NEW MEXICO 



4174 



NEW MEXICO 



combined output is less than 100,000 tons a 

 year. Previous to 1912, coal was the chief min- 

 eral product of the state, but in that year great 

 copper mines were opened in the Santa Rita 

 district, and the value of the copper product, 

 amounting to $9,000,000 a year, has since ex- 

 ceeded the value of the output of coal. Gold, 

 silver and zinc are other important minerals, 

 and lead, gypsum, iron ore, mica, clay, meer- 

 schaum, sand, gravel, salt, mineral waters, tur- 

 quoise and other precious stones are produced. 

 The value of the state's mineral products is 

 about $18,000,000. 



Manufactures. The manufacturing industries 

 Mexico have not been extensively de- 

 veloped but they have increased in number and 

 importance since 1890. With the exception of 

 Wyoming, New Mexico is the least important 

 manufacturing state in the Union. Car repair- 

 ing and the lumber and timber and coke indus- 

 tries are most important. The extensive rais- 

 ing of sheep has developed large wool-scouring 



plants. Printing and publishing, flour and grist- 

 milling and the manufacture of brick, tile and 

 beet sugar are among the other chief industries 

 of the state. 



Transportation. New Mexico is crossed by 

 the trunk lines of several of the country's most 

 important transcontinental railroads. The 

 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe traverses the state 

 from Colorado to Arizona. It has a branch fol- 

 lowing the valley of the Rio Grande southward 

 and lines extending east and south to Texas 

 and the Gulf of Mexico. The Southern Pacific 

 extends through the state to the west coast. 

 Other important lines are the Chicago, Rock 

 Island & Pacific and the El Paso & Southwest- 

 ern. Both of these latter roads have numerous 

 spurs and crosslines, and railroad stations are 

 reached by wagon roads from all small towns 

 and settlements. In 1915 there were 3,031 miles 

 of railroad and 900 miles of improved highway 

 in the state. The "Santa Fe" owns almost half 

 "of the railway mileage. 



Government and History 



Government. New Mexico's first and only 

 constitution was adopted in 1911. Amendments 

 may be proposed in either house of the legis- 

 lature, but before becoming a part of the con- 

 stitution they must be accepted by a majority 

 in both houses, and after being published for 

 four consecutive weeks they must be adopted 

 by the voters before the expiration of six 

 months. Suffrage is extended to all male citi- 

 zens residing in the state one year, in the 

 county ninety days and thirty days in the pre- 

 cinct in which the elections are held. All can- 

 didates are nominated at primary elections, and 

 bribery and corrupt political practices are pun- 

 ishable by fine or imprisonment. Women vote 

 at school elections. 



The legislative department consists of a sen- 

 ate of twenty-four members and a house of 

 representatives of forty-nine members, meeting 

 biennially. Senators are elected for four years 

 and representatives have two-year terms. A 

 modified form of referendum is in force. 



The executive department consists of the gov- 

 ernor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, 

 auditor, treasurer, attorney-general, superintend- 

 ent of public instruction and commissioner of 

 public lands; these are all elected for terms 

 of two years and are not eligible to any state 

 office for two after serving two consecutive 

 terms. Since 1915 tax commissioners have been 

 appointed. 



The judicial department consists of a su- 

 preme court having three justices, eight dis- 

 trict courts, county probate courts, justices of 

 the peace and such inferior courts as are estab- 

 lished by law. 



The usual forms of local government are cities, 

 counties and townships. Cities may adopt the 

 commission form of government. In Novem- 

 ber, 1917, state-wide prohibition was voted, to 

 be effective in 1918. 



A Spanish and a Mexican Province. New 

 Mexico was the home of the famous Cliff 

 Dwellers and Pueblo Indians, the most civi- 

 lized and wealthy of American red men. The 

 remains of their great prehistoric cities at Gran 

 Quivira and El Moro and the cliff dwellings in 

 the Mogollon Mountains are among the most 

 notable historical antiquities preserved by the 

 United States government. Stories of the great 

 wealth of these Indians attracted Spanish ex- 

 plorers, and in 1598 Juan de Onate conquered 

 the Pueblos and established the first Spanish 

 Colony. Before 1616 Santa Fe was founded. In 

 spite of the severe attacks of the Apaches and 

 Navahos, the white population slowly increased, 

 many towns and missions were founded, and 

 the mines were worked. 



The territory became a province of Mexico 

 when that country gained its independence 

 from Spain in 1821. Early in the nineteenth 

 century, American trade was established be- 



