USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume I > Part 38
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Exceptional opportunities are thus offered students to carry on actual mining operations. Sinking of shafts, driving levels, constructing winzes, advancing development work and stoping are included. Timbering in its various phases is undertaken. Complete surveys are made and maps drawn. The mine is thoroughly sampled and the samples assayed. The geological conditions are carefully studied, both underground and on the surface.
Vol. I. 17
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There is practice in reporting on mining properties and the evaluation of the ore bodies. Plans and specifications are drawn up for all appurte- nances connected with the operation of the mine under varied conditions and in relations with the milling. All other work of an engineering charac- ter receives attention.
MILITARY INSTITUTE.
The New Mexico Military Institute at Roswell is owned and partially supported by the Territory of New Mexico. The legislative act creating it was passed February 23, 1893, changing the name of Goss Military Institute, previously established. It was first opened to students Sep- tember 6, 1898, and has from the very first prospered beyond all expec- tations.
The seventh year was closed May 24, 1905, at which time twelve young men were awarded diplomas as graduates. Although the corps of cadets was no larger during the last year than the one before, every room was occupied and the school work was greatly improved. On account of limited living quarters only one hundred and twenty cadets can be accom- modated at one time, and this limitation caused many applicants to be re- jected last year, especially during the second term.
This institution, of academic grade and affording military discipline, is a very important link in the state institutions, being located in a part of the Territory where its advantages are appreciated and supplement the common sshool system. Colonel James W. Willson is superintendent of the institute, with seven teachers under his direction.
Colonel J. W. Willson is principal of the New Mexico Military In- stitute at Roswell and one of the prominent educators of the Territory. A native of Virginia, he was graduated from the Virginia Military Institute, located at Lexington, that state, completing the course there with the class of 1894. He afterward went to West Point, Virginia, where he had charge of the military training school until coming to Roswell on the opening of the New Mexico Military Institute in 1898. He acted as commandant for three years and organized the military department of the school. Colonel James G. Meadors was president of the institution for the first three years of its existence, and this is now the fifth vear of Colonel Willson's superintendency. The institution was opened with sixty-five students, a great many of whom were day students. Today the school is a strictly military institute, being the only one of its character in the South- west. The idea was conceived by Captain J. C. Lea, who succeeded in securing the passage of the first bill through the legislature for the school. Captain George Curry was speaker of the house at that time and was a stanch advocate of the plan, while other friends of the measure were Cap- tain Poe, E. A. Cahoon, Nathan Jaffa and J. O. Cameron. The school has now an enrollment of one hundred and thirty-eight pupils and has made a steady and substantial progress under the superintendency of Colonel Willson, whose thorough preliminary training well qualified him for the position, while his ability has been constantly augmented by ex- perience.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE.
Under a law passed by Congress in 1862 the legislature in 1863 passed an act instituting "at or near the city of Santa Fé an industrial college, in
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which college the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanical arts * * * in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes." The institution described was not created, and it remained for a subsequent act of February 28, 1889, to give the basis for the founding of the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Under the provisions of this act the college was founded at Mesilla Park in 1891, Professor Hiram Hadley being credited as its first presi- dent and founder. His successors have been Professors McCray, beginning in 1894; C. T. Jordan, in 1896; F. W. Sanders, in 1899, and Luther Fos- ter, who has been president since December, 1900, Professor Hadley hold- ing the office during the brief interim.
The college is a United States government institution, but under territorial control, being one of the commonly known "land grant col- leges." The act of Congress of 1887 gives $15,000 per annum for an agri- cultural experiment station and $25.000 for the support of the college. Besides, there are 100,000 acres in the grant of land for the support of this institution.
It is the policy to make this institution a part of the common school system by continuing the work from the point where the lower school stops, thus giving an opportunity to become liberally and practically educated within the boundaries of the Territory.
The value of industrial training as a feature of a practical education for the masses is recognized. Shops and laboratories have been provided, in which young men may become familiar with the uses of the different tools required in the principal mechanical industries. Special departments have also been established for young women in domestic science, art and music, so that they may have opportunities to fit themselves for a keener appreciation of the realities and enjoyments of life in the home, the schoolroom or elsewhere. No other institution sends out more reliable stenographers in English and Spanish, and there is a constant demand for this class.
