The weekly Butte record., 1867-06-08


sons entered upon this SE>co ranch pre- eupfien
settlers built their cabins, put Up fences. cGltiva
ted the lands and in some instances planted orch
ards and asserted the rights generally OF Dreenp
tors under the laws of the United States. The Nai-
leio purchasers under the void Spanish title were
confused as 10 VIA. ceErse -of action 10 pursue
MANY OF them had bought in good iairh and made
their improvement Conflicts arese between the
pre-emptors and the Vallejo Claimants, and they
were Of Such character as 10 ladzee the iatter 70
+ come 10 Washington and ask CONGRESS II pass al
act which would cognize their etaities and eua
bic them to purchase their land Al 81 y per
The Committee on Public Lands in the Senate and
in the House heard the application 81 these claim
ants and on the representation thatthe lands claim
ed under the spanish grant were II the possession
Of numerous small holders who had purchased
them in good faith. the following i.w enacted.
| ak the Clerk TO read it.
The Clerk read As follows.
.Speciai >uscoF Latr. March ) 1868.
Bill s No. e57. grant the right Il pre-enption to
certain purchasers on the 'suscd ranch, in the
State of California.
Be it enacted By the Senate ami House of Repre-
senfaIives ef the United States Il America in Con-
Cre>- assembled. That it NAV ard Shall be lawful
for the Commissioner OF the Geleral Land Office to
cause the lines OF the public Surveys To be extended
over the tract Of country Aa1wn as the 'SGseol
ranch in California. the elainl to which by Don
Mariana Guadalupe, has been adja6ged invalid by
the Sapreme Court ot the United States. ana 10
have approved pldt> thereof duly returned To the
proper district land office: ProriGed That the
actual cost of such survey and plating shall first
be paid into the surveying fund by settlers. accord
ing to the requirements OF the tenth section OF the
act of Congress approved 50th of May. 1862 10
duce the expenses OF the survey and sale OF the pub
lie lands in the United States
/ Sec > And be it further enacted. That after
the return of such approved plats 10 the district
office. it NAV and shall be lawful for individuals,
bona fde turchaSers from said Vallejo or his as
signs to enter according TO the lines OF public
vevs at 81 25 per acre. the land purchased. to
the extent to which the had been reduced 10
possession at the time OF said adjudication Of said
Supreme Court. joint entries being admissible by
cotermnouS propriet0rs To sgch an extent a Will
enable them to adjust their respective boundaries.
Sec. 3. And be il further enacted that munich
pal claims within the limits Of said Susco ranch,
NAV be entered under the terms. limitations. and
conditions Of the town-ste act of 22d of May lsi4
Sec 1. And belt further enacted, That all claims
within the purvew OF this act shall be presented To
the register and receiver within twelve months at,
ter the return of such surveys to the district land
Office. accompanied by proof of bona tide purchase
under Vallejo, of settlement and the extent 10
which the tracts claimed had been reduced into
possession at the time of said adjndic ttlon: and
thereunon each case shall he adiudged by the regis
ter and receiver under such Instructions shall be
given by the Commissioner Of the General Land
Giice and no adjudication shall be final until con
tirmed by the said Commissioner.
Sec 5. And be it further enacted, That any
I claim not brought before the register and receiver
within twelve months as aforesaid. shall be barred.
