The sun., 1873-12-17

The Denver Mirror gives some ad',-
tional particulars Of the outrageous land rob-
berry at West Las Anlmas, IN Bent county, Colo
RADIO, in which the Interior Department. GRAS1's
boon companion Delegate CnAFfEE, and others
are implicated. The or cinal La Animas gr MT
covers an area 4 4.GO,O0p acres. Thousands of
settlers are scattered over IL awaiting the de-
csion Of Congress, which should confirm to the
Las Animas grant heirs such portion as be-
lunged to them, and throw open the remainder
to prcsmption and localized occupancy. As
rosscssors aud actual tllers OF the soil their
claims to the lands, as soon as they come into
market, would legally take precedence over all
others. For years they have patiently awaited
for a inal adjustment Of the claims, prepared to
prove up and pay the Government or the grant
heirs for their property a. soon as a good title
could be obtained. West Las Animas ia about
two miles from the mouth Of the Las Animas
river. and boins tern inus of the Kansas Pacific
Railroad a heavy trade has grown up there.
Large commission houses have been established
to handle the immense business contributed
from New Mexico, and the Southern overland
mail coaches run from that point east, west, aud
south. The land covered ly this town and that
adjoining it has never been open Tor rreemp-
ton, on the grogrd that it was held under a
dcrvatve claim from ono IfuGuTs So hate as
Nov. /, ls7l a aettlcr nlmcl SHOEMAKER, in
re. ronse to an application to Gle claim for
land. received notice from tie Land once NJ
Pueblo that hc should bo notified when
the Land Once gave privilege to lle
claims. Other settlers who wished to
enter land under the pretmption laws were
Invariably informed that the land was not open
for entry. II now appears that the derivatiye
claim which was 80 lony used t. dehar settlers
from obtaining titles To- their property was with
drawn last MAyl But iu the mean time patents
were issued from the General Land Onicc In
Washington bearing date oct. I, ls,3, in the
names II persons never before heard Of by the
oldest residents IN Rent county to seven quarter
sections of land and recorded. successive trans
fcrs 81 the same land bv warranty decd ccntrns
Il all in the possession of DAVID II. NoFrATr
II the First National Bark In Denver Delegate
CHNTFFE being the Pres dent OF this Institution.
At the same time some warranty deeds to AL
lcrcs more u lands adjacent were nlcd for
record, veetinc title In the same MOrrATT.
| These deeds were taken from Denver to west
Las AnimHs by an agent, who ar used the Re-
rorder from his bed in the night, insisting that
! they should be Instantly recorded, after which
he left in the darkness fearing to he seen hy the
settlers. These deeds covered not only tile town
| site - West Las Animas but also the richest
| lands ia the neighborhuod 4 the ;own, the in
| tent Of the transaction being to swiudle
| the legitimate settlers out Of their property.
| This business was evidently arranged I'm
| Washington, whore, under the present Admin
| i-tration, tho whole machinery OF the General
| Land ONCE has been used TO defraud hon
,st settlers aud promote the interests Of the
moueyed land gtabbers who covet the posses-
sions Of the pioneers Of civ h2auon In the West.