ST. MICHAEL'S COLLEGE.
St. Michael's College of Santa Fé, a Catholic institution and the oldest school of higher grade in the Territory, was established in 1859 by Arch- bishop Lamy. It was incorporated in 1874, and the legislature of 1891 empowered it to grant teachers' certificates to its graduates, acceptable in any county of the Territory. The college is self-supporting and un- endowed. The faculty is composed of eight members of the order of Brothers of the Christian Schools. For many years the principal was Brother Botulph, who died during the winter of 1905-06, after an active service in his church of over fifty years and a residence in Santa Fé since 1870. Those named as the incorporators of the institution in the act of January 5, 1874, were Peter Joseph Schneider, "known in religion as Brother Botulph," John Schneider (Brother Dosas), Ferdinand M. Dube (Brother Alnoth), James A. Wagner (Brother Boisil) and Francis Antoni Togler (Brother Gabriel).
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THE SISTERS OF LORETTO.
In a little log hut in the wilds of Kentucky, in 1812, four brave women, under the direction of the saintly Father Nerinckx, founded the Loretto Order, thus beginning the first educational order to originate in America. Through the spirit of sacrifice and unbounded confidence in Providence, for which the Lorettines have ever been noted, the first Loretto succeeded far beyond all expectations. The first branch estab- lishment of the order was a little log cottage on the banks of Pottinger's creek, Kentucky. One of the first pupils there was Abraham Lincoln, who as a barefooted boy came each day with his books under his arm to the sisters' school, little dreaming of the great and terrible destiny that awaited him.
The log hut soon gave place to stately academies in almost every por- tion of the United States. In 1852 the plains were crossed by the Sisters of Loretto on their westward way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. No steam engine had yet furrowed the prairie sea, and many and fearful were the experiences of the sisters on that long three months' journey from Ken- tucky. The death-dealing savages attacked the caravan more than once, and one sweet young sister died of fright amid the war whoops of the Indians. The government later sent a detachment of soldiers to recover her remains, buried hastily on the prairie, but so fierce were the attacks of the savages that their efforts failed.
When the Academy of the Sisters of Loretto of New Mexico was in- corporated by the legislature, January 9, 1874, those named as incor- porators were: Joanna Hyden (Mother Mary Magdalena), Mary Lamy (Sister Francisca), Anna Monica Murphy, Mary Jerom, Dolores Perea (Sister Lucia) and Pilar Mora (Sister Ignatia), all of Santa Fé. These were incorporated as the Sisters of Loretto. They were authorized to organize and conduct their then existing academy in Santa Fé under the name of the Academy of Our Lady of Light, and to organize and conduct such other schools and academies as they might deem necessary. All the property of this corporation was by this law forever exempted from taxation.
Loretto Academy at Las Cruces was established in 1870 by Bishop Salpointe. Sister Rosanna was the first superior. She was assisted by four sisters. On the arrival of the sisters at Las Cruces there was no convent, hence they were obliged to take lodging in a house furnished by kind friends till their own humble dwelling could be built. In 1874 Sister Susann was transferred to Taos, and her place was filled by Sister Ignatia, who held the office of superior till 1880, when Sister Praxedes was appointed superior of the academy till 1893, when she was transferred to Florissant, Missouri. Sister Praxedes was succeeded by Sister Rosine, who remained till 1895, after which Sister M. Bernard held the office one year and Sister Inez two years. In 1898 Sister Albertina, the present superior of the institution, took charge. Thus during the last thirty-five years the Sisters of Loretto have lahored in Las Cruces-not in vain, for their work has brought forth fruit of which they may well feel proud.
Hundreds of girls have passed from their portals ready to fight life's battles as worthy women, making the world better for their having
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lived in it. Today Loretto Academy numbers more than one hundred students, seventy of whom are regular boarders. Mother Praxedes, who is now mother general of the Order of Loretto, and who spent so many years in Las Cruces, looks today with pride on the result of work accom- plished. Seventeen sisters are now employed at the Academy.
The Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes, Silver City, was founded in 1883 under the direction of the Sisters of Mercy. The present convent was erected in 1883, soon after the establishment of the school. All the parochial schools of the town are under the same management. They have an average of about two hundred pupils, and six sisters are teaching, besides the superior.
The Albuquerque Academy was organized in Old Albuquerque in 1879 in connection with Colorado College, but after the first' year was transferred to the care of the New West Education Commission, estab- lished in Chicago, November 3, 1879, for the purpose of planting Christian schools in the western territories. The first home of the school was in an old abode building which stood near the ancient, Catholic church of San Felipe Neri, and twenty-six pupils were enrolled for the first term. Two years later it was moved to the new town of Albuquerque, where in 1882 a brick structure of three recitation rooms and an office was erected. Ir 888 another room was added, and in 1890 a larger and more commo- dious building was erected on the highlands three squares east from the railroad station.
In 1879-80 the Presbyterian board of home missions undertook the first work of educating the Indians under contract with the interior de- partment. A Mexican residence, about one mile north of Old Albuquerque, was rented, and J. S. Shearer, of Kansas, was appointed superintendent of the school. The institution grew slowly in favor with the Indians. As the white men began settling more rapidly, the broader-minded of the Indians saw that their only hope of holding their own lay in the prepara- tion of their youth by the education of the hand and the mind. Major B. M. Thomas, agent of the pueblos at that time, used all his influence in favor of the school. In August. 1882, R. W. D. Bryan assumed charge as superintendent, and early in 1884 began the erection of a large building at a cost of a trifle less than $30,000.
The Educational Association of New Mexico was organized at Santa Fé, December 28-30, 1886. Professor C. E. Hodgin, now dean of the fac- ulty of the University of New Mexico, was chosen president. Its aim; as outlined in the constitution, is to "endeavor to promote the general educational interest in the Territory and establish a friendly and help- ful relation among its members." Membership is restricted only to "any resident of the Territory who may be interested in education."
Below are given the various educational incorporations created by the laws of the Territory :
Albuquerque Academy, created by special act of legislature, January 24, 1857.
College of Christian Brothers of New Mexico, Santa Fé, by special act, January 5, 1874.
Curators of the Industrial College of New Mexico, Santa Fé, char- tered by special act, January 28. 1863.
Sisters of Loretto, by special act, January 5, 1874.
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Those organized under the general incorporation law, with date of charter and capital stock, if any, have been :
Albuquerque Academy, October 6, 1879; capital stock, $100,000.
Albuquerque Business College, June 15, 1903.
Albuquerque College, February 3, 1887.
Albuquerque Conservatory of Music, March 30, 1894; $3,000.
Albuquerque Indian School, June 24, 1886; $100,000.
Congregational Church and Academy of Ranches de Atrisco, March 13, 1893.
Goss Military Institute, Roswell, October 3, 1891.
Las Cruces College, July 14, 1888 ; $250,000.
Las Vegas Academy, August 4, 1880.
Las Vegas College, November 15, 1880.
Las Vegas Female College, June 5, 1883.
Montevista College, Roswell, February 9, 1901 ; $40,000.
New Mexico Baptist College, Santa Fé, March II, 1901.
New Mexico School and Infirmary of Psychology and Osteopathy, Las Vegas, November 19, 1900.
St. Michael's College, Santa Fé, March 24, 1883.
St. Vincent's Sanitarium and Orphans' and Industrial School, Santa Fé, July 10, 1886.
San Juan Industrial College, Farmington, May 12, 1890.
Santa Fé Academy, July 24, 1878.
Santa Fé College, March 5, 1904.
Santa Fé Collegiate Institute, October 7, 1889.
Santa Fé University Industrial and Agricultural College, December 6, 1870; $500,000.
Silver City College, March 27, 1888.
Union School Company, Socorro, September 20, 1889; $10,000.
University of New Mexico, Santa Fe, May 13. 1881.
Trustees of the General Endowment Fund of the University of New Mexico, March 26, 1884.
White Oaks Academy Association, August 22, 1887; $10,000.
