The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-05-19
The Mesilla Valley.

! The Providence (R. l. Journal publishes the
following description of this valley prepared a
its request by Mr.. Bartlett, the late Commission
er of the Boundary Survey:
j ..Some surprise has naturally been expressed
by those who feel an interest IN the movements
of Governor Lane in not finding the of Ne
sitta on the maps of New Mexico, Texas, or the
adj dining Mexican States. 4 brief history o.
this place may therefore possess an interest al
this time.
..Mesiila is tie diminitive of the Spanish word
meS1 table, J. G. table land plateau AID i
applied to a lesser plateau IN the valley of the
Rio Grande. beneath that of the gread mesa, pll-
teau, or table land which extends for several
! hundred miles in all directions from the Rio
Grande. 1t means, therefore Aute plateau table
/ land.
J '-It is situated on the western side of the Rio
Grande, about fifty miles above FL Paso, in lati-
tude about 80 IS/ north; and until the year
! 1850 it without inhabitant
Immediately preceding, and after the war
with Mexico, the Mexican population occupying
the eastern bank of the Rio Grande in Texas and
New Mexico were greatly annoyed by the en-
crOachments of the Americans, and by their de-
terminel efforts to despoil them Of their landed
property. This was done by the latter, either
settling among them, o.. In some instances, for
chilly occupying their dwellings and cultivated
spots. In most cases, however, it was done by
putting 'Tiras head rights, on their property
q 1neSe bestl rights were grants lSSuSu Dy lne
State OF Texas, generally for six hundred and
forty acres, or i mile square, though they some
times covered very large tracts They is
sued to persons VINO hal served IN her war, and
resemble our military land warrants, TO ori-
g.nai settlers fhese certificates or 'held-rights
are sti:. bought AMI sold in that State. The
owner of them may locate his land where be plea
ses, unless previously occupied, or in lawful
possession Of another.
with these lanI certificates or head rights
many Americans focked 20 the valley of the Rio
Grlnde, and located them in many instances on
property of which, for IL century, had been in
the quiet possession of the descendants of the
old Spanish coOnists. The latter to avoid liti-
CATION, and sometimes standing in fear of their
lives abandoned their homes and sought ref
uge ON the Mexican side of the river. Dona
Ana, a modern town on the eastern bank of the
initial point being a well located and dcsira-
BILE place, and moreover selected by the U. States
for of its military posts. became an attrac
tive point among spectators, and was, in con-
sequence, pounced upon them and covered by
the Texan head rights'--or land warrants
Whether the Mexican occupants of the town and
lands adjacent were the lawful owners or not, it
is needless TO state it is sufficient to say that
they had long been in undisturbed possession.
They now became alarmed Litigations com
menced. Some applied to the authorities of
New Mexico, Texas, or the United States for
protection. Failing to obtain It, IN despair, sew
eral HunftEeu aDihiOuSu IneiF property anu
homes, determined To seek asylum within the
territory of Mexico preferring the very uncer-
tain protection they could obtain tn re, to re
IN rning as citizens Of the United States.
.'WlTn this reSJutiOn. u spot was selected on
the opposite Or til. we3tern side of the river,
eight ar tea miles below D a Ana, which. II
was De evc !. wodi - Il the im.ts Of Mex
lco. In the IL ,ItI o Il -, I55D tn.s persecu-
red pepp.e esalpasIeI II. ns.lyes there. AM
named the place la n III. l. e., the little tn
ME. T. in;rsIss the c'ply. tue government of
VI .xco Offered give Llni5 Il 9th n actual set
ers, which offer inIIceI large numbers If dis
satisfied Mexjcau5 living IN New Mexico and in
the IN all settlements along the Rio Grandr, in
Texas, remove there. More than half the
population of Dona Ana removed 10 VI silla with /
III year.
.When the boundary line WAS agreed upon in |
December, 1850, AM IL bsctn- certain that La
Mesiila was south of it, a;cOr ling to the treaty
map, IL day was set apart for public rejoicing, (
for the asIronum.rs hti been onse v.ng near
them. and led them t. doubt on which side of
the line their valley wuuli fail rhe lay came,
and the event was ceiebr Itel by firing of can
mons and IL gr.sHf bail which many from Ei Pass
attended After tbs, the population increased
much on account OF the iudacem nj offered. and
in October 1892. the pre.ect nf II Paso stated
that the populat on numbered l."OD souls"
Very few Amcric ms ever settled there, in
fact none bar n ,,lcrs; snl it 10 pr0biO!e that
there never Were twenty altogether"
Last summer some Mexican spectators at
tempted to practice the same impositons upon |
them as were prlctised .Elen they We're citizens
of New Mexico. by claim ng their lands. This /
created great diss ttisflction. aud they threaten
ed to abandon Their Ian Is ana again become cit
zeus of the United States. At this time, some
mschievnus persons put an idea into their heads
to deny the jar sd ctOa OF Mexico, and thus save
their property: ana this is doubtless the foun-
uation of Governor Ltne's assertion, that they !
desire To be re dn1asred New Mexico"