New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1916-11-03

64nta re. NJ M, NOV. A.-Nopoi1
P. Ervien, New Mexico commissioner
u Public lands late last week drew a
check on the First National bank OF
this city, In favor Of the Treasurer
oe New Mexico, for the sum Of $416,-
Se4.S3, the largest single check ever
turned into the state treasury as In
come from the states public lands,
toP distribution to the funds OF the
various state beneficiaries Of the fed
efal land grants.
Tho big check represents the In
come of the state land office for the
Deriod OF the October settlements and
shows an increase over the income
for the same period Of last year OF
ol84.14O.16, when the land commits
0loner's check to the state treasurer
vas $234,445.97. The figures mean
that there has been an increase in the
states income from public lands dur
Ing the present year, over the income
Of hast year of close to 100 per cent.
Prior to the annual October settle
ments the Land Commissioner had
paid into the state treasury $780,
t6l.44. making grand total for the
year to this time. Of $6S5,547.57.
There remains to be added to this big
total the income due and payable, on
or before November 30. 1916, the end
of the states fiscal year, from 1900
leases and contracts of sale. on which
the annual settlements have not yet
been made.
For the first time the people of
New Mexico have an opportunity to
realize just how big the states pub
lie land income and operations have
become during the administration of
The state lands by Mr.. Ervien. 1t Is
by far the biggest business enterprise
In the state, and 1t Is administered on
a smaller proportionate cost for oper
afion than is any other big business
enterprise in the state, either public
Or private.
1t has cost the state, up to this
time this year considerably less than
3 per cent to operate the big land
department, and when the total an
nual cost has been footed up 1t will
be approximately an even per cent !
This operating cost includes the new
publicity department, added to the
state land department by the lesisla-
ture Of 1915, by an act permitting
the land commissioner to expend 3
per cent OF the income Of the state |
land department for promotion OF the |
Improvement and advancing values of
the land, and for advertising and en-
couraging the industries and develop |
ment of the resources of the state.
Some idea of the growth achieved !
in the states land business can be |
had from the fact that in the first /
year of Mr.. Ervien's administration, |
1907, the total of the annual October |
settlement was but s7.55215. AL ,
most from the time Mr.. Ervien took !
charge of the department under an
appointment by the then territorial
governor, there has been a rapid an
nual increase In the income. The 'ad-
ditional grant of six million acres of
federal lands under the enabling act,
more than doubled the states hold
ings, but with due regard to the pro.
portionate value of the states total
land holdings. the income from the
hands has increased at a ratio far in
advance Of the increase in the grant
itself. The greatest increase has
come during the last two years, dur.
ing which time the land commissioner
has been able to put into effect in a
statewide way his policies for devel-
opment Of state owned lands, which
have been forming practically since
the day he took charge of the depart.
ment.
Annual Income Almost Doubles,
The total income from state lands,
for the fiscal year ended November
80, 1915, was 424725S9.
When all settlements for the pres.
ent fiscal year have been made, and
the balance has been struck for this
fiscal year on November 80, the total
income for the fiscal year 1916 will
be very close to 100000, and may
possibly exceed that amount. The in.
come enjoyed by New Mexico from
its state lands has almost doubled
within a single year.
Close observers of the development
of the states land holdings, and Of
their administration attribute the
huge increase in revenue of the past ;
two years to three general causes. I
These are, first. general develop ,
ment of the state, increased demand ,
for land throughout the west, and the ,
favorable selections from the public
domain which have been made during
the period Of Mr.. Ervien's admins
tTation, making the lands possible of l
ready lease and sale.
Second, to tie general act Of the