"EXHIBIT L.” Historical Society of New Mexico. While not required by law to make a report, yet the fact that it is the receipient of funds from the territorial treasury, makes it at least proper that this society should make a report to yourself and through you to the legislature, during each session of that body. During the past two years, the society has been carrying on its work faithfully, and with as large a measure of success as the limited resources at its command have made possible. It continues to occupy the easterly end of the Palace building, and the rooms thus used are really not sufficient for its proper accommodation. The greatest need is that of suitable book cases to accommodate the rapidly increasing library. The departments at Washington, the officials of a number of states, and societies devoted to history, archeology, etc., both in our own land and in foreign countries, are constantly sending books of large value, for which there are no proper accommodations. This is very unfortunate, as it prevents the books being utilized; and we are anxious to remedy the difficulty as soon as we are able. The following newspapers are generously sent to the society and the files are carefully preserved for future reference: The Albuquerque Daily Citizen, Las Vegas Daily Optic, Raton Range, Colfax County Stockman, Silver City Independent and Lordsburg Western Liberal. During the past two years a number of valuable gifts have been received. 1. Among these are ancient copper bell, made in New Mexico, dated 1741 and bearing the inscription in Latin "I ring forth tidings and toll for the dead," donated by Col. E. H. Berg mann. 2. The original commission of Kit Carson as second lieutenant of mounted riflemen, dated June 9, 1847, and signed by James K. Polk, president and W. L. Marcy, secretary of war. This was sent by Mr. A. Ross, of Las Vegas, to Governor Otero, and by the latter transmitted to Hon. L. B. Prince as president of the Historical society, to be preserved and exhibited in the rooms of that institu tion. An autograph signature of Kit Carson as Indian agent is attached to the commission. 3. A third portion of the Mural tablet of the Church of our Lady of Light, two parts of which were already in the society's rooms. This leaves but one quarter of the stone missing. Presented by Hon. Amado Chaves. 4. A newspaper published at Siboney, Cuba, July 10, 1898, from Capt. W. H. H. Llewellyn, of the "Rough Riders." Original book of way bills of U. S. mail stages from Santa Fe to El Paso, 1858 to 1862, with names of all passengers, presented by J. T. Newhall. 6. One hundred and forty-seven books from C. H. Gildersleeve and 40 books from Adolph Fischer. 7. Iron chain used to fasten a man to a tree in Cuba; found by Capt. Fritz Muller during the Cuban war, with the bones of the unfortunate victim. 8. This brings us to the most important acquisition by gift-the memorial to the late Walter C. Hadley, presented by his widow. Mr. Hadley was an enthusiastic friend of the society and one of its officers at the time of his untimely death. It was therefore very appropriate that this memorial should be placed in the rooms of the society and take a form of permanent interest and value. It consists of the collection of 25 New Mexican stone idols, being by far the finest and most important collection possessed by any public institution. They represent every type of stone idol which has been discovered. from the tall human figure, four and a half feet in height, to the globular heads and the crude images of animals and birds. The collection is in a case appropriately inscribed and occupies a conspicuous position at the east end of the main exhibition room. The additions by purchase have been few, owing to lack of funds. Among them are four old New Mexican copper kettles and a grate made by hand, of wrought iron. We have obtained by great good fortune a number of very valuable books from France, by carefully examining all the French catalogues and securing those of most value in New Mexico. We would have been unable to pay for many of these but for a subscription raised by the "New Mexican" for the purpose. The value of this class of books is very great. They are in no other library in the West and are consulted by students and historians who cannot find them elsewhere. During the past year several literary visitors from the East have expressed great surprise and gratification to find them here. Among these are: 1. Third volume of Ramusio, containing accounts of the expeditions of Cabeza de Vave, Marcos de Noza and Coronado, printed at Venive in 1556. 2. History of Espejo's expedition, printed in 1588. 3. History of a new expedition of the Spaniards to the Island of California; Paris, 1585. 4. Sagahun's History of New Spain; three volumes. 5. History of California; three volumes; Paris, 1766. 8. Collection of relations as to conquest of Mexico. 9. History of the Incas, Garzalaso de la Vegas; 1715. 10. Civil Wars in the Indies; 1658. 11. History of Mexico; Tezozomoc: two volumes. 12. History of Civilized Nations of Mexico; Brasseur de Bourbourg; four volumes. 13. The Mexican Hieroglyphic System; same author. 14. 15. Commentaries of Cabeza de Vaca. Memoirs of the Emperor Iturbido; Paris, 1824. The rooms continue to be the most attractive place in the Southwest to the traveler and tourist. A register of visitors is preserved and the janitor reports the annual attendance of about 2,000, mostly from abroad. The rooms are open on all week days from 10 to 12 a. m. and from 2 to 4 p. m., and on Sundays in the afternoon only. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff have been uninterruptedly in charge and extend a welcome to all visitors, with explanations as to the most interesting of the articles on exhibition. The last legislature appropriated $600 per annum toward protecting, maintaining and augmenting the collections of the society. If this entire sum had been realized, it would have afforded quite a sum for additional purchases; but the amount actually received was barely sufficient to pay the expenses of keeping the rooms open and comfortably heated and providing the most necessary additions of shelving, cases, etc. The treasurer's report shows that the receipts were as follows: The importance of securing the most interesting objects connected with the early history of New Mexico, before they are scattered and beyond reach, is too obvious to require argument. If not obtained when the opportunity presents itself, they are lost to us forever. Already our choicest treasures have been carried away to enrich collections in the East and in Europe. If the legislature would appropriate $1,000 a year instead of $600, it would provide a small fund, from which purchases could be made when specially desirable articles or books are obtainable. The value of such articles is far more than their cost, and especially so to the state with which they are directly connected. A few hundred dollars judiciously expended now will obtain what will cost thousands in a few years. The officers of this society cheerfully give their time and the benefit of their experience in examining catalogues of books, etc., and articles presented for purchase, so that the territory will obtain the greatest value and most important objects for whatever sums are expended. We respectfully ask that the annual appropriation be increased from $600 to $1,000. L. BRADFORD PRINCE. President. WM. M. BERGER, Recording Sec. "EXHIBIT M." Board of Equalization. We beg leave to submit our report, covering the 48th and 49 fiscal years. Inadequate laws and the failure of assessors, tax collectors, and boards of county commissioners to enforce those now on our statute books, are to a great extent, responsible for the financial condition of our territory. Our opportunities, as members of this board, to observe and note the causes which have frequently, during recent years, forced the territory to make provision to meet deficits created between terms of our legislature, enable us, we think, to enumerate some of the causes which have interferred with the prompt and full collection of taxes throughout the several counties; also enable us to suggest and recommend legislation which we think will tend to remove some of the evils above referred to. Assessors, with few exceptions, have failed to promptly divide. the taxable lands in their respective counties coming under the heads of coal, farming, timber, and grazing, despite the fact that this Board placed values, widely differing, upon property of this character. In some cases values placed by this board upon taxable property were entirely ignored. Tax collectors have, in many cases and without authority, practically rebated the penalty imposed for failure to pay taxes within the time prescribed by law. The majority of board of county commissioners have frequently, and illegally, rebated taxes. Some of these boards have, at times, been too eager to compromise with tax payers who usually seek to partially evade the payment of their just dues, thereby placing a premium on the non-payment of taxes. The course pursued by the public officers above referred to, the small percentage of taxes collected in some of our counties, and the large number of sheep and cattle throughout the territory that escape taxation, are the principal reasons why New Mexico, too frequently, finds it necessary to issue interest-bearing bonds, the proceeds of which are used to cover increasing annual deficits. |