Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/529

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
NEW MEXICO
437
NEWNHAM COLLEGE

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 organization the government follows closely that of other States. It was formally admitted to statehood in November, 1911. The State Legislature consisted of 24 members in the Senate and 49 members in the House of Representatives. The Governor holds office for 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.


NEWNAN, a city of Georgia, the county-seat of Coweta co. It is about 40 miles southwest of Atlanta on the Atlanta and West Point and the Central of Georgia railroads. It is an important center for fruit growing and farming. It has a large cotton trade. Its industries include canning and cigar factories. There is a library and a handsome court house. Pop. (1910) 5,548; (1920) 7,037.


NEWNES, GEORGE, SIR, English editor and publisher; born in Derbyshire in 1851. Published a penny weekly, "Tit-Bits," in 1881 that made him widely known and brought him a fortune. In 1891, with W. T. Stead, he began the publication of the "Review of Reviews," and the next year "The Strand." At different times he owned and controlled "The Wide World," "Woman's Life," "The Captain," "Fry's Magazine," "Country Life," "The Garden," "Ladies Field," and "Scholars Own." When W. W. Astor made a Tory organ of London's only Liberal evening paper, the "Pall Mall Gazette," Newnes bought the "Westminster Gazette" and employed the old staff of the "Pall Mall" to run it as a Liberal organ. A Liberal M. P. 1880-1895, and 1900-1910; created a Baronet 1895. Died 1910.


NEW NETHERLANDS, the collective name of the early Dutch settlements in what is now New York State.


NEWNHAM COLLEGE, an institution for the higher education of women at Cambridge, England. It may be said to have commenced in 1871, when the Newnham Hall Company opened a house for five resident women students. The numbers steadily increased, and in 1875 Newnham Hall was built, providing rooms for the principal, a lecturer, and 26 students. Scholarships were given by the London Companies and private friends, the library grew, a chemical laboratory and gymnasium were added, and the machinery of the college became more and more complete till, in 1879, the Newnham Hall Company was amalgamated with the Association for the Promotion of the Higher Education of Women. Additional land was acquired, and gradually three other halls were added. In 1919 there were 18 resident and numerous non-resident teachers and 240 students. In 1881 the University of Cambridge opened to students of Newnham its tripos and previous examinations, and also extended to them all the other scholastic privileges of the university, except that certificates only instead of degrees are granted to them.