The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-06
A SCHEME FRUSTRATED.

The ARaUs on two previous occasions
has referred to the good work Of congress
man Neece ut Washington, in regard to
the attempted land steal The scheme was
eoDcoetrd by some eastern capitalists
who are in the cattle business in New
Mexico and Texas The secretary Of
public lands had been induced to sell the
lands known as the ''Oio Caliente" or Hot
Springs reservation in the territory of New
Mexico in BODY, and accordingly five
special sections, which inciuied said res
eryation aud the springs thereon, we're
advertised to be sold on the 9th day of
February, with L provision that no bids
for less than $15 009 were to be enter
tanned. The cash to be paid in hand ant
no Adjournment! of sale TO be made. The
springs are sand to be highly medicinal in
effect, and equal to the celebrated springs
in Arkansas, and furnish all the water for
nearly half million acres of land. A
few ether springs in. the mountains are
already homesteaded by persons under
the employ Of these speculators which
have been patented ana the titles secured
by these would be cattle kings The
gu!eh, or Rio Canada AlamQsa, for, twonty
miles below has either beenysecured by
the homestead operation or by railroad
land scrip. The only thing lacking to
complete this gigantic'speculation was the
completion Of the sale.
Mr.. Neece's resolution (which provided
for a stoppage Of the sale, was referred to
the committee on the public glands.
Through his influence said committee at
shce held a special session, and on hearing
the gentleman's statements and examining
the documents furnished, came to the
decision unanimously that said lands
should not be sold, and at the request of
the committee said sale was stopped.
On Monday of this week Mr.. Niece
followed up his work by introducing bill
ia the house to withdraw said reservation
from sale, except for town site, thereby
putting it beyond the reach of Spectators
te moRopolize all the water of that vast
tsrritsry to the exclusion of actual set
aers
Portions of this land are occupied by
actual settlers who have made valuable
Improvements thereon, which they would
have lost had the sale proceeded,
as they were not able to compete, on
account of the extraordinary order that
these lands be sold in body.
From a report dated Sept 8, 1883, made
t. the department Of the interior by Geo
D. Bowman. register and Marino Barcle,
receiver, relative to these lands, there
appears the following: 1T seems to us
altogether probable that in the not distant
future the locality of these springs may
become popular resort for inyalids and
pleasure seekers Its attitude ismore thar
enc thousand feet above the level of the
Rio Grande at Fort Craig, and is sheltered
an the south by a range Of mountains
which protect it from the scorching rays
OF a summer sun, while intervals of grassy
sell, radiating in alldirections and extend
Jag long distances afford excellent oppor
tunities for pleasant drives" The STATE
that the temperature reaches So F anC
jets of cold water coming from the hill
are ample for all household needs, and a,
the water is known to be highly medicinal
in effect on account Of It's mineral proper
ties, nothing is needed to make it al
attractive resort for the sick and fo
pleasure seekers. The water power o
the stream formed from these springs
rnshes down the cavern a distance @
twenty miles, and could easily b,
turned TO account by mill men and man
ufacturers Protected lines of railroad
are now tending towards The springs ant
making them the point Of their progress
thus afiording easy access and egress 70
trade, barter and intercourse with distan
communities. "To offer these lands a
public sale, say these gentlemen, "woult
doubtless result in throwing them in tn
hands Of wealthy non resident SPECTATOR
to the exclusion Of worthy and inGustriou
settlers Of small means who would be gla,
to occupy and improve them. Thes
lands are of an exceptional excellence
and shonG they be thus monopolized
their actual settlement might DE lon
delayed"
Before rcsorting TO this resolution, Mr
Neeee made frequent visits to the secreta
Ties of the interior, and OF the publ
lands, respectively and urged upon then
the improperly of selling these lands in
body, and requested them TO withdraw
from sale, which they absolutely refuses
10 do