New Mexico
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for New Mexico. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
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 Colorado 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 ction amounted to 763,758 fine ounces, valued at $ 763,758. Other mineral products of importance are clay products, lead, and querque. 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. ottonwood. 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 bushles, 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 6 p 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 Albu- -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 follows nization the government closely that of other It formally admitted to statehood in November, 1911. The State Legislature Senate consisted of 24 members in the and 49 members in the House of Repre- Governor holds office for sentatives. The 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.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a state of the American Union. Save an extension at the southwest it is rectangular in shape, lying between 31 deg. 20' and 37 deg. north latitude and longitude 103 deg. and 109 deg. 2' west. Area, 122,460 square miles. Roughly speaking, the territory embraces the southern end of the main range of the Rocky Mountains and the upper part of the basin of the Rio Grande and adjacent rivers. It is the country of the cliff dwellers and the Pueblo Indians, a mountainous, arid land,--a land of plateau and plain, intersected by canyons and valleys capable of irrigation. The surface falls below the level of 3,000 feet above sea level only in the Pecos Valley. The principal peaks rise to a height of over 12,000 feet. A strip along the western edge is tributary through the Colorado to the Gulf of California; otherwise the entire territory lies in the drainage basin of the Gulf of Mexico. MINERALS. Without doubt enormous mineral wealth awaits development. About thirty coal mines have been opened. There are also mines of gold, silver, copper, lead, and iron. Potter's clay, salt, gypsum, soda, ochre, potash, mica, and marble, as well as turquoise, garnets, and opals, must be added to the list. FORESTS. The rainy sides of the mountain ranges of the north are clothed with forests of pine, spruce, oak, juniper, cedar, birch, and maple. The streams are everywhere lined with cottonwood and willow. Pinon pine is found at the foothills. Mesquite is found on the southeastern plains, an extension of the staked plains of Texas. Vast, waterless areas are covered with the giant cactus. The forests still shelter bears, deer, mountain lions, and wildcats. Elk and antelope are found in the parks. Rabbits, prairie dogs, and coyotes are found on the plains. AGRICULTURE. There are considerable areas of nutritious pasturage grasses in the valleys and among the mountains. The ranches in these favored localities are stocked with herds of cattle, sheep, and goats. Hides, wool, and meats are produced for export. The soil is naturally fertile. Rainfall is deficient. It varies with locality from four to twenty-two inches annually, and is not well distributed. About 3,000,000 acres or three-fourths of the lands under crop are irrigated. These lands are planted chiefly with alfalfa, grain, fruit, or vegetables, and are worth from $30 to $500 an acre; while adjacent lands, naturally as rich but without water privileges, are worth possibly a few cents an acre. When reservoirs have been constructed to hoard the waters of the melting snows in the mountains and of the rainy season, many million acres of rich farming land will be reclaimed. Without doubt an increase in the irrigated area will have a favorable effect on the general rainfall of the state. CLIMATE. As stated, the climate is dry. The number of rainy days varies with the locality--from eighteen to eighty per year. Owing to altitude and the consequent rarity of the air the summer days are intensely hot, but the nights are cool. The extreme limits of temperature, winter and summer, are about-12 deg. and 112 deg. HISTORICAL. New Mexico was explored and settled by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. As early as 1539 a Franciscan friar visited the Seven Cities of Cibola, as the pueblos of the Zuni Indians were called. In 1540 Coronado explored the country of the Zuni and Moqui Indians. A colony of four hundred friars, settlers, and soldiers was established on the Rio Grande in 1598. In 1605 Santa Fe was founded. In twenty years' time the friars claimed 14,000 Indian converts to Christianity. In 1680 a widespread uprising of the Pueblo Indians caused the temporary abandonment of the colony. The settlers suffered also from inroads of the Navajo and Apache tribes. The region was made a province of Mexico in 1821. In 1846 it was occupied by American troops, and in 1848 was ceded to the United States . In 1850 the territory of New Mexico was organized. General Lew Wallace was an early governor. In 1863 Arizona was cut off. In 1905 a bill for the admission of Arizona and New Mexico was defeated. A similar bill was introduced in 1910 and passed. TRANSPORTATION. New Mexico is traversed from east to west by the Texas and Pacific Railway, which crosses the Rio Grande at El Paso. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Road and its branches, the first to reach the territory, threads the valley of the Rio Grande, and traverses the great plain, giving access to traffic via Denver and the valley of the Arkansas. Albuquerque may perhaps be regarded as the most important town commercially. Santa Fe is the capital. POPULATION, Etc. The population in 1900 was reported at 195,310. Of this number 15,103 were colored; 13,144 Indian. The Spanish element still predominates. The Roman Catholic is the leading religion. One-third of the adult population is illiterate. A system of public schools has been established. There is a territorial university at Albuquerque, an agricultural college at Las Cruces, normal schools at Las Vegas and Silver City, a school of mines at Socorro; a penitentiary and an asylum for deaf and dumb are at Santa Fe; a reform school at El Rito. STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources: Area, square miles 122,580 Population (1908) 500,000 Albuquerque 15,000 Las Vegas 10,000 Santa Fe 7,000 Number counties 25 Members of senate 12 Representatives 24 Salary of governor $3,000 Territorial income $763,000 Assessed valuation of property $49,000,000 Bonded indebtedness $838,000 Acres under irrigation 500,000 Agricultural Products-- Corn, bushels 1,775,000 Wheat, bushels 1,025,000 Oats, bushels 804,000 Barley, bushels 42,000 Potatoes, bushels 100,000 Alfalfa, tons 336,000 Wool, pounds 16,500,000 Domestic Animals-- Horses 118,000 Milk cows 25,000 Other cattle 940,000 Sheep 4,978,000 Swine 26,000 Goats 224,000 Miles of railway 2,795 Output of manufactured goods $5,700,000 Capital invested $4,638,000 Operatives 3,478 Wages $2,153,000 Raw material $2,235,000 Copper, pounds 10,000,000 Silver, value $395,000 Gold, value $330,000 Coal mined, tons 3,000,000 Quarry products $381,000 Teachers in public schools 923 Pupils enrolled 41,000 Percentage of male teachers 42.7 Average monthly salary of teachers $57.00 Average annual expenditure per pupil $19.46 See Cliff-Dwellers ; Pueblo; Santa Fe