New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-05
CITY ITEMS.
The monthly meeting

RkwYcsH HISTORICAL SocIErY.-Ihe menshiy 'n7e''"s
Of this society held TuesNay evening IN 'ne
York Univosity Hon Luther Brad'sn PRESIDENT III 'no
Char The meeting was very largely attended, the paper
for the evening listened with great interest Al 'a
absence Of the Secretary the Librarian read the mnntes OF
last meeting which we're approved number OF aona'
tons the library then announced Among the v"
rious Communications interesting one from Hone so
Folsom, u s Charge Affairs at the Hsuge accompanied
by avery curious Dutch copper coin issued in MS ms
coin the g Of Lieut. Netscher Dutch officer bears on
one side Representation Of English feet attacking
Rhode Island on left the troops of the island were flying
10 a number Of boats the right The inscription was
The flying troops Of Rhode Island On the adverse Is
represented stately frgate, with the INSCRIPTION The
flag ship Of Admiral Howe"
The following IS extract from communication re-
ceived from j D. Graham on the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad route
"Ibeg leave to eau the attention of the Society TO- the
Barometrie profile of the route. have Travelled from
Indanoa on the Calf of Mexico 10 the back bone OF the
great Sierra Madre near the Gia river. consider that
the plans which have sent show conclsyey that tue
physical obstacles for great railroad across the american
Continent the way Of the Passo del N9Ie are as less
countered by any line of railway OF equal length IN the
United States When the great physical facilities here
exhibited consider those OF the cmre along the whole
be across our continent the route referred TO be
of the most intense interest 10 the American
People"
Fourteen members were elected
Hon H. Bartlett well known as the United States
Mexican Boundary Commissioner then proceeded to read
his paper on the Antiquities and Indian Tribes adjacent
the boundary Line between the United States and Mexico
The lecturer gave very lucid account OF the antiquities of
Central America after which he read the following interest
ing paper on The Meslla Valley"
Some surprise has naturally been expressed who
feel an interest the movements OF Gov Lane IN not hot
ing the name of MesiHG the maps Of New Mexico Tex
he ali \
this place may therefore possess an interest at this time
Mesa is the diminuve of the Spanish word Desa table
i q table land or plateau; and is applied 10 lesser
plaeau in the valley the Rio Grande beneath that OF tue
great mesa plateau table land which extends for several
hundred miles in all directions from the Rio Grande 1t
means therefore, little pldteGa, or inte table land
situated on the side of the Rio Grande about
ffy miles above FL Paso in latitude about 30 Is north
and until the year 1850 it without an inhabitant
Immediately preceding, and after the war with Mexico
the Mexican popuaOn occupying the eastern bank OF the
Rio Grande in Texas and New Mexico were greatly an
noysd by the encrOachments of the Americans and oy
their determined efforts TO despOl them of their landed
property This was done by the latter either settling
among them in instances torciby occupying the
dwellings and cultivated spots In most cases however
done by putting 7ras keafright on their property
These head rights grants issued by the State OF teNas
generally for acres mile square though they some
times covered very large tracts They were issued 70 per
sons who had served in her wars like our military land
warrants and 10 original settlers which certificates or
head rights are still bought and sold in that State Inc
OF them may locate his land where ne peses unless
previously occupied, in lawful possession OF another
With these land certificates or head rights, many
Amer cans Aocked TO the valley of the Rio Grande and To-
Gated them in many instances on property which tor cen
fury had been in the quiet possession OF the descendants Oh
the old Spanish cOOnsts The latter 20 avoid lugaions
and sometimes standing in fear OF their lives abandoned
their homes and sought refuge the Mexican side OF the
river DOha Ana modern town 90 the eastern bank OF
the Rio rande IS miles above I'll PasO and near the mi
tia pon, - being well located and desirable place, and
moreover selected by the United States for OF It's mill
tary posts became attractye point among spectators
and was consequence bounced upon by them and COW
cred by the Texan headrights' or land warrants.
Whether the Mexican occupants OF the town and lands adj
iacent the lawful owners or not Is needless TO stle
sufficient say that they had long been in undsturbed
possession They now became alarmed. Lgations COM
menced Some applied to the authorities OF NewMeNlco,
Texas or the United States for protection Failing TO oO.
tain which several hundred abandoned their property and
homes determined to seek an asylum within the territory
Of Mexico prefeing the very uncertain proecuon they
could obtain there remaining as citizens OF the United
States.
or western side of the river eight or miles below Doha
Ana which il was believed would he within the limits OF
Mexico In the month of May 1880 this per,ecued people
established themselves there, and named the place La
Mesla" j. e. the little table To increase the colony, the
Government of Mexico offered TO give lands to other actual
settlers which offer induced large numbers OF dissatisfied
Mexcans living in NewMexico and in the small settlements
along the Rio Grande in Texas to remove there. More
than half the population Of Doha Ana removed to MeSla
within year.
1880 and became certain that La Mesia was south OF H.
according the Treaty map day was set apart for public
rejoicing for the people OF that place had some iesss ha
their valley might yet fall within New Mexico. The day
came and the event celebrated by firing of cannon
and grand lill After this the population increased
much of the inducements offered and in Octo
Der 1882 the Project OF III Paso stated ht he popuaOn
numbered 800 souls
Very few Americans settled there in fact none but
traders and tits probable that there never were twenty al
together
Last summer spectators attempted to practice the
same npositons upon them practced when they
were citizens of New Mexico by claiming their lands THIS
atsfao
leave and again become citizens OF the United States
this time some mcbevous persons put idea into their
heads TO deny the jurisdiction of Mexico, and thus save
their property and this is doubtless the foundation OF Gov
Lanes assertion, that they desire to be redHHe1ed to New
Mexico.
The lecture was illustrated by views of the Ruins Of the
Salinas and the " Ruins Of the ella"
The audience appeared much graifed and on notion
the meeting adjourned.
TAVERN AID EXCISE LIcESsEs-Al tavern and excise II
censes having expired the s instant the Bssrd OF x
else its business yesterdy morning at o'clock
An in the Mayors Office As the licenses are granted to
each Ward in rotation the officials Of the First Ward sat
of Alderman Moore Assistant Alder
man Browne and Police Captain Halpn. Applicants not
known 70 these persons questioned TO the manner in
which they have conducted their places Of business up
This time and II proof satisfactory them is not furnished
of having kept orderly place they rejected In this
way about twelve persons. consisting both of men and
women, were refused licenses up to noon and the
uetious Of as many more held for consideration
In 10 that hour sixty liquor licenses had been granted in
that Ward There were no persons present VINO MADE
general or special objections, and any inquiries made or
objections raised came from these gentlemen named above
~ Al the Harvard College Exhibition the Sd inst,
two Of the parts we're by New York students as follows
An English Version From Quintus Curtus. "Alexsn-
der to his Soldiers" George LudOvc Bennett Brooklyn,
~ rE.b Ora,;on "Tba New Crusades" John Er.