New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-10-26
THINGS THAT ARE
ii MAKING STATE
so VERY GREAT
WRITER IN THE OFFICIAL
JOURNAL OF THE HEALTH
SEEKER TELLS WHY HE,
LIKES THE SUNSHINE
STATE"

!. It. w. Gibson, in The Herald OF
the Well Country
First Of all, like New Mexico be-
cause of its people They are kind
hospitable, and democratic. Perhaps
they are no more kind than people
elsewhere, but do believe they are
more hospitable, and more democrat
ic. At one time, my work was such
that was compelled to drive a great
deal over this state with a buggy
and team. In more than a year, only
one man refused me a nights lodg-
ing. I have spent many nights in
the homes of poor Spanish-American
families. They always gave me the
best they had and often there was
no charge. I came to know and to
love them.
Real Democracy Practiced
Out here, the wealthy banker or
business man speaks to the poor man
on the street as if it were a pleasure
to do so, not an obligation. It isn't
what you are. Furthermore. these peo-
pie are possessed of pull-together,
people are possed of pull-together,
never-say-die spirit that surmounts
obstacles and knows not the mean
ing of the word defeat. That is the
spirit of the West.
Grandeur OF Scenery
I like New Mexico, too, for its
beauty and the grandeur of its
scenery. One who travels through
this state on railroad train may
get the impression that it is a vast
desert plain and a mass of barren,
rugged mountains, Yet, the maies-
tic grandeur of these mountains fills
one with sense of glorious rap
ture. Tn winter when they are COW
cred with snow, they are often a
mass of beautiful colors, purple and
blue and white, and at sunset they
are pink or gold or old-rose. The
colors are always changing so the
mountains never seem the same.
A Paradise In May
An automobile trip over the smooth
roads of an irrigated farming dis
trict in April or May, when the
fruit trees are in blossom, and the
green alfalfa is knee high to the
blooded stock. which are to be seen
in the fields. is an experience which
fills one with supreme joy in liv-
ing. One cannot see New Mexico
from a railroad train.
Sunshine, Silence And 'Dobe
A writer once called this state the
land of sunshine, silence and adobe.
He was correct as to the sunshine
and the adobe. We have less than
fifty cloudy days in a year. A New
Mexico sunset when clouds are low
in the west, and the. setting sun
co1ors them red and yellow and gold,
is one of the beautiful sights of this
earth.
Future Is Great
Finally, I like New Mexico, be-
cause of the splendid future it Of
fers to those who are honest, in
state of immense natural resources
In the mountains are vast forests
of pine. There are hundreds of
thousands of acres of coal land in
which the coal veins are from seven
to twenty-five feet thick. Indeed, in
the northwestern part of the state,
covering an area of some 5000 acres.
are three coal veins lying one above
another which aggregate almost
fifty feet in thickness. These coal
veins outcrop along the sides of the
m Mountains and are easilv accessible
for mining purposes. This coal area
IS remote from anv railroad and be-
onps to the Navajo Indians Hence,
t is undeveloDed Geolorists say
there are indications of vast oil de-
Dosits within this state. There are
several producing gold and copper
mines.
Fin, Irriga.ed Farms
Tn the river valleys ere fine farms
which are irrigated either bv arte-
sian wells or by pumning. In some
raflevs. water is found in sufficient
Quantities for pumping at depths
rom TWENTY-FIVE to a hundred feet.
The Elephant Butte. the largest irri-
ration dam on the American contn-
mt, has lust been completed It cost
-en millions of dollars and will store
water enough to irripate 1855 900 acres
IF lsnd. II is in the southwestern
,art OF New Mevico. There are with |
n this state about twenty million
,cres Of government land which is
,pen to homestead entry. This area
however. is too dry for successful
'arming. Now that the GAO acre
homestead d law has been enacted. this
and will be quickly taken and. |
think can be made a successful
arm and stockraising rrorosition.
Watch New Mexico. Within a gen.
,ration it will take high rank among
he state of this Union