The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-11-16

The Secretary pf the Interior,
Washington. November 2. 1871.
Mr.. a.. Il. Wyldcr.
Chamber Of Commerce.
A1bunuerquc. New Mexico.
NY Dear SIr.-
/ hav. yonr letter OF October zTth.
written as YOU state. In behalf q the
|Chnmhcr Of Commerce. the kiwanIs
club. and the Rotary club Of Aibu.
Qccrque. with reference to proposed
national parks for New Mexico.
I note that you say that you OF
|~Alhuqtrnquo would naturally prefer
10 see n park on the east slope OF tho
San Andres mountalns which. as you
say. Is easily accessible 10 the Ocean
10 Ocean Highway n the Oak
Trail. etc. You state. however, that
national park anywhere in h
state OF New Mexico will help the
whole state and thai you nre for tt
-wherevcr the powers that be decide
is the most advantageous location"
I appreciate your writing me and
your offer of assistance through your
ORGANIZATIONS TO help In moulding
public opinion. gathering data. etc,
and being OF any possible aid In 20.
curing for the state tho location OF
10 national park.
Probably should recall TO your
mind some little past history on this
ANN.N "NH a8N
the present situation.
shortly after my election to the
limited States senate from the state
Tot New Mexico. I had my attention
called &c the fact that a bill had been
introduced In the congress- OF tbs
United States. in at least " PCS
aions. by the then delegaie from
New Mexico. the Hon. w. II. And
rews. a resident OF Albuquerque. pro
I.Ifl.~ e. 49,. .u.wWl.m - a uaNlAanl
park out Of and including the Mes
caiero Apache Indian reservation II
southern New Mexico. ] received
kilograms and petitions from various
points In New Mexico concerning thu
crsation Of this park and requesting
ne 10 Introduce and urge h pas
ss~c OF a bill for the same purpose
Se-ve under It's then land presentl
boundaries. into n national park.
at once secured all the data pos
sibi. upon the subject; presented tn
matter TO the indian bureau; con
suited with the then commissioner
or acting commissioner, and re-dnft
ed a bill protecting more fully tn
rights of thc Indians than was dom
by the terms OF the Andrews bill
and introduced Il.
At the same time I introduced
1 DILL To- GlNult n uAtt0nAt EkAA va III
Elephant Butte reservoir and RI
seavea lands including the thsi
government owned property at Ho
springs. below the Elephant Butt
dam.
Ny impression Is tina 1 receives
petitions and kilograms "a letter
Of endorsement OF the Mescaler'
Park proposition from Albuquerque
but I am more positive In the state
a..f aAan A AlA rrna4gA frQm AIhu
queraue, such endorsement Of IN
proposition TO create the Elephan
Butte project into a national park
As a matter Of fact reference to M
files confirms my recollection AS 4
the latter proposition particularly.
Letters and petitions came In from
differen, points in Texas, anon
points; and from Roswell, Alamo
gordo. Carrizozo, Albuquerque an
other points In New Mexico.
hen shortly after Mr.. Cato Sell
succeeded 70 the office Of commits
sloner OF Indian affairs ne spoke I
mo about the McAcalero Park, h
stated unequivoraliy that he was !
favor OF II and that Immediately ~
on mis- return from a trip TO Oklf
homR he would be glad to 20 befOr
the committee and urge the passas
Of this bill.
Upon his return from Oklahcmi
however. when Mr. Sells did No
n.entiOn h matter to me again.
approached him upon the subJei
and he then Informed me that IN
indian Rights Association was cI
posed 10 Il and that therefore. "A
Though his friends In Texas wants
Id. he was afraid TO fight the India
RIGHTS Association and did not h'
iieye The bill would pass and indicsl
ed that he did not care to take an
pari ~ the passage Of the measure.
I notified Nr Sells at once this
d personally I had no interest In tn