Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-10-20

Santa Fe, N. NJ. Oct. 1s-wOrk that probably means more to the
the history Of New N. MeEconmexplOrations for oil and gas upon state lands
rived from the East with 100000 worth of machinery and equipment to
At last the people are to have thorough tests of the ottrepeated
theory that New Mexico is rich in oil and gas deposits without cost
cedented boom to the state and a new source of revenue for the state
This is the boon to New Mexico which Robert p Ervien. the Repub.
ncan State Land Commissioner who is now up for reelection, and a Re
of W. C. Mcdonald, the Democratic Governor, who for some reason tried
to block this progress, seeming determined that the people should not
find out the real richness of their state lands. and that development
At the time he took office state Land Commissioner Erven began
working for a state law which would permit the state to make leases for
taiHies Of the state might be investigated without cost to the pHpe.
ture a quick to agree with Mr. Ervien that such a law would encour
age development and test the real value Of state land The lessees would
pay the costs, and If riches were found, a handsome royalty would be paid
to the state, to say nothing of the general prosperity that would be in
The Legislature passed the bill and Governor Mcdonald, who had
pS sItn Soy y nsg state 90 a n 6hs $" n r% Ir vet pr%ST M bio 10 b~ I'M m rocs %y Of 70 st IS
ing 1t in his pocket and never signing it. 1t was to- late fol that Legis,
next Legislature, in 1915, was Republican and it passed this progressive
Therefore to Land Commissioner Erven and to the Republican Leg
islature which backed up his program to perform an important service to
The leasing company has established executive offices in Santa Fe
and field headquarters in Roswell. As soon As the specially constructed
machinery can be set out, day and night crews will begin boring expert
county and in the state land arc comprising southwestern San Miguel
county, southeastern Santa Fe county and a northern strip of Torrance
the state land territory between the two original wells.
R. L. Lunsford, first vice president and general manager of the les
ing company. has arrived from the East to take general charge Of the
work The Roswell field headquarters have been opened by D B Van
Nest, development superintendent for the company. Under the terms
of It's contract, the leasing company can lose no time.
grazing purposes, so none of the rights of the people are interered with.
The leasing company paid s11OO 70. the lease, the state pfescrf"ns
the amount of work to be done and the cost being borne entirely by the
lessee After W years he lessee must pay Il to 20 cents al "re
The state receives 10 per cent royalties from all wells producing oil
or gas. II either is found, it means a new source of revenue for the
'''4 where 7a a T S0tsP' iS enoo oanta G in t inSF %eS Hs' Instead of oil or gas. the
leasing company must make water wells of the diggings and the wells
become the property OF the state.
If oil o gas is found the value not only of the state land but of all
fnoI Gss'P Pa6 6sl p p%. ' lnss am. %1n sd Ct ~i i Ss 5Dns' or OF all ei1 %ors Rs
many citizens and meaning huge new Investment in the state.