Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-20
BIGGEST Of ALL
DREADNAUGHTS To
Be NEW MEXICO
interesting Facts Disclosed
in Correspondence Between
Secretary Daniels and As
Sistant Secretary Jones,

OF special interest and pride to all
ciuzens of New Mexico is the am
nouncement recently made from Wash
lnlton that the biggest and most mod
cfn OF all the dreadnaughts Of the
United States navy which is now In
course of construction at the Brooklyn
navy yard, Is 10 be named for this
state.
This result vas accomplished
through the influence Of Assistant Sec
rotary OF the Interior A A. Jones,
who wrote special letter TO Secretary
of the Navy Josephus Daniels, setting
out the claims of New Mexico for this
honor and incidentally furnishing the
secretary with some illuminating fig-
ures relative to the growth and prog
ress of this state.
Not only is the New Mexico TO be
the largest ba.tleship either complet-
ed or projected nv any nation in the
world. but it Will be the first battle
ship ever propelled BY electricity.
secretary Jones Letter
The letter OF Assistant Secretary
Jones to Secretary Daniels, which was
written March l3, is as follows.
Hon. Josephus Daniels, Secretary Of
the Navy, Washington, d. C..
My Dear Mr. Secretary:--I under
stand that you expect to begin in a
very short time a new vessel of the
dreadnaught class. respectfully sue-
gest that the name New Mexico Will
De appropriate and | therefore urge
that that name he adopted
THE state of New Mexico, by reas-
on OF its area, natural resources and
recent advancement properly takes
her rank among the great states OF
the union. In area it is larger than
the whole of New England plus the
states OF New York and New Jersey,
The a.certained deposits of coal are
greater 10y So per cent than the total
tonnage which the state Of Pennsyl-
Xania originally contained. Last year
more than $4,000 600 pounds of cop
per were mined IN New Mexico, and
the output of that and other base met
ais, as well as gold and silver, Is In
creasing at an enormous ratio Dur
ing the last fiscal year more than
8, 600 original homestead entries We're
made upon the public lands in that
state. This is about 10 per cent OF the
itotal number made in twenty pub
lie land states New Mexico is the
third largest producer OF wool and
tdlhS lllEH ~ INC piohhN Niot VI w
tie Since tho census Of 1910 the val
lie of her annual farm crops has in
creased rs per cent, The greatest ir-
iigation reservoir in the world is just
being completed. This reservoir will
impound water sufficient to cover the
state of Rhode Island with a sheet Of
water more than three feet deep. The
census bureau estimates that since the
1910 census the population has In
creased more than % per cent. In
1914, as compared with the census Of
1910, the school population has in
creased 80 per cent, the actual at
tendance So per cent, the value of
, school property 81 per cent, and total
expenditures for school purposes so
per cent New Mexico varies in alti-
tude from $500 TO nearly $4,000. Her
climate and scenery are unsurpassed.
There the federal government has es
tablishe its greatest sanatorium. In
VigOrated by breathing the ozone of
that climate, the individual is always
/ ready for action
II submit, therefore, that the name
New Mexico, representing, as II does,
size, soundness, vigor ana progress.
will exactly fit this most improved y pc
of battleship which you now purpose
building. Should YOU accede to this
request. we shall expect with conf
dence that both the ship ana the state
Will add luster to the flag of the
country.
CORDIALLY and sincerely yours,
"ANDRIEUS A. JONES'