Colonel J. Francisco Chaves was born in Los Padillas, Bernalillo county, June 27, 1833. In 1841 he entered the St. Louis University, where he attended a private academy. His education was finished with a two years' course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. As a soldier Colonel Chaves served under "Kit" Carson through the Indian troubles. In 1861 he was commissioned major of the First New Mexico Infantry, by President Lincoln, and was afterwards promoted to be lieu- tenant-colonel of the regiment. In 1862 he took part in the battle of Valverde, and later on helped to establish Fort Wingate. He was mustered out of the service of the United States in 1865, and returning home, he took up the study of law, and was shortly thereafter admitted to the bar, During the latter 'zos he served as district attorney of the Second Judicial District. Colonel Chaves was a Republican, and in 1858, while absent fighting the Navajo Indians, was elected to the House of Representatives in the Territorial legislative assembly, taking his seat in 1860. In 1865 he was elected as the delegate to Congress and served in the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses. In 1875 he was elected a member of the terri- torial council from Valencia county and was re-elected to every succeeding
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legislature. He was appointed superintendent of public instruction by Governor Otero in March, 1901; he was reappointed in 1903 and was filling the position at the time of his death. Colonel Chaves was assassi- nated at seven o'clock on the evening of Saturday, November 26, 1904, at Pinos Wells, Valencia county.
Charles E. Hodgin, dean of the University of New Mexico, was born at Lynn, Indiana, August 21, 1858, and was educated in the public schools, Hadley's Academy, Friends' Academy, at Richmond, Indiana, and grad- uated from the Indiana State Normal School in 1881. After teaching in village and country schools and two years as a member of the faculty of the Richmond Normal School, he came to New Mexico in 1885, where he continued teaching. He was connected with Albuquerque Academy from 1886 to 1891, as principal for four years.
When the Albuquerque public schools were organized, in 1891, Pro- fessor Hodgin was elected superintendent. He held that position until chosen principal of the Normal department of the university in 1897. He is now in the tenth year of this office.
Professor Hodgin helped organize the Territorial Educational Asso- ciation of New Mexico in 1886, having held the office of president twice. He was elected sixth vice-president of the National Educational Associa- tion at San Francisco in 1888, and was a director from New Mexico at the National Educational Association at Denver in 1895.
Professor Hodgin is a live worker in education. In 1903-4 a year's leave of absence from the university was spent in the philosophy and peda- gogy departments at the University of California. In 1893 he attended a summer session of the Cook County Normal at Chicago, which was the late Colonel Parker's school.
Professor Charles M. Light, who in 1896 became associated with the New Mexico Normal School at Silver City, where he has now remained for ten years, was graduated from the Kansas State Normal School in the class of 1875, and was actively engaged in public school work as a teacher until 1892. He was then appointed to take charge of the Kansas Educa- tional exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and follow- ing its close in 1893 he entered the University of New York, from which he was graduated in 1894, winning the degree of Doctor of Pedagogy. Subsequently he became a teacher of pedagogy in the Kansas Normal College, where he remained until 1896, since which time he has been continuously connected with the New Mexico Normal School. In the year of his arrival here there was an enrollment of forty-seven students, which number has now been increased to one hundred and seventy-five, there being ten graduates in the present year, 1906. Professor Light took charge of the New Mexico Normal School in the year in which it was removed from the old quarters in the old Presbyterian church to its present location. The institution has had splendid growth since that time, due to the sacrifice, devotion and untiring effort of the teachers, no special building appropriations being made by the legislature.
Professor Francis Edward Lester, registrar of the New Mexico Col- lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, at Mesilla Park, in Doña Ana county. was born in England, August 7, 1868, and was educated in the public schools at Wigton and in Ackworth College of his native country. from which institution he was graduated in 1884. Leaving England in
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1889, he crossed the Atlantic and went to Kansas with his parents, Edward and Mary Hannah (Ashby) Lester. The parents afterward went to Cali- fornia, while Professor Lester came to New Mexico in 1891 to accept the position of registrar in the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. He is also the principal of the stenographic department, and has taken greatest interest in training stenographers in English and Spanish, begin- ning this work in '1898. He was the first in the United States to give attention to this branch of instruction, which is now one of the strongest features in the work of the school. Professor Lester has prepared an English and Spanish stenographic text-book, the first used in the United States. It is used in the Agricultural College and also in the Cuban and Porto Rican schools.' Professor Lester is an educator of superior ability, constantly seeking out new and improved methods, and has made his department in the school one of rare efficiency. He possesses a fine collec- tion of Indian curios, Mexican drawn work, etc., and in 1900 he founded a mail order business which has grown to extensive proportions. For the use of his business he erected in 1905 a handsome building in mission style, where may be seen many fine specimens of Mexican drawn work and Indian curios.
