Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-02-05
Atlantic &PaCifC
r. r 90.
Law and Land Department.
]. A. WILLIAMSON, General Solicitor, Land
Commissioner.

ALBUQUERQUE, N. NJ, January /, 1889.
When the Atlantic d Pacific Railroad com
pany established its land department at Albu-
qucrque, New Mexico, in June, 1881, but little OF
its road was completed and the country adjacent
to its proposed line was uninhabited except by
Indians and comparatively unknown. The
company was DESTROYS of securing agricultural
settlers and stock raisers along its line and with
that end in view placed merely nominal price
| on its lands when sold to actual occupants. As
soon as the land department was organized and
established the company advertised its lands for
sale, and letters were received from all parts Of
this country and from many of the states of
Europe making inquiries as to the location,
character and price of Its lands. In answering
these letters the low prices at which the com
pany was willing at that time to sell its lands to
actual occupants were given. Correspondence
concerning its lands has been continuous and
voluminous, and, when required, the prices and
terms of payment for the several classes of land
have been given, and consequently there are
great numbers of letters In the hands of cores
pondents, written between July, 1881, and the
present time, in which prices were quoted which
would no longer be accepted,
Since surveys have been made and the land
explored and its quality and capablity for pro-
ducing various crops have been ascertained, the
prices have, in some localities, been advanced,
and letters recently written In answer to in
quiries as to prices have named the present
prices-higher than those formerly given. The
company learned that In several cases where 1t
has written to correspondents naming the price
OF certain tracts especially valuable for timber
or on account of the abundance of water that
they nave been told by persons holding letters,
written IN some instances several years ago, that
they could buy the land at the prices named in
letters which they hold.
In consequence of the facts above stated It be-
comes necessary to withdraw all offerings of any
OF the land at prices heretofore named, and to
inform all persons with whom the land commits
slsner has had correspondence that all offers to
sell particular tracts OF land at prices named are
withdrawn. new scale of prices, according to
whether HIGHER orl thap tba
prices formerly quoted, will be given to CORE
spondents verbally or in answering written in
quiries from and after this date.
Careful examination of the lands owned. nv
the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad company by
competent explorers had developed the fact
That there are local reasons why either large or
small areas should be sold for more or less, as
the case may be, than other areas of equal ex-
tent The greater abundance of grass water
and timber OF one section may greatly enhance
Its value over another.
Definite information as to the price of any
tract large or small, can only be given when
the land has been definitely selected For the
general information OF persons interested, 1t
may be stated that the average price of grazing
land, in compact bodies OF say not less than the
railroad sections IN four townships, aggregating
$1,000 acres, Is 81 25 per acre. There may be rea.
sons for increasing or diminishing this price,
owing to the quality of soil and quantity OF
grass, water, and timber suitable for fences, |
corrals and general ranch improvements, and |
also owing to locality.
Inc price OF coal and timber lands situated in |
localities where the company will entertain |
proposals for their sale, can only be fixed by |
actual selection, and viii range from IS to SO |
per acre.
Agricultural lands along streams, where there |
Is sufficient water supply for irrigation will be |
sold at $3.50 to $40 per acre, owing to locality,
abundance of water and proximity to railroad. |
Irrigable lands Will be sold in quantities to |
suit purchasers.
All letters which have heretofore been written
to any or all persons authorizing them to sell |
any OF the company's lands are hereby revoked,
and persons claiming to be agents for the sale
of land must produce authority from the land
commissioner bearing date of January |, 1883, or
to be of any validity.
The agricultural and stock raising capacity of |
the lands owned by this company Is only be-
ginning to be understood. The country is de-
veloplnS ind settlers are finding hcathful and
beautiful homes on the most productive soil, A
few acres Of irrigated land will produce more
food supplies than large farm in the eastern or
middle states. The climate is all that can be
desired, being more genial and sunny than that
Of Italy.
Easy, accommodating terms of payment will
be given to purchasers when desired.
]. A. WILLIAMSON,
Land Commissioner.