The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-11
MY COUNTRY
IT'S OF THEE
By S. J. FULL WOOD
NEW MEXICO

Down in the heart of our south
western United States, in the arid,
dry regions, lies the great state
of New Mexico. New Mexico is
bounded on the north by Co!ora-
do; on the east by Okl,p oma and
Texas; on the south by Texas and
Mexico: and on the west by Ari-
IONA. 1t is located in the Rocky
mountain region of states. Its TO-
geography is level plains country
in the east gradually rising to
height of 5000 feet among the
peaks of the Rockies in the CEN
trail and western portion of the
state. Desert country covers the
vast majority of the state. with
typical beautiful GASES lying here
and tnere throughout the length
and breadth of its boundaries. Nj
RACES are one of the most famous
phenomena of New Mexico, and
anyone travelling the desert coun-
try of New Mexico is bound to
see one or more in their journeys.
The copy of the great seal for
New Mexico which has been given
us. is about the size of 4 half
dollar. The great seal is a disc
bearing the coat of arms of the
state. The coat Of arms represents
the Mexican Eagle being shielded
by the American Eagle, with the
state motto -" Crescit Eundo"
eve grow as we go)-appealing
on scroll below the coat of arms.
Between the outer rim and inner
circle of the seal is seen: Great
Seal of the State OF New Mexico"
and at the bottom is "l9l2.'
The state flower of New Mex
leo is "the beautiful spikes of the
Yucca" which grows abundantly
on the meSaS of the state. The
state bird is the Road Runner.
The Road Runner is generally re-
gardcd as the state state bird, al
though its designation is unoffl-
cial. 1t earned its name by keep
ing ahead of the early prairie
Schooners and staying in the mid
die of the road. New Mexico IS
known as THE Sunshine State"
The state song is entitled, 80,
Fair New Mexico" and was writ
ten by Elizabeth Garrett.
New Mexico has a state flag. 1t
is of solid yellow in color with
a red insignia in the center, eX-
planned thusly: "The state flag
shows the sun symbol of the an
cient Indian Pueblo of Zia in red
on field of yellow. The cOlors
are the Red and Yellow of Old
Spain"
Governor Clyde Tingley, pres
ent governor of New Mexico, con-
tributes the following about New
Mexico: "New Mexico was eX-
plored by Coronado in 154O-4l.
colonized by Onate in 1898.
brought under the American flag
in 1916, and admitted to state
hood in 1912. Her history is rlch
and colorful, her mountains and
meSas tremendously beautiful,
her cultural and spiritual back
ground both fascinating and in
spring; her people friendly and
courteous. A study of New Mex
leo will be equally interesting to
both old and young.
For years New Mexico has
been chiefly pastoral state, with
millions of head of livestock graz
ing most of the 76,OOO,OOO acres
of land found within her boun-
diaries. OF late years, as the states
water resources have been har-
messed and developed, more land
has been brought under irrigation
and the state has consequently be-
come more important agricultural
w." Principal crops raised IN New
Mexico include: all the cereals
and vegetables, broom corn, po-
tatoes, sugar beets, much fruit.
field crops" Cotton is becoming
a major crop in the southern po!-
ton of the state.
The principal minerals of the
state include: gold, silver, copper,
lead, zinc, coal, petroleum ana
gypsum.
There are seven national for
ests in New Mexico, and these
contribute a vast amount of lum-
Der to the states industry. The
seven forests cover over S,OOO,-
900 acres of land.
New Mexico is practically de-
void of manufacturing on any
large scale. This is due possibly
to the lack of water so essential
to a satisfactory manufacturing
center anywhere.
located on government reserva-
pions in New Mexico, occupying
4,697,224 acres of land. This
state is rich in historical lore, and
many abandoned pueblOs of for
mer Indian tribes can be found
within the state. A goodly portion
of our western fiction writer's get
their material from New Mexican
arid lands.
Illireracy in New Mexico as a
whole is rated at 1873 per cent.
This is very high. Among the ma
tive whites, it is II per cent;
among the foreign born whites,
6.S per cent; among the negroes,
6 per cent; and among the other
nations-chiefly MeXicans - 3O.4
per cent. "The leading institu-
tions of instruction in New Mex
leo are the State University and
the New Mexico College of Agri-
culture and Mechanic Arts" 9th
er Institutions include: New Mex
leo Normal University, School of
Mines, and New Mexico Military
Institute. This latter is located at
ing serious, Arthur. Coral, dear,