The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-01-31
4 Thorough Survey and Classification of the State Lands
win Prove One Sure Way to Add to New Mexicos Revenues.

III REVENUE problem Is a very serious one
tof TIE present Legislature aud fur the govern
sff budget committee. There are many new
calls Tor funds which seem imperative. There are
mcrenses on established charges which must be
proTidvj FOR, and the states revenue sources during
The next year at least, win show no increased
values.
This problem Of revenues should NOT be met on
the basis Of temporary cxpcdicncy. Bond ISSUES 10
tide ~ over . crisis now and which will bring ~
face 70 face with 4 more serious crisis later on.
are not the way out. The surcst course II rigid con.
srfvalism IN appropriations limiting OF expcndi-
lures % the absolute essentials, AZ least Tor the next
nsral year and in connection with that program. a
general plan 10 promote sirte development and IN
crease production rom The states revenue sonrers
One Of the sfest ways 20 add 20 our public
revenue production Is BY a thorough going develop
ment Of the productive power 81 the state lands
For the past three years the state land Office has
Turned INTO the pnnlie treasury almost N much
monry a. has been produced by taxation. Without
the revenue from the lands our Institutions would
have been in q sad financial state. OF the .axpaycrs
would have been forced 20 carry a much heavier
load than that Of recent years.
The state lands, however, are not producing
The revenues that they should prcducc and that
they can be made 70 produce. Some leasers are
paying far more per sere than the lands arr worth
10 them others arc getting lands for less than they
should pay the state. This h not the fault Of the
land department or Of the leasers. Both arr doing
the best they eau under the conditions.
The commissioner Of public lands does not
know the properties under his direction. II Is physi.
caiiy impossible for him 10 know livery tract,
when there are thousands Of tracts, scattered
through . counties and IN al kinds Of climatic aud
Typographical conditions. All he can hope 90 know
b general conditions. and upon that and the APP
praisement furnished by the applicant, the value Of
land Is determined
For the past three years TIM annual report OF
the land commissioner has urged a survey Of the
state lands moi q boundary survey, but an Geo
monte survey = thorough inquiry into the resources
Of each trac; and district; what the land has in
water supply, what is grass and carrying capacity
is tillable acreage; lis possible mineral content Ia
a word q scientific determination Of what the land
is probably worth now and what il will be worth
under development.
With such a survey the state land commissioner
could immediately classify all the lands under his
charge. for leasing purposes and for sale. He can
not cut the minimum sale price fixed by congress,
although we have some land that il not worth that
minimum and probably never viii he. Ba, he can
refuse 10 sell for the minimum land that he knows
IL worth more money. Aud at the same time. when
he knows what land u worth be can lease IL for
what Il j. worth. This will correct some existing
injustiees TO eaiilenen who are paying 3 cents an