Clinton J. Crandall, superintendent of the government Indian school at Santa Fé, was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, June 13, 1857, and was edu- cated in the normal school at Valparaiso, Indiana, after attending the com- mon schools of Minnesota. In 1891 he became connected with the govern- ment system of Indian instruction as superintendent of the school at Pipe- stone, Minnesota, where he remained until 1894, after which he was the principal teacher and assistant superintendent at Chilacca, Oklahoma, until 1896. He then went to Arizona, and was superintendent of schools among the Pimas, at Sacaton, until 1897. The succeeding three years were passed in the lower Brule school, in South Dakota, among the Brule Indians, and in February, 1900, he came to Santa Fé to take charge of the government Indian school of this city as superintendent. The first of July, 1900, the Pueblo agency at Santa Fé was abolished, and the duties of Indian agent for twelve of the Northern pueblos, with a population of 3,500, was de- volved upon Superintendent Crandall. The Santa Fé school was estab- lished in 1890, the first superintendent being S. M. Cart, who remained in charge for three years. The first appropriation amounted to about thirty- five thousand dollars. The plant is now valued at about one hundred thousand dollars, the improvements since Mr. Crandall became superin- tendent aggregating about eighty-six thousand dollars, including forty- four thousand dollars in hand now available. The second superintendent was Colonel Jones, a graduate of West Point, and a veteran of the Con- federate army, who served for about five years, and was succeeded by Andrew H. Viets, who remained for two years and was the predecessor of Professor Crandall. In 1894 this school was made a normal-the first in the United States for the education of Indians-and the normal depart- ment was continued until 1900, when it was discontinued, there being normals at Haskell and Carlisle. Professor Crandall saw the necessity of laying more stress upon elementary and industrial education, and is con- stantly directing his efforts along those lines.
He is a Master Mason, belonging to Montezuma Lodge No. I, A. F. & A. M, of which he is a past master. He likewise belongs to the chapter,
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commandery and shrine, and has served as grand junior deacon of the grand lodge. He is likewise a past noble grand of Hope Lodge No. 89, Odd Fellows, in Pipestone, Minnesota, in which he held membership.
A. B. Stroup, county superintendent of schools in Bernalillo county, was born in Loda, Illinois, in 1872, and was reared in Kansas. He was graduated from the Kansas State Normal School in the class of 1898 and did post-graduate work in that institution in 1899. He taught in the country schools of Kansas as early as 1890, and came to New Mexico, September 1, 1899, as a teacher in the high school of Albuquerque. He was made principal in the fall of 1900, and on the first of November, 1901, went to Deming as superintendent of the public schools at that place. On the first of August, 1902, he was chosen city superintendent of schools at Albuquerque, and acted in that capacity for three years, until, on the 31 st of August, 1905, he was appointed county superintendent of schools for Bernalillo county.
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LISTS OF NEW MEXICO'S OFFICIALS SINCE THE AMERICAN CONQUEST .*
Civil Governors Under Military Appointment.
1846-47. Charles Bent. (Assassinated July 17, 1847-)
J847-48. Donaciano Vigil.
1848-49. J. M. Washington, Commandant of the Department.
1849-51. John Monroe, Commandant of the Department.
Civil Governors Under the Organic Act. March 3, 1851.
1851-52. James Calhoun.
1852. John Greiner. (Secretary acting as Governor.)
1852-53. William Carr Lane.
1853-57. David Meriwether.
1857-61. Abraham Rencher.
1861-66. Henry Connelly.
1866-69.
Robert B. Mitchell.
1869-71.
William A. Pile.
1871-75.
Marsh Gidding.
1875.
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