Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-05-01

people so polite as the spaniards
would have had the courtesy to have
failed to look through the transpar.
ent rhetoric with which Messrs.
Beaubien and Miranda thinly yelled
their intention to secure the most
valuable p,rtion of this valuable ter
ritory. What highminded and noble
Spanish ruler could refuse a petition
so politely and adroitly framed as tie
following
"sUGAR-BEET" PETITION
MosT EXCELLENT SIR: The undersign-
cd, Mexican ci izens, and residents of this
place, in the most approved manner re.
quired by law, state: That, OF all the de-
partments IN the republic, with the excep'
ton of the C1lifornias, New Mexico is one
of the most backward in intelligence, in
dustrV, manufactures, etc; and surely few
Others present the natural advantages to
I've found therein, not only on account OF
its abundance of water, forests, wood, and
useful timber, but also on account OF the
fertility of the soil, containing within Its
bosom rich and precious metals, which, up
to this time, are useless for the want OF en-
terprising men who will convert it TO the
advantage OF other men-all of which
productions of nature are susceptible OF
being used for the benefit Of society in the
department as well as III the tntire IepuD-
lie il they were in the hands of individuals
who would work and improve them. An
old and true adage says that "What is the
business of all is the business of none; !"
therefore, while, the fertile lands in New
MeXico-where, without contradiction, ma
ture has proven herself most generous
are not reduced to private property, where
it will be improved it will be of no benefit
to the department, which abounds in idle
people, who, for want of occupations ore
burden to the industrious portion of socie'
ty, while with their labor they could con-
tribute to its welfare and honestly comply
with their obligations. ldleness, the
mother of vice, is the cause of the increase
of crimes " hich are daily being committed
Notwithstanding the severity of the laws
and their riged execution the towns are
overrun with thieves and murderers, who
by this means alone procure their subsis-
tence. We think it difficult task to re-
form the present generation, accustomed
TO idleness and hardened In vice. But the
rising one, receiving new impressions, will
easily be guided by the principles of pure
morality. The welfare of naticn consists
in the possession of l.nds which produce
all the necessaries OF life, without requir-
ing those of other nations; and it cannot
be d, MED that New Mexico possesses this
great advantage, and only requires indus
trious hands to make it happy residence
This is the age of progress and march Of
intellect, and they are so rapid that we
may expect, at day not far distant, that
they Will feacn even us.
Under the above conviction, we both
request your excellency to be pleased to
grant us a tract of land for the purpose Of
improving it without injury to any third
party, and raising sugar beets, which We
believe will grow well and produce al
abundant crop, and in time to establish
manufactures OF cotton and wool, ano
raise stock of every description. The
tract OF and we petition for to be dividet
equally between us, commences below The
junction of the Rayado river witt the Col
orado, and in direct line toward the cas-
to the tirst hills, ard from there runninf
parallel with said river Colorado i'll
northern direction TO opposite the point o
the Una de Cato, iollr wing the same riy
ers along the same hills to continue to thu
east of said Una de Cato to the summit o
the table-land (mesa,) from whence turning
nortb-y est to follow along said summit un
iii it reaches the top of the mountalI
which divides the waters of the rivers run
ming toward the east from those running
towards t. 6 west, and from thence follow
ing the line OF said mountain in south
wardly direction until it intersects tn
first hills south OF the Rayado river, ant
follow ing the summit of said hills towar'
the east toward the place of beginning.
For the reasons above expressed, and be
ing the heads of large families, we humo!.
pray your excell,ncy to take our joint re
tttion under consideration, and be please'
TO grant us the land we petition TOR D,
dong which we will receive grace AM
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