Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-12-20

Land Company the NUMBER OF sfares
set opposite our names to be paid for
in the lands owned by us in the Don
Joaquin Galan land grant IN Webb
county, Texas.
Sept. 18th, 1876.
STOCKHOLDERS. SHARES.
Daniel Ruggles ............. 1900
Mortimer McIlhany...-..... so
j. West & Bros............... 50
w. NJ. Shumate..--....... 2S5 9-lOO
james ID. billiard. 66-100
VIM. Pollock............... 8 $4,000
Daniel Murphy ............... so
w. III. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Is 1-2
j. J. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Let us take a cursory review of the
above charter and articles of agree
ment. And as we do so the query
arises at the very beginning, why did
Gen. Ruggles bring these lands to
Audrain county to sell, hundreds of
miles from theil location, where they
had never been heard OF, and were al
together unknown. 1t was simply
because where these lands were known
they could not find a purchaser, and
because here wss the requisite talent
to sell such lands. On a visit to that
section of country we learned from
u~ndisputed authority that the whole
grant was in litigation, and that in all
probability only a portion Of it would
be confirmed to him, and We have
since learned that he has not probably
the color of a title to by far the
larger part. but there is an associa-
ton formed in Audrain county to en-
courage agriculture and horticulture
on that tract. From dilligent in
quiry and from careful observation
we are prepared to say that if there is
any thing in the world these lands are
unfit for it is tor agriculture and hor-
ticultuce. That whole country for
hundreds of miles North, South, East,
and West, is I'm almost unbroken for
rest of cactus and every intelligent man
knows that where this hourishes moth
ing in the line of agriculture and hor-
~ticulture will grow. Had parties SELL
ing those lands told US they were
covered with cactus, it would have
been enough, but that fact was care
fully concealed. During our ride
through Webb county, we did not see
where a farming Implement of any
kind had ever been put into the
ground. But these lands have other
advantages besides their agricul-
tural and horticultural facilities.
They are rich in mineral
water, abound in beautiful town
sites, and have ferry and other COM
mercial advantages. So our charter
represents. There is-a bare possibili-
ty that there may be coal on those
lands, but whether there is any worth
speaking of is yet to be determined,
and as for other minerals We could
learn of the existence of none. Gen.
Ruggles went there with some of our
people, and had there beet any min
erals of value ON the lands, it is but
reasonable TO suppose he would have
spoken of them and pointed out their
location, he did no such thing. As
for ferry and other commercial advan-
tages I will say, the head of navigation
is two hundred miles down the river.
THERE'S a ford such as we have so many
in Audrain county, but this is onl'
a damage to the grant inasmueh as it
makes it more easily accessible to
neighbors on the other side. Parties
Interested rm selling those lands told
of other advantages not specified in
the charter. They were said to
abound in excellent timber and fine
mill sites, and we're said to be the
best location in the world for a store.
If thesmercantiie business car be car
ried on ~pioftably without inhabitants
or money, then ] will admit it will be
diffienlt to fadaa better place. But
they enter into an agreement and
promise among other things that
these fanis shall be surveyed, and ap.
praised and dix ided, and each midi
viduals share set off to him. This
was to have been done last January
Some of us were simple minded
tenough 10 think they meant what the,
said and went to assist If necessar.
In the survey and receive our quota