Arizona weekly citizen., 1886-04-17
MEXICAN LAND CLAIMS.
What Ex-Surveyor General Wa-son has to Say of the ~BoquiIlas" "CaiabaSa-." -Los
 NogaIes de Elias" and others.

General, examined and reported upon
 the titles to thirteen private land claims based upon tLs laws. customs and us ages Of Sgcia aud Mexico. The treaty by which We acquired Arizona, requires that titles based upon the ''ussges" and ''custOms" of Spain and Mexico. are to be favorably considered as we'll as those
 based upon the "lsvS" of those nations. | heard so many assert before entered upon this branch of duty, that there
 were no valid claims based on foreign titles, in Arizona, that believed there were few if any at sll also hoped there were none; but as It was my duty to find according to the facts and treaty obliga- tions, was compelled to recommend confirmation of eleven claims, two Of
 which were very small, and nearly all of them for much less than claimants Ce- mauded. IL Is LOW nearly four years
 since my last recommendation Was made. and 1t k, qualification that every one Cf my reports that has been exam med by the commissioner ot the land office the Secretary of the Interior or d committee of Congress has been ap- proved in every particular.
 February 2i, lSt2. the House commit tee Ou Private land claims reported a bill for the confirmation Oithe San Ra- fael del.Nalle, San Juan de los Boquillas, San Jose tie SOIOlta ard Los Nogales de Elias The bill declared that each of these specified claims be confirmed ID accordance with the decision and rec ommenda,ion of the said SuryeyOr-Gen- eral. The bil! was accompanied by a strong favorable report; bu. prior to tins, upon the committees request the commissioner of the general land office eNHmiDed and reported fayOrably upon these several cases.
 The next day, Feb 2j:h, 1882, similar action was had upon tue IumLcori and Los Calabas8s, the committee saying they were Of opinion the claim IS just Bnd legal one and favorably quote the findings of the Surveyor General.
 Of these claims, the BoguIllas, Los Nogalcs de Elias and Cslabasas, have been denounced as frauds by the press and otherwise. Prior to action on asy Of them, public notice in Spanish and En- glish was given Tn Spanish and English papers Tor SIX consecutive weeks, of the purpose fthe government to examine into their validity with a view to con drmstlon. The local papers also called upon interested parties to protect their interests. Not one of the many who de- nounced the claims ns frauds, appeared m person or by written protest to defeat them. Many were verbally and by form al summons requested to appear and give testimony for or against them. Very few paid tine slightest attention to these requests. The office had no DOW CT to compel the attendance of witness. es. The few who did appear, knew no: single fact against he ciaims worthy of the slightest consideration ia decid- ing them. They probably honestly be ieved the claims frauds, but never pre- sented s fact tending to show them such.
 On the other hand, the proper ar- chives of Mexico had been examined and found to contain genuine records in each case. More or less testimony of living witnesses to the enrly occupgtion and cause of abandonment, was taken III each case. There wgs absolutely no suspicion of fraud found ID either case; therefore the Rp- proyal of the NoRales de Elia-, Calabasas and BOquillas claims was imperative. Any other action would have been bold defiance of law and disregard of sworn obligstIOps; would have been gross outrage upon honest claimants, and dissstrously mis- | leading to settlers generally.
 The Tombstone Mill and Mining Co. | and Western Mining Co, (now Conten- |
 
 too much to buy land of men whose ti- | tie was fraudulent, or to build expensive | Iniils upon the private land of others. l They satisfied themselves that the title | to the BOquIllas was valid and bought | the land required of the claimants, The | Boston Co. tried to buy at it's own price, and failing, denounced the title fraud | aud oeiiei my action Tn the premises, its officers had pre- vioBs'y tried tO purchase part of the claim of the holder of it.
 The Mexican records, the espidien.es and the testimony m each of the cases 0f "BJquiilas" Los Nogsles de Ellas" and 'Calabasas,' las well as other named ,laims) unite in making valid titles. It Eouli be much better for settlers on sIther, to unite with the claimants to procure speedy confirmation, and then make the best terms possible. If they continue to opp Sc confirmation, they nay delay but not defeat il. In the their Improvements and tue and are becoming more valuable, and he owners more exacting. The mere wishes or even vital interests ot settlers yIli nOtin validate tItle or convert 8 fact nto lie IT they believe my action yrO1g, they should show it to be so by acts obtained from the records of rl- lora and reliable testimony Of men iu- o.med Tn the premises. It Is not mat CT of interest to me. If 1 have erred, l l Fould Do glad Co have the fac. shown by he records and unlmpeachable tcstI- T nony, not by unsupported assertions. ly interests are largely in ArizcnA and xpect them to be. 1 want to see tue 6 'erritory prosper. and the proper set q lement of land titles, and the marking [ the boundaries of all private iand ialms and Indian reservations, will romOte prosperity. I,therelore would : indy and respectfully urge those who 1. lam l have bOlstered mp bad titles, to l Q 10 the proper records for evidence | nd not to public meetings or to any uu- ! alIable source. The Supreme court has uniforuniy : cid that a claim oi any validity bsfore ( le treaty, was property stterward. nat "equitsble' and "inchoa,e" titles be- ? 're should be confirmed after; and also lat titles to private lapds or property [ Dtained under foreign nations, should l' g maintained by the existIng govern O ent, regardless of treaties--in other s ords, rights to property acquired un- a sr Spanish or Mexican laws, ussges and q lstomE, should be sscredly respected i' Id protected by our government 10 the ,sence of any treaty on the subie.t. Q IS idle to suppose tbat the govern C eDt will change its established rules r' action regarding titles to property i' luIred under foreign governments. I1 may delay action but delay is no evi- e nee of refusal. ti
 JOHN WAsSoN. p