El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-11-03
Grand total of cash income for year,
$685., 547.57, with income due from
1900 leases and sale contracts still to
be paid in before November 80.
INCOME IN 1907,
ERVIEN'S FIRST
YEAR, WAS $7,552.15
Operating cost of great public business
held down to approximately eight per
cent this year, with publicity depart
ment cost included.

Santa Fe. y. NJ. Nov Robert
Ervien. New Mexico commissioner OF
Public lands late last week drew a
check on the First National Bank OF
this city. in favor OF the Treasurer OF
New Mexico. for the sum Of S416. S64.s3.
the largest single check ever turned
into the state treasury as income from
the states public lands. for distribu-
ton TO the funds of the various state
beneficiaries OF the federal land grants
The big check represents the in
come Of the state land office for the
period OF the October settlements and
shows an increase over the income for
the same period of last year of S1S4.-
1915. when the land commissioners
check TO the state treasurer was $254-
1887. The figures mean that there
has been an increase in the states in
come from public lands during the
present year. over the income Of last
year Of close to 100 percent.
Prior TO the annual October settle
ments the Land Commissioner had paid
into the state treasury 1885, ~.
making a grand total for the year TO
this time. OF S6S5.547.57. There re-
mains to be added to this big total the
income due and payable. on or before
November 80. 1916. the end Of the
states fiscal year. from 1900 leases
and contracts OF sale on which the
annual settlements have not vet been
made
For the first time the people Of
New Mexico have an opportunity 10
realize just how big the states public
land income and operations have be-
come during the administration OF the
state lands by Mr.. Ervien- It is by
far the biggest business enterprise in
the state and il is administered on
smaller propOrtionate cost for opera
ton than Is any other big business
enterprise in the state. either public or
private
II has cost the state. Up 70 this time
this year considerably less than 8
percent to operate the big land depart
ment and when the total annual cost
las been footed up IL will be approx
mately an even 3 percent This oper-
ating cost includes the new publicity
department. added to the state land
department by the legislature OF 1915.
by an act permitting the land commits
sioner TO eXpend percent OF the in
come Of the state land department for
promotion Of the improvement and ad-
vancing values OF the land. and for ad-
vertising and encouraging the indus
tries and development 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 Nj Ervien's administration. 1907.
the total OF the annual october settle
ment was but S7,552.15- Almost from
the time Mr. Ervien took charge OF
the department under an appointment
ty the then territorial governor, there
has been a rapid annual increase In
the income. The additional grant Of
SIX million acres OF federal lands under
the enabling act. more than doubled
the states holdings. but with due re-
gard to the proportionate value Of the
states total land holdings. the income
from the lands 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,
during which time the land commits
sioner has been able to put into effect
in a statewide way his policies for de-
Nelopment of state owned lands. which
have been forming practically since
the day he took charge of the depart
memt
Annual Income Almost Doubles.
The total income from state lands.
for the fiscal year ended November 80.
1915. was S424.T2
When all settlements for the present
fiscal year have been made, and the
balance has been struck for this fis-
cal year on November 80. the total in