price Of our woods In New
Mexico az a point where huge profits
are certain.
The dry-farm sections have learned
their lesson and are proceeding with
their development on a permanently
responsible basis. The game Is no
longer a gamble. II carries some ele-
ment Of risk, but forage crops, stock
feeding ana dairyiag have reduced
the risks to "A minimum. There Is
evidence that irrigation development
may be- resumed during the year.
Thus q o. reasonably certain that
II the next two years are not pros
porous ones for New Mexico the fault
viii be- with us and not with condi-
lions outside our borders, n will he
the result Of wholly unforeseen nat
ural conditions or because We taii 10
rise 10 our opportunity.
The first essential for New Mexico
Is. as a matter ~ course. the speedy,
sane and permanent settlement 81
our taxation and revenue troubles.
n the legislature shall handle this
problem upon the high ground Of UNI
selfish craftsmanship ana not on the
ground Of individual and private in
|%terest. We have very iittie fear for
the result. The clark measures,
upon which taxation legislation is
likely 10 be based, provide the frame
work for a strong and efficient taxa
tlon system and for its vigorous en-
forcement "a II not expected that
these measures ran be passed as In