Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-04-12
orINTEREsr TO SErTLERT.

OF INTEREST TO SETTLERT. Some months since, Messrs. Craig and Iron, living on the Pinal Ranch, situated in the northern foothills of the Pinal mountains, wrote to the local land office here for information in regard to sur veys under the special deposit system. This letter was referred to Surveyor General Johnson, who explained to them the difficulties thrown in the way of the special deposit system Sy the late unla- meHted ex- Commissioner Spark, and sug- gested that they address letter on the subject to Governor Wolfiey. This was done, and the result is decidedly in favor of the applicants. Commissioner Groff is gentleman of broad and liberal ideas and under his rulings no techni- cality is allowed to intervene between the honest settler and his rights. Messrs. Craig & Iron have good piece of property, but they have labored years to make it such and they truly are de- serving of the special survey asked.
 Under the late administration another fragrant piece of injustice was done the settlers in the neighborhood of Gro Blan- co and Arivaca. That section of the country was surveyed, the plats ac- cepted and approved, and to the surprise of all, the land withheld from settlement on the plea that it was mineral ID char acter. The townships in question, while undoubtedly mineral to large extent, contain many fertile valleys that, could a title be had to same, would make as many happy and independent homes. In these valleys there IS no mineral, perhaps an occasional streak of barren quartz, but nothing that can be proftably worked. These barren streaks, however, led to the foolish claim that the entire township was min eral and its fertile valleys must in con- sequence, be withheld from the agricul- turist and home seeker. Settlers who have lived and occupied these favored valleys hoped when the survey was made, that they would be allowed title to their hard earned homes, but the late defunct democrat administration had nothing but disappointment in store for them. We are satisfied, however, that if the proper representations be made to the department at Washington, these lands will be open for settlement. The following is Commissioner Groff's reply to Governor Wolfey:
 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
 GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
 WASHINGTON, D. C., March 15, 1890.
 Hon. Lewis Wolfley. Governor of Ariz- ona,
 SRI am in receipt of your letter dated February 2S, 1890, inclosing one from MeSsrs. Iron and CraIg, dated Pinal Ranch, A. T., October 2S, 1889, in regard to the surveys of lands embrac- ing settlements in Arizona.
 You ask that instructions be sent to the Surveyor General of Arizona, per mitting deposits to be made by settlers. In reply 1 have to state that surveys may be made under the deposit system whenever the requirements of circular of June 24, 1885 copy herewith, shall have been complied with. The Hon. Secretary of the Interior has recently declined to make any general modified tions of said circular, and the regulations therein contained are still in force.
 In this connection have to state that under date of July D, 1889, the sum of 5000 out of the surveying appropria- tion for the current fiscal year was plac- ed at the disposal of the Surveyor Gene ral of Arizona, and he was authorized to apply the same to the survey of town ships occupied wholly or in part by ac- tual settlers, as contemplated by the ap- propriation act, and he wasfurther auth orized, where portions of townships were mountainous or otherwise rendered un- fit for agricultural purposes, to survey the portions adapted to agriculture leaving the remainder unsurveyed.
 AS yet no surveying contracts charge able to the said sum of 5000, have been presented for my approval, and the en tire sum is therefore available to make such surveys as may be applied for, by bona fide settlers.
 Should contracts be forwarded accom- panied by satisfactory evidence as to settlements and the character of the lands, they will be duly approved.
 Very Respectfully
 LEWIS 4. GRoFF,
 Commissioner.