Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-09
PRE-EMPTIoN swINDLEs.
How the Grazing Grounds of New
Mexico Are StO en- by Capitalists.

FF0n the Aeo HOTE Herbtd.
SANTA FE., April 3-"My dear sir, p
said well informed citizen OF Santa Fe
to your correspondent, ''if the govern.
ment wishes TO put nearly every land
holder n the penitentiary it has only tC
persist in these +rials tor violation of the
land laws-that is, assuming that the
Land Office could secure convictions.
You see the difficulty in even finding in
dlctments, as illustrated in the Baca
cases. What a greater undertaking
would it be to convict before petit jury
in event of an indictment having been
fOundW The statement is not greatly
exaggerated one, especially as regards
he almost absolutely certain imdOsibillty
of inducing twelve mer sitting on cases
OF land grabbing to agree to pronounce
the accused guilty.
A FINE FIELD FOR PLUMBER.
New Mexico comprises a vast region,
with b eadth OF 3 30 mics and an aver
age width of $40 miles. comprising an
area OF III POI square miles. The majority
OF the pOpu alton only numbers about
1856, 900, or a little more than one inhabi-
tact To each square mile. Village Settle
ments are general, owing to the past
necessity for mutual defense against tse
cattle-is the principa, occupation of the
people. The water facilities for supply
ing the numerous herds are peculiar.
Except along the banks OF streams, and
in the case of occasional springs flowing
up from the crevices IN the rocks, the land
is dry. While it grows considerable
herbage sufficient % maintain large
herds there is urgert necessity tor water
supply to meet tie wants OF the beeves
and sheep. The ain OF the land grabbers,
almost always cattle men, has been to
absorb as much al possible of the govern
ment lands sitLSted around the water
courses and springs. The remaining ma
jority OF acres-il proportion to 10 or ~
TO Oue-thus become worthless to any
body else because there is no water. The
cattle men, thus controlling occasional
or continuous 1850 acre tracts along the
banks OF streams. obtaining possession
by virtue Of the United States homestead
or presumption laws, are masters of the
whole country. 1t is in the getting
possession Of land by entry not made in
accordance with the laws that the great
mass Of fraud which everywhere per-
meates the Territory has arisen.
sUBoRNATIoS OF PERJURY.
A stockman, for instance, wishes 10
maintain LOCO hesd Oi cattle. He can
only personally prC-empt or take up under
the homestead act 100 acres of govern
ment land, "A trac. entirely too small ia
be of practical use. So. to get around the
wise provisions of the United States land
laws. the stOckman proceeds 10 secure
the desired territory by artifce. He EN-
ploys a number OF herders, generally
MeXicans, to take charge OF his struggling
kline. The lower class MeXicans are gen.
orally ready to serve their employer
without scrupulOSity, and when il comes
to swearing 10 attestatlon Of a home
stead entry the son OF the land Of the Mon
teZumas eVInces about as much signs
of conscience as a Digger lndian. OF
tentimes the stockmen will merely give
some obscure Mexican a paper to sign by
his mark anC to make oath regarding it's
correctness, concerning the contents OF
which the signer and swearer is entirely
ignorant. AssOOn as the necessary formal
tiles OF tue Land Office are gone through
with the stoekman takes possession. and
in this manner obtains immense tracts
over which lis herds roam in defiance OF
the spirit as we'll as The express provisions
Of the laws regulating the disposition OF
the public domain. One hundred thou
sand acres 0i pasturage may be controlled
by obtaining possession OF 1000 watered
acres by fraudulent taking up Of govern
ment land.
HOW THE LAW rs EvADED.
In the case of these stock range entries
there is generally nothing in the way OF
improvement save possible ''dugOup
or rude stone or wooden shelter for the
herdsman to protect him from the wi DIS
In large proportion Of instances a care
ful inspect on Of the land will not reVea
even the vestiges OF a fire. No attempt
"a "a al nnIflNATlnn
land remains just as it mas existed since
the creation OF the world save with suct
notifications as the trampiBg and the
nlbblng Ci numerous sheep and steer,
may produce. In this manner nearly al
the watercourses have been bordered by
the tools O stock raisers. With the lands
along the banks Of a river controlled
by such mans the country for miles back
Is despoueally governed. AS no settler
cares 10 enter upon the back lands they
remain utoccupied and in this manner
millions o acres Of public lands are letI
vacant. AZ the present time the evil is
not such 4 crying Que as the future will
produce, hut with the progress % time
and the expansion OF population the West
ern bound army Of hOmeseekers will be
confronted by the rude and lawless band.
OF herdsuen, and With the fierce com
mand. "keepOtl these lands-they belong
to our masters The lands situated 10
the rear Of those ringing the water
courses being unsettled, the stOckman Is
enabled D range mis- cattle over them, and
he can thus utilize all sucn government
territory by the presumption Of the ada
cent watered tracts.
WHY REFORM 10 NECESSARY.
The present laws defeat their own IN.
tention. aud this airy aud hilly region vii
never be- settled up so long as the stool
mOnopo sts control affairs AS al present
The result is that the ancient semi-ieuda
Spanish land ~ stem is already In tut
peration. and the poor man or weak settler
who is indisposed 10 maintain his right.
al the point OF a Winchester rifle quick )
is crushed 10 the wall. some NJ the largest
aud finest ranches In New Mexico were
acquired by the u'lon OF numerou.
fraudulently acquired homesteads
Notably among them Is the great estate
OF star reuter- =. W. Dorsey. A pOr.
tion OF bis fine property la northern
New Mexico was fraudulpntly home
steaded, and Is that Of which your cores
pondent has been informed is correct a
rod of rptribution IL already cut and IN