No pardon for Billy the Kid

(CNN) Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico will not pardon legendary Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid in the death of a law enforcement officer more than a century ago, he said Friday.
Richardson made the announcement on ABC's "Good Morning America" the same day he leaves office.
The issue facing Richardson was whether one of his predecessors, Gov. Lew Wallace, promised about 130 years ago to pardon Billy the Kid -- known more formally as William H. Bonney -- for killing Sheriff William Brady of Lincoln County, New Mexico. Continued

Billy the Kid: a pardon at long last?

(L. A. Times) "I expect you have forgotten what you promised me," Billy the Kid wrote to New Mexico Territory's governor, Lew Wallace, in 1881. The Kid was writing from a Santa Fe jail cell. He was there because of the dogged efforts of Pat Garrett, who had been elected sheriff of Lincoln County, which comprised the southeastern part of the territory, on the promise that he would put a stop to Billy and his gang of rustlers. Now Billy was waiting to be transported to Mesilla, where he would be tried for the murder of another Lincoln County lawman, Sheriff William Brady. Continued

The Plow That Broke the Plains

"The film presents the social and economic history of the Great Plains -- from the time of the settlement of the prairies, through the World War I boom, to the years of depression and drought. The first part of the film shows cattle as they grazed on grasslands, and homesteaders who hurried onto the plains and grew large wheat crops. The second part depicts the postwar decline of the wheat market, which resulted in overproduction. Footage shows farm equipment used, then abandoned. The third part shows a dust storm as it rendered a farm useless. Subsequent scenes show farmers as they left their homes and headed west. Department of Agriculture. Farm Security Administration. Information Division."

Movie: "TR in New Mexico"

On Oct. 23, 1916, Theodore Roosevelt campaigns for Republican presidential nominee Charles Evans Hughes and assails the Wilson administration in Albuquerque, N.M. A young woman rides on horseback carrying a bouquet of flowers. There is an auto parade. Roosevelt passes by in an open touring car. Seated next to him is a man who appears to be Albert B. Fall, one of New Mexico's first U.S. Senators (1912-1921) and later secretary of the interior until exposure of his involvement in the Teapot Dome scandal.
There are long and close-up shots of Roosevelt seated on a stone pillar in front of the Alvarado Hotel in downtown Albuquerque, as he amiably talks with men gathered around him, including Sen. Fall, with cigar in hand, and George Curry, the tall man in a light hat, former territorial governor of New Mexico (1907-1911) and U.S. Representative (1912-1913). There is a long shot of Roosevelt speaking to a large crowd from a narrow platform in front of the Alvarado Hotel. Two young women on horseback bring flowers to Roosevelt. Download here, for free, from the Library of Congress.

Dressed for?

I don't know what they're dressed for. Maybe a WW1 aid society, or fraternal organization? If you know, please leave a comment.

1906

Salinas Pueblo Missions

1936

Matador Cattle

"One of the Matadours thoroughbreds." Perhaps a reference to The Matador Land and Cattle Company in Texas?

© QR AI 2006

Old House #2

Another mystery house. It looks fairly unusual for New Mexico and I'm guessing it dates from around the turn of the 20th century or so. Does anybody recognize it? Is it still standing?

Pueblo: A thriving city with a lasting prosperity

"Pueblo: A thriving city with a lasting prosperity," says the card, and I don't doubt it one bit. The building is the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company's YMCA building. The CF&I had an interesting, some would say checkered, history that both reflected and sometimes shaped America during the 20th century. The Wikipedia has a short introduction to the CF&I here.

Scene near Las Vegas

"Scene near Las Vegas, New Mexico," postmarked 1912.

Windmill (and cows)

"Windmill Surguy Ranch" circa 1910. The writing on the tank reads: "Made by J T Morris Tucumcari NM"

Report Card: 1911

This handsomely aged bit of ephemera is from the 1911-12 Tucumcari public school year. Back then, the best grade was an E, the worst was a P, and you needed an overall average of 80% or above to move up to the next grade.

Old Children #2

New Mexico circa 1910

"Oldest House in the U.S."

I wonder if they get more calls about second mortgages than I do?

Photo: Postcard ca 1940 "Oldest House in the U.S. Santa Fe, New Mexico"

Belen High School 1937

Today we have a bit of ephemera from the high school in Belen, New Mexico - a student's registration card from 1937. The front of the card shows the student's name, address, & her parent's occupations: father unemployed (tactfully left blank), mother comptometer operator. The back of the card shows her teachers and schedule.

Fort Bascom 1907

Fort Bascom had a short life, lasting only seven years, 1863 - 1870. By the time these pictures were taken (March, 1907), the old fort was in a sorry state. I have also blogged about this fort here & here.

NPS Historical Handbook: Fort Union

"THE RUINS OF FORT UNION graphically commemorate the achievements of the men who won the West. Located on the route of the Santa Fe Trail where the mountains meet the plains, the fort is centered in a region full of historic events and brimming with the romance of the frontier. As a base of operations for both military and civilian ventures in New Mexico for 40 years, 1851 to 1891, Fort Union played a key role in shaping the destiny of the Southwest." Read On.