Arizona citizen., 1874-04-25
Spanish and Mexican Land Grants.

We have received copy of bill in troduced in the United States Senate by MT. Ferry and reported back by Mir. Bogy from the committee on private land claims, recommending the passage of a substitute to enable claimants to lands within the limits of the Territories of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado to institute suits to try the validity of their claims. It provides that any claimant or representative of Spanish or Mexican grant may present petition in writing to the judge of the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which such lands may be situate, setting forth said claim together with a map des- criptive thereof. It is made the duty of of the U. s. district attorney and also any adverse possessor or claimant to enter an appearance within thirty days, unless further time is granted by the judge, and plead answer or demur to the petition, and in default of such plea or answer the judge shall proceed to hear the cause on the petition and proofs, and render final decree. The court may at its discretion order disputed facts to be found by a jury, according to the regulation and practice of the said courts. In all cases the party against whom the judgment or decree of said district court may be finally rendered, shall be entitled to an appeal to the su- preme court of the Territory. The su- preme court is authorized to retry the cause both as to questions of fact and law, and may hear testimony in addition to, that given in the court below, and either party is allowed one year to appeal from the supreme court of the Territory to the supreme court of the United States, whose decision shall be final. The pro- visions of this act will only apply to such claims as may be presented within two years from the date of it's approval After the final decision of any claim it is the duty of the surveyor-general to survey the same at the expense ot the govern ment. It is made the duty of the district attorney in every case when the decision is adverse to the United States to appeal the same to the supreme court ot the Territory, and if the decree of the latter court is adverse to the United States he shall appeal to the supreme court of the United States, unless the attorney general | of the United States directs otherwise. In case any land decreed to any claimant shall have been sold by the United States, such claimant may within one year file a release to the United States of the same and receive in lieu thereof scrlp for the | location of a like amount of unoccupied land. The judges are each allowed an ex- tra compensation of S2,000 per annum. All claims not filed within three years from the passage of this act shall be deemed to be abandoned and shall be for ever barred
 We believe that some plan similar to the above should be at once adopted for the settlement of Spanish and Mexican grants until it is definitely settled who are the legal owners of these lands. No i'm. provements of any value will be made on them and expensive Mitigation is liable to continue until the titles are finally settled We are much pleased with that feature ot the bill which compels claimants to lands to commence proceedings within three years or be forever debarred. There should have been some legislation long ago to speedily and finally settle these claims, and we hope Delegate Mccormick and other representatives whose consti tuents are interested, will urge this ol some other measure through this Con gress. Senator Thurman has given notice that after the financial question is disposed of he shall call this bill up and press ii to vote, and with his ability and stand ing in the Senate this argues well for its passage in that body.
 Col. VIM. BOYLE, an old Nevada miner was at Salt Lake, April 10, en route to So nora, Mexico, with 150 men to work the Santa Rita mines in that State. The mines are owned in London and the company have capital of one million pounds sterling.