Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-09
Squatters Pre-Empting the
San Fernando Rancho.
A Society Formed to Fight the
Title-HOlders.
Number of Homestead Claims
Picked Out Yesterday.
Mr.. Lankershim Laughs at tho PROPOSE
tion-What a Member of the So
ciety Told "Herald" Report
er - Many Thousands of
Acres Claimed to BE
Government Land.

On yesterday it is said that there
were about one hundred and fifty men
squatting on the ex-Mission San Fernan-
do rancho, including the Lankershim
properties in that locality.
Most of the locations were made yes
terday, and tomorrow the land Office
will be full of men filing homestead
claims.
1t appears that society was formed
about year ago to look into the title of
the ex-San Fernando Mission rancho.
There were certain points ascertained
which were assumed to be defects, and
a man was sent to the city of Mexico
where he overhauled the archives and
found what is claimed to be ample evil
dence of mistake made in the bound
aries OF the original grant which are de-
scribed by meets and bounds. Another
man was sent to Washington to look
up the records of the commission
which confirmed the old Mexican
grants and there it is claimed more evil
dence was found. A few days ago the
company deemed that it had sufficient
evidence to justify it in taking action,
but it also decided to put the present
holders of the land in the position of
taking the initiative in the legal fight,
so they say that they will simply squat
on the land and force the title holders
to bring ejectment actions or suits for
trespass against them.
A member of the company was seen
last evening by HERALD reporter, and
said: "We have been at work for about
year, and now have $500 in the
treasury and think we can get the land" !"
"How much land is there in ques-
tion?" was asked.
"Well, there are in all great many
thousand acres which we claim belong
to the government, and are now open
for entry under the public land laws.
This land is of the very best quality,
and at very low estimate is worth 500
to $3.50 per acre.
"We have had good legal assistance
and we have surveyed the whole rancho,
and have established the lines exactly.
l don't think there is any doubt but
what we will carry our point, and that
by next week San Fernando will be full
of people making locations. That amount
of land, comprising thousands OF acres,
will 60 round among good many, but
there is not such great amount left
now, for we have not been idle during
the past few days and the country is
dotted with locations now.
LANKERsHIM TALKS.
Mr.. Lankershim, on being inter-
viewed at his home late last evening by
a HERALD reporter, laughed at the idea
of his ranch being occupied by squatters,
as he called them. He stated that the
patent to his ranch was one of the oldest
in the county, while his title was of the
best. However, even if the title had not
been good, twenty years OF undisputed
possession would give him clear title
if nothing else would. Several attempts
had been made, he said, to squat upon
his ranch, but most of the squatters had
left without any compulsion, while
those who had not done SO
had been elected, SO that he
did not fear any successful dispute OF
his title. He had not heard of any re-
cent attempt upon his ranch, and did
not feel alarmed about it if it had been
made. tt
His ranch referred to was near San
Fernando, he said, and was an extreme
ly large holding in the neighborhood oi
two and half miles square. He said
that the land was very valuable, and
that it was likely that he would be
alarmed if there was any serious danger
to his possession of it.