New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-01-26

- ffS Sh@ oAo
azine articles a great many of whic
have been published in vaiuab
media, and by the distribution {
= number of carefully prepared pan
phlets, dealing with various advai
ltages possessed by New Mexic,
and the resources and opportunitis
here presented. A PERSISTENT effol
has been made to get in touch wit
desirable settlers and investors an
by personal letters and pamphlet
placed directly into the hands G
those interested a great many pee
pie have been brought to the stat
and others interested who are likel
to come here or to invest in variou
enterprises.
The publicity bureau has not onl
assumed all of the functions of tn
State Bureau of immigration, bu
has done very important work /
the advancement of values and ad
vcrtising of state lands, publicit
for sales of state lands, and in en-
%couraging investigation and develop
ment of our lands. The result ha
been a perceptible increase in tn
valuc of state lands in many sec
lions OF the state, as shown by tn,
prices they command at public sales
1t is difficult to trace directly tn,
results of this work, but it is ap
parent that the work of the Pub
icity Bureau, even in the short
time it has been in operation, ha'
more than covered its comparative
ly small operating cost through in
creased demand for state lands anc
increased prices realized from lease,
and sales of the lands, aside from
the general results accomplished If
advertising and development of the
state as a whole.
The Publicity Bureau is now eff.
ficiently organized for its work. I,
is in close and harmonious rela-
tons with the colonization and in.
dustrial departments of the various
railroads entering the state and with
colonization and investment agen-
cies throughout the nation and is
in a position to accomplish direct
and important results in enhance
ment of state land values and for
the general development of our in
dustries and resources and increase
in desirable population. This has
been accomplished as shown above,
by the use of only a comparatively
small portion of the 3 per cent Of
the total income of the office, au-
thorized by law to be used for the
OIL Exploration Leass.
by provisions of a law enacted
by the Legislature of 1915, the State
Land Commissioner is empowered
70 lease state lands in large tracts
o responsible individuals or corpo-
in order to bring the
prospecting of such lands
:or oils and minerals, upon a basis
royalties to the state.
"After extended negotiations the
Commissioner of Public Lands, on
July rs, 1916, entered into a con-
ract with the New Mexico Petro-
cum & Gas Development Company,
" the terms of which that company
'eceived a lease from the state for
Ill exploration and development
'nly, and without acquiring surface
lights other than those necessary
o their drilling operations, upon
E ,522.10 acres of state lands. Be.
ore executing this contract the Com
missioner received from the lessee
ompany a surety bond in the sum
+ $4,000 to guarantee the fulfill
aent of the contract provisions, to-
ether with the company's certified
heck for SLIGO, covering the amount
greed upon in the contract as cash
onsideration for the execution Of
he lease.
State lands covered by this lease
,ctude two townships in southeast
IN Santa Fe County, seven town
hips in southwestern San Miguel
ten townships in northeast
m Torrance County, various small
raets in Lincoln County and the
emainder in Chaves County north
nd northwest Of Roswell. Under
he provisions of the contract the
ompany must drill on these lands
OF less than twenty webs within
period OF two years. In the event
is discovered the state will re-
Give . royalty of 10 per cent on
ross production. At the expiration
{ the two-year period the state
ill receive . rental for all land
.ased by the company equivalent to
per cent of the minimum sale
rice of the lands as fixed by con-
ress. This means that the rental
,r five dollar land will be twenty
an acre and for three dol
n land twelve cents an acre. There
the further provision for pro-
.ction of the state that wherever
is paid and such royalty
n the land leased does not equal
lie total amount of the rental which
therwise would accrue, the COM
any shall pay to the state the diff
renee between such royalty and
lch rental. The state further re-
.rves the right to lease the land
ot actually being worked by the
,mpany, for grazing purposes. Any
ellis put down by the company and
ter abandoned, and in which water
developed in curse of drilling,
i'll be filled below the water level
I'd turned over to the state for
.ilization of the water supply so
,veloped.
THE company holding this lease
IS proceeded with the execution of
s contract. 1t has opened operat-
G offices in Santa Fe and Ros-
ell, its drilling machinery and
luipment are on the ground, and
filing will be under way in both
HAYES and Santa Fe counties on
before the first day of January, /,
", barring accidents. |,
1.-THE land selections leased to this
'mpany are so extensive as to 1
reage and as to varied character -,
country covered that if New {