Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/New Mexico

NEW MEXICO, a State in the Western Division of the North American Union; bounded by Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Mexico, and Arizona; organized as a Territory, Sept. 9, 1850; number of counties, 29; capital, Santa Fé; area, 122,580 square miles; pop. (1890) 153,593; (1900) 195,310; (1910) 327,396; (1920) 360,350.

Topography.—The State is a lofty plateau, crossed by mountain ranges, being the foundation of the Rocky and Sierra Madre Mountains. The Sierra Madre range passes through a series of low and often detached ranges to join the Sierra Madre range in Mexico. The Rocky Mountains, in the E. of the State, are the highest and often reach an elevation of 13,000 feet. The W. part is characterized by isolated peaks, lofty plateaus and deep canons. The Llano Estacado is a broad nearly barren plateau in the S. E. The Rio Grande valley descends from an elevation of 6,000 feet near the Colorado border to 3,000 feet in the S. The Rio Grande traverses the State in a N. and S. direction and forms the principal drainage system. The Rio Pecos runs nearly parallel to it on the E. and finally joins it in Texas. Other important rivers are the Rio Chama, Rio Puerco, San Juan, Little Colorado, and Gila, the first two flowing into the Rio Grande, and the others being tributaries to the Colorado.

Geology.—The chief geological formations are of the Palæozoic and Carboniferous periods, broken here and there by Azoic formations. Sandstones of Palæozoic formation are overlaid in places by lava beds, while in other portions large areas of exposed beds of marl occur. Carboniferous limestones cover strata of Tertiary and Cretaceous deposits in the central portion of New Mexico. The mineral productions are quite extensive. Gold, silver, copper, lead, anthracite and bituminous coal, lignite, salt, plumbago, fire clay, gypsum, cement and marble occur in the mountain districts and fine turquoises, emeralds, sapphires, garnets, opals, agates, petrified wood, and other precious stone abound. Coal production in 1918 amounted to 4,241,000 tons, an increase of about 242,000 tons over the production of 1917. The production of copper has also become an important industry. There were produced in 1918 96,559,580 pounds of copper. The production of gold was 30,871 fine ounces, valued at $638,200. The silver production amounted to 763,758 fine ounces, valued at $763,758. Other mineral products of importance are clay products, lead, and zinc. The total value of the mineral products in 1917 was $43,312,947.

Soil and Productions.—The soil is very productive, but as yet but little worked, though irrigation by means of wells and canals is being rapidly installed. The cereals grow well and the ordinary farm, orchard, and garden fruits are raised to a considerable extent. The hills and valleys are covered with a short grass, which provides excellent grazing facilities. Stock raising, especially of sheep, is carried on extensively. The most valuable farm crops are wheat, hay, corn, oats, and potatoes. New Mexico is but sparsely wooded. The evergreens, pine, spruce, and fir grow on the mountains and lower down, the cedar, mesquite, nut-pine, oak, ash, maple, walnut, sycamore, and cottonwood. The State is noted for its many species of yucca and cactus.

Agriculture.—The production and value of the principal crops in 1919 was as follows: Corn, 7,200,000 bushels, valued at $10,872,000; oats, 2,340,000 bushels, valued at $2,223,000; wheat, 6,100,000 bushels, valued at $12,200,000; hay, 640,000 tons, valued at $11,757,000; potatoes, 494,000 bushels, valued at $940,000; beans, 960,000 bushels, valued at $3,562,000.

Manufactures.—The statistics of manufacturing for 1914 were as follows: Number of establishments, 368; average number of wage earners, 3,776; capital invested, $8,984,000; wages paid, $2,695,000; value of materials, $4,430,000; value of finished product, $9,320,000. The principal manufacturing cities are Albuquerque, Santa Fé, and Socorro. The principal manufactures include railroad cars, flour and grist, lumber and timber products, masonry, bread and bakery products, brick and tile, foundry and machine shop products, boots and shoes, tobacco, and cigars.

Banking—On Oct. 31, 1919, there were reported 46 National banks in operation, having $3,135,000 in capital, $1,876,727 in outstanding circulation, and $1,948,000 in United States bonds.

Education.—The total enrolment of the public schools of the State is about 80,000. There are about 2,000 teachers with an average monthly salary of $77.00. School property is valued at $3,000,000. The total expenditure for the public schools exceeds $2,500,000 annually. For higher education there were 6 public high schools, 4 private secondary schools, the Normal School of New Mexico at Silver City, the New Mexico Normal University at Las Vegas, and the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque.

Churches.—The strongest denominations in the State are the Roman Catholic; Methodist Episcopal; Presbyterian, North; Methodist Episcopal, South; Mormon; Protestant Episcopal; and Regular Baptist, North.

Transportation.—The total length of railway mileage in the State in 1919 was 3,817. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé, and the El Paso and Southwestern have the longest mileage.

Charities and Corrections.—The charitable and correctional institutions of the State include an asylum for the blind at Santa Fé, Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Santa Fé, Insane Asylum at Las Vegas, Orphan School at Santa Fé, Reform School at Springer, and State Penitentiary at Santa Fé.

Government.—New Mexico became a State following the passage of the Enabling Act in 1910. A State convention was held to construct a constitution for the State. This constitution was submitted to a popular vote on Jan. 21, 1911. In general, it follows older models of State constitutions. It includes, however, a modified referendum and an elective corporation commission. In its organization the government follows closely that of other States. It was formally admitted to statehood in November, 1911. The State Legislature consisted of 24 members in the Senate and 49 members in the House of Representatives. The Governor holds office for two years. Legislative sessions are biennial and begin on the second Tuesday in January; limited to 60 days. There is one representative at large in Congress.

History.—The first explorers of this region were Spaniards from Mexico, who visited it in the middle of the 16th century and found it inhabited by a superior race of Aztecs or Toltecs, who lived in walled cities, had manufactures of cotton and wool, irrigated and cultivated the soil, and who had reached a certain standard of civilization. In 1598 a settlement was made at San Gabriel, but was abandoned in 1605, at the founding of Santa Fé. The Territory was named New Mexico, mines were opened, and the Pueblo Indians forced into slavery to operate them. They revolted and in 1680 drove the Spaniards from the country. They returned in 1694 and built several towns, founding Albuquerque in 1706. During the Mexican War the United States forces under General Stephen Kearney invaded New Mexico and captured Santa Fé, Aug. 18, 1846. By the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, 1848, the entire Mexican possessions, now included in the United States, were ceded to the United States, and in 1850 they were organized as the Territory of New Mexico. Since then the area has been reduced by the cutting off of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Nevada.

⁠Copyright, L. L. Poates Eng. Co., 1921