The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-10

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We have seen letter from Gusymas in the State
Of Sonora, TO gentleman In this city, wherein men.
ton Is made OF the contract, or grant" 1t has
been called in New York, of large portions Of the
States of Sonora, Chihuahua and Durango, 10 n COM
pany in New York, about which much has been said
recently.
BY this letter it appears that the general govern.
ment OF Mexico made a contract with Messrs. locke
Tore Co., for the survey Of what IL known in that
country the Terenos yaldios, which in the United
States would he known as unsurveyed and unclaimed
government lands. The party 70 survey these lands
calling itself the American Scientific Commission"
reached Guaymas shortly before the date Of the
letter before (about two months since) under the
command of Captain Stone, and remained there at
the time the letter was written. The arrival OF this
20 called commission, the first intimation which
thpeople Of Sonora had Of the contract entered into
by the central government, and which met with no
favor from them. farther understanding Of its
precise nature had much increased the opposition
TO IL that the State government had refused TO raty
the contract accede 10 the terms contained In il.
The cause of this Is stated 10 be from the absence
in the contract Of clear explanation OF the point
whether the right OF possession Of lands VIII be
respected" The Commission was still In Guaymas,
and would await returns from the city of Mexico.
The people OF Sonora were determined that unless
ell their nghtsto property were respected the sipu-
latons stated In the contract should not be complied
with.
The Legislature of chihuahua had also taken nc.
ton with reference 10 the contract referred TO- for
the lands In this State were also included In t. and
decree has been issued protesting against IL.
II would appear that the company referred 10 ina
gined that In the northern States Of Mexico but par
ticularly In Sonora and Chihuahua there remained
vast tracts Of unclaimed and unoccupied govern
ment lands. They proposed 10 survey these lands,
and In their contract probably included all the lands
in the State. OF this we not certain, although IL
IL evident that they claimed the right 10 survey all
the unoccupied lands, large proportion Of which
are mining districts Of the greatest value. Now, al
though IL may not be known In the United States Ia
perfectly understood In the States referred to- that
there are no government lands there and that every
portion Of the territory Ia possessed or owned by
some one, except the deserts which are NOT worth
surveying. Every spot Of arabic and grazing land
in the districts referred 70 has been granted 70 ind
viduas and in most instances when not occupied,
the owners have been dspossessed by the Indians,
while others have been temporarily abandoned in
consequence OF their inroads.
IN the American Scientific Commission " could
survey all the arabic land and mining districts owned
and caimedtby the people Of the States IN question
and receive therefor such proportion their contract
gives them, they would greatly enrich themselves
by 81 but II they 10 be confined TO the deserts
that are good for nothing, their bargain viii be
had one