The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-03-21

tanning these roads. II they are not maintained
then boih thu state and the federal government, will
lose the Investment; bccausc New Mckee roads re-
quirc constant aud costly maintenance. Where are
we 20 get The money for that maintcnanccf
The needs OF this state ia drainage and irrigs
ton are very great We viii, no doubt. rcerivc a
limited amount 81 cooperation from The federal
government, under soldier settlement aud similar
nets Of congfcss. But that cooperation win no more
than begin our irrigahle land development.
Our srhouls have besn well provided for by
federal land grands. The school grants and the con
stanfly increasing revenue they are producing
simpA illustrates what would be accomplished for
the state and Is development IL the remaining pub
he domain were made available for highway main.
irnancc. reclamation of i~rrigahle lands. and possibly
for other public purposes. With this acreage made
available for speedy sale and with the proceeds
properly safcguarded. this state would be able 10
work out iis own development. in education. in land
reclamation aud ia highway construction. Our i'm.
poriant grazsnv industry would he vastly extended
and hcncfftcd. Our rcyennc problems would be
solved. Our development would proceed logically
and beautifully and very much more rapidly than
can be hoped for under amy form of continuance
Of the present public land policy. The present pub.
lie land policy ~contemplaies the continuance IN
Washington Of a great aud powerful central bureau.
long distance administration pcaning inevitably
retarded or wholly arrested development for the
state. The granting Of the remaining public do.
main TO the state win mean home administration
efficient administration. lightcned tax burdens aud
speedy development.
The condition. existing ia our own state arr
found ia greater or lesser degree in thirteen other
western states the group known ~ the Public Land
States. The interests Of these states, az regards the
remaining public domain. are identical. Their joint
representation In congress i large and its influence,
IL united, would be irresistible.
Men who have given this question Of the re-
naming public domain the most careful thought are
convinced that the proper development of the Who'll,
west demands is speedy passage into the hands OF
the several states. Moreover they are convince,
that the time has come when the public land state,
shonld unite ia a concerted. determined campaigi
to bring about that result.
We should like 10 see the government Of New
Mexico take the initiative in seeking a conference 81
the executives Of the public land states looking T.
the formation NJ an organization which will secl
the speedy conclusion OF grants To the several state
Of the public domain within their borders. Il i
true that such q movement vial probably be oppose,
by the powerful interior department. But il il
fact that sentiment IN ihe United States senate ha
favored the grants for some time aud II Is ais
true that sentiment in the house Of representative
has been and Il changing.
There has been a hcsitanry on the part of wcsi
ern men 20 tackle this job because Ut IL magnitude,
But with the development of sentiment for q nation
oil leasing system the situation bids fair 10 reach
crisis. The job il one that should be- done for IA
welfare not only Of New Mexico but of every uihc
public land state. IL il not too big for these state
TO accomplish II they will combine their force, /
the effort.