and the lands covered thereby, with any other tract
within the limits OF said Suscol ranch the titles TO
which are not established under this act shall be
dealt with as other public lands: Prorided That
no entry shall be made of lands reserved and oc-
cupieG for military, naval or other public uses
which NAV be designated for such purposes by the
President, nor shall any claim under this act eX-
tend to mineral lands
Mr. Julian. Mr.. Speaker. ii viii he perceived
~ .-ahQ , that
it recognizes tie equities of these Vallejo claimants
to the extent that they have reduced their claims
to possession. Il allows them to purchase the same
at the rate of 81 - per under certain restrc
tiens. That act demanded by these claimants
and was enacted by Congress at that time on the
representation that the claimants a. shown by the
report accompanying the bill. were a numerous
body of small land hode,s settled on the ranch,
who only asked the right 10 enter their lands at
81 % per to the extent OF their occupancy and
possession. | speak what l remember and know,
because was member of the Committee on Pub
lie Lands al the time. To show that | am right
ask the Clerk 10 read the extracts | have marked
from the report of the committee. and am willing
that the entire report shall be printed in the Globe
The Clerk read As follows:
aThe facts upon which the Committee on Public
Lands base a favorable report GA the above named
bill follows:
nv an enterprsiug body of agriculturalists men
who have spent their means literally in making
improvements claiming their lands under the Sus-
col grant of NJ. g. Vallejo. In 1917 the town OF
Benica was laid ont, its projectors and settlers re-
living on the Vallejo title 1t has grown to be
town Of several thousand inhabitants, and 1t Is
among the more important OF the Interior villages
Of California. The town Of Vallejo is upon the
same ranch was laid out in 1850, and Is a lso OF
considerable Importance. the lands thereon beng
held under the same title.
The entire ranch has passed ont Of the hands OF
the original grantee into the possession OF null
titude OF small holders, and is covered by nuner-
Gus small farms and orchards. each inclosed by
substantial fences. highly cultivated, and dotted
all over with comfortable farm houses and other
buildings. Al these settlers upon the ranch hold
bv purchase from NJ. G. Vallejo, having paid for
their lands in good faith and in the firm belief.
supported by the best legal advice attalDable, that
the title OF Vallejo was valid.
several millions have been expended III I'M
provcmentS upon the ranch and hundreds OF thous-
audS Of dollars are secured by mortgage upon the
farms into which the ranch has beea divided. IL
is obvious that great confusion and distress must
arise in community Of this character. with prop
er Interests extensive. when it i suddenly dis
covered that their title invalid, and the wealth
they had supposed their own is Suddenly taken
away ;a.d all the accamulations OF years swept
from them.
There are many circumstances which tended to
give 10 the settlers the Suscol ranch confidence
in the title which they purchased. N. g. Vallejo,
the grantee from the Mexican Government. belong
ed To one OF the Y usl lnHuentai 'anllie> III Naii
orna. In >27 he was member of the depart
mental legislature. He afterwards held high OIL
cia position under Governor Figneron, and sun
later, in 1880, was com missioned by the Supreme
Government as military commaudan; Of Alta Cali
forna. At various times during the troubles IN
Mexico. and its consequent pecunary straits, he
furnished the Government large sums ei money
and other supplies; and in consideration OF these
favors tn the Cove rnment, Micheltorena then Gov
ernor of California. and invested with eXtraordl-
nary powers by the home Government, granted to
Vallejo the Suscol ranch. in 1873, several years be-
fore the conquest ol the State by the United states
From that time Vallejo had the exclusive and m
disputed use and possession of the rancho. having
upon il his residence several thousand head OF ho
ses and cattle, dependents and retainers.
and exercised over il all acts Of ownership. Thus
matters stood when California became part Of the.
Union by treaty guaranteeing, on the part OF the
American Government. protection n the property
Of Mexican citizens. Complying with the law OF
Congress requiring Mexican citizens to prove their
ownership to grants, Vallejo preSentedo the board
Of land commissioners bis claim to the land he mad
held and owned for years before That board vas
satisfied IS tn the meritoTiens character of this
grant for after thorough invest CATION OF the doc
umen;ary evidence in the case, and an elaborate
examination ot witnesses. the case was confirmed
by said hoard on the 22d May, lss2. This decision
Of the board Of land commissioners was subsequent
y confirmed by the higher tribunal Of the United
states district court for the northern district OF
California.
After this grant had passed the ordeal Of two
courts Of the United states and had been endorsed
BY them genuine. the owner would naturally
feel warranted in selling portions Of the same to
third parties and those desiring to purchase would