New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-02-07
PREFERS MONUMENT TO
MEMORIAL HALL BECAUSE
OF SAVING TO TAXPAYERS
Santa Fe, N. NJ, Feb. 7,l9

SNht0 Wv
Dear sir :-Thinking it Of interest
to the public to say something on
the several measures introduced in
the legislature for the building Of a
suitable Memorial to the sons Of our
state who fell in the present Il say
present because, technically speak
ing, the war has not as yet cnded)
world war, let me ask you, If you
deem it advisable, to publish this
brief statement of my views regard
ing what | consider not only the
most suitable Memorial, but also the
most durable. the most economical
and best suited to our history and
traditions.
OF all the bills (some 3 or a thus
far introduced only one would. il
my judgment. accomplish the object
at once without entailing a continue
ton of yearly expenses, ad infinitum,
to keep the building, or buildings,
IN constant repair; to pay the sala-
ric, of a board of trustees and other
employees necessary, year in and
year out. That bill is the one intro
duccd in the Senate by the Hon.
INdIllOI DdlfSuSS, HUN A1oo SobitJ
which provides for the erection, with
in the grounds of the Capitol, OF a
marble monument. The monument.
once built the expense n incur
red the State will, for all tine to
come, be relieved from any further
burden, and the memory of our dead
heroes will be not only honored
but perpetuated forever. The his
tory of the world shows that all
nations, from the dawn OF civiliza.
ton to our day, have, in the majority
of cases, preferred to honor the
memory of their great men by build
ing monuments rather than Mem
orial Halls" in grateful remembrance
of their great services to mankind.
New Mexico, always faithful to the
American flag. during the fratricidal
civil war (l86l-5) furnished more
soldiers to the Union Army than any
other territory, and than some OF
the other States that remained loyal
to Father Abe's" appeals. Twelve
months had hardly elapsed since the
fall and surrender, Apr'l9. 1865, lat APP
of the erstwhiic victorious
General Lee to General Grant, when
New Mexico's Legislature (l266-7),
passed law authorizing the erection
of the beautiful monument which now
within the grounds Of the
City Park (the plaza as the strongest
proof Of our gratitude TO the IN emory
Of our heroic brothers, who, to make
the great and glorious achi-
vement oi our soldiers of to-day in
preventing cnthroned deSpotism
running the world, also shed
heir blood at Valverdc. Glorieta.
Albuquerque, Peralta etc,
MANY there were who bcsieg ID the lc-
Of those times in an effort
TO secure the passage of a law for the
build ne OF a large Memorial Hair
but the solons paid no attention to
proposition etc. Without a
vote there was Gin 1907
appropriated the sum OF 81 10000 and
4 Committee, its members drawing
no pay 70. their services, named and
charged with the erection OF the
That sum proved in
sufficient and the next Legislature
(l267-SN finished the job by making
an additional appropriation of Sl,SC0-
70 with which amount the monument,
to this day speaks OF the
judgment used by those two
legislatures. at 4 total cost OF SS,90D,
was finally completed.
Let us now do a little figuring III
order to ascertain the minimum
amount saved to the tax payers by
he forethoupht Of the two afore-
said Legislatures. Had they follow
ID the advice Of those who wanted
, large "Hall OF FAM the lowest
,ost in erecting the building would
,ave been, say, 5000. to that sum
ct us add at least 5000 a year for
salaries, repairs, etc. 1t IS now 81
,ears since the Plaza monument was
The cost and expense would
low amount to no less than SlU ,oo,
the very lowest.
In view OF these facts It seems
hat it would be better to adopt
Senator Sanchez's bill. That can
DC done without casting aside the
valuable collection of photos
md sketches of those Of our boys
Who saw service in Europe. etc,
nc. made, and being made by the
of Historical Services
office is now, through
he Kindness of the Director Of the
Museum, in the New Museum. DR..
Iewett having also not only offered
. room in the Old Palace for the
permanent arrangement and expo
all free of cost, OF all OF said
but has perfected already the
OF the arrangement. The same
AN be said OF the valuable work the
present Adjutant General is doing
W preparing an Official" Golden
Book OF New Mexico. which will
the official record and cor
'ect list Of every New Mexico man
Who served in the great war, either
n actual battle or in doing any other
military service. The services Of
10Th OF these two important agen-
les OF our government. the Board
4 Historical Service and the Office
the Adiutant General, can. and
,ught to be utilized without, in any
way. interfering with the building
Il the monument.
Benjamin NJ. Read.