Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-12-02
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Land Grants, Water Storage, and Other
Matters OF Special Interest to
the Southwest.

The apportionment of the nation under
the new census; the congressional cleo
tions bill, and the wisdom OF the tariff
legislation OF last session are fully touched
upon in the presidents message, sent to
congress yesterday. Referring to pen
sons, he says: "This ibaral enlarge
ment OF the general laws should suggest a
more careful scrutiny of bills for special
relief, both as to the cases in which re-
lief is granted and as to the amount al
lowed AS to the general policy of the
land Office this:
"No general suspicion or imputation Of
frand has been allowed to delay the hear
ing and adjudication for individuals upon
their merit Their purpose has been to
perfect the title of honest settlers with
such promptness that the value OF the
entry might not be swallowed up by the
expenses and extortions to which delay
subjects the claimant. The monthly issue
of agricultural patents has been increased
about 81, 900"
On the subject of silver the president
says the monetary disturbances in Eng
land are not unlikely to suggest reaction
of opinion upon this subject. Our very
large supply of gold, will, if not lost by
impulsive legislation in the supposed in
terest of silver, give us a portion of ad-
vantage in promoting permanent and
safe international agreement fOr the Tree
use of silver as a coin metal. And, in
r. ference to the subject OF agriculture
says: 10
"The information given BY the secre-
tary of the progress and prospects OF the
beet sugar industry is full of interest. Il
has already passed the experimental stage
and is commercial success. The area
over which the sugar beet can be success.
fully cultivated is very large and another
field crop Of very great value is offered tc
the choice of the farmer"
The president concurs in the recon-
mendations of the secretary that adequate
and regular appropriations be continued
for coast defense work and ordinance
Plans have been practically agreed upor
and there can be no good reason for de
LAYING the execution OF them.
The message contains this allusion tt
New Mexico interests:
"The subject of the unadjusted Spanisl
and Mexican land grants and the urgen
necessity for providing some commission
or tribunal for the trial Of questions o
title growing out of them were twice
brought by me to the attention OF congress-
at the last session. Bills have been re
ported from the proper committees il
both houses on the subject and | yer.
earnestly hope that this congress will pu
an end to the delay which has ATTENDED
the settlement Of the disputes as to it'll
between settlers and the claimant
under those grants. These dispute
retard the prosperity and disturb th
peace of large and important communi
: ties. The governor of New Mexico il
, his last report to the secretary OF the in
terror suggests some notifications OF tn
{ provisions of the pending bills relating t.
the small holdings of farm lands. l com
mend to your attention the suggestion 0
, the secretary of the interior upon thi
subject"
On another subject of special momen
to the west the message says:
, The subject OF the conservation an
,, equal distribution OF the water supply @
,, the arid regions has had much attention
from congress. but as yet has not beef
placed upon satisfactory basis. Th
urgency of the subject does not gro'
: out of any large present demand for tn
use of water for agriculture, but out Of tn
danger that the water supply and tn
sites for the catch basins may fall int
t the hands of individuals or private incor
f porations and be used to render WORTHLESS
the large areas dependent upo
t such supplies. The owner OF tn
S water is owner Of the lands, howevel
the titles may run. All inappropriate
I natural sources and all necessary resel
! voir sites should be held by the govern
1 ment for the equal use, at fair rates,
3 the homestead settlers who will ever