Banking.—On Oct. 31, 1919, there were reported 46 National banks in op eration, 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 an nually. For higher education there were 6 public high schools, 4 private second ary 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 querque.
Churches.—The strongest denomina tions in the State are the Roman Catholic; Methodist Episcopal; Presby terian, 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 Fe, and the E,1 Paso and Southwestern have the longest mileage.
Charities and Corrections.—The char itable and correctional institutions of the State include an asylum for the blind at Santa Fe, Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Santa Fe, Insane Asylum at Las Vegas, Orphan School at Santa Fe, Reform School at Springer, and State Peniten tiary at Santa Fe.
Government.—New Mexico became a State following the passage of the En abling Act in 1910. A State convention was held to construct a constitution for the State. This constitution was sub mitted to a popular vote on Jan. 21, 1911. In general, it follows older models of State constitutions. It includes, how ever, a modified referendum and an elec tive corporation commission. In its
organization the government follows closely that of other States. It was formally admitted to statehood in No vember, 1911. The State Legislature consisted of 24 members in the Senate and 49 members in the House of Repre sentatives. The Governor holds office for two years. Legislative sessions are bi ennial 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 cen tury and found it inhabited by a supe rior 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 set tlement was made at San Gabriel, but was abandoned in 1605, at the founding of Santa Fe. The Territory was named New Mexico, mines were opened, and the Pueblo Indians forced into slavery to op erate 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 cap tured Santa Fe, 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 Mex ico. Since then the area has been re duced by the cutting off of Arizona, and tarts of Colorado and Nevada.