Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-02-23
Atlantic &PaCi6C
r. r 90.
Law and Land Department.
j. A. WILLIAMSON, General Solicitor, Land
Commissioner.

ALBUQUERQUE, n NJ, January !, 1889.
When the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad COM
pany established its land department at Albu-
querquc, New Mexico, in June, 1881, but little Of
its road was completed and the country adjacent
to its proposed line was unlnhabted except by
indians, and comparatively unknown. The
company was DESTROYS of securing agricultural
settlers and stock raisers along its line, and with
that end III 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
volumnous, 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 capability for pro-
ducing, various crops have been ascertalned the
prices have, in some localities, been advanced,
and letters recently written in answer to in
quiries as to prices have named the present
prces--higher than those formerly given The
company learned that III several eases where it
has written to correspondents naming the price
of certain tracts especially valuable for timber
or on account of the abundance of water, that
| they have 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 1t 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
siener has had correspondence that all offers to
sell particular tracts OF land at prices named are
withdrawn. new scale OF prices, according to
| ,yb atb nr biUhpr loNypr than the
prices formerly quoted will be given to CORE
| spondents verbally or in answering written III
| quries from and after this date.
| Careful examination of the lands owned by
| 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
49, 0S0 acres, is % 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 ana
| also owing to locality.
| The 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 will range from So to SIC
per acre.
| Agricultural lands along streams, whore 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 tt
suit purchasers.
All letters which have heretofore been writer
to any or all persons authorizing them to sci
any OF the companys lands are hereby revoked
and persons claiming to be agents Tor the salt
Of land must produce authority from the lane
commissioner bearing date of January |, 1881, o.
subsequent to be Of any validity.
The agricultural and stock raising capacity o
the lands owned by this company is only be
ginning to be understood. The country. is de
veloping and settlers are finding hcalthful ant
beautiful homes on the most productive soil.
few acres of irrigated land will produce mor
food supplies than large farm in the eastern o
middle states. The climate is all that can b
desired, being more genial and sunny than tina
of Italy. :,
Easy, accommodating terms of payment vii
be given to purchasers when desired.
J. A. WILLIAMSON,
Land Commissioner