Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-26
THE COCHITI CASES.
Likely to Be Promptly Decided by the
Mnd COurt-Several Decisions
TO-day-AS to Adjourn
ment.

ment.
The land court yesterday continued the
trial of the Canada de Coch,ti grant and
the case was taken under advisement,
This case has taken up several days and
the outcome is awaited with great interest.
1t is authoritatively announced that this
and other cases heard at this time will be
decided without delay, so that settle
ment of these important questions of
title may be expected within the next
fortnight. A representative of the New
MEXICAN had a talk with the land court
officials this morning and learned some
interesting facts as to the Cochiti case.
While there are several claims covering
the valuable mining district of Cochiti,
the principal issue is between the gov
eminent and the holders of the Canada
de Cochiti claim.
In the trial of this grant, the sole sub
ject of dispute has been as to the
LOCATION OF THE NORTH BOUNDARY.
The south boundary is matter of con-
sent, as it begins where the northern
limits of the Indian lands, in which is the
Pueblo de Cochiti, end. 1t is as to the
northern boundary, however, that all the
evidence adduced IN the trial has been
brought forward.
The government contends that the
northern boundary of the grant is q line
running east and west through the old
Pueblo de Cochiti, now in ruins, and
situated in the Canon de Cochiti, about
five miles from Alerton.
This is the point at which the Indians
fetreated at the time of the conquest.
The grant laimants, however, contend
that the northern boundary is an east and
west line running through the Pueblo
viejo which is six or eight miles further
north. The title papers place the north
ern boundaries at
1.-THE OLD PUEBLO OF COCH1TI,'
and it is the meaning of this term that
has given rise to all the controversy.
The government contends that there has
never existed a pueblo bearing the name
Cochiti further north than the old one in
the Cochitl canon; and that, therefore,
this last is the northern boundary.
The claimants say that the other
pueblo, seven miles further north, comes
within the description of the old grant,
The government introduced no witnesses,
relying on the title papers and the plain
tiffs' witnesses to establish its contention
1t Is interesting to note that which
ever boundary is adopted by the court,
Allerton lies in
THE CANADA DE oOCHITI GRANT,
as it is south of the boundary conceded
by the government. Between the bound
airy claimed by the government and that
claimed by the holders of the grant, there
lies, however, some very important prop
erty, Bland City and the surrounding
mining district and the Pueblo Cuesta
Blanca being all situated within this dis
puted territory. The decision of the
court will therefore, be awaited with
special interest, not only by the residents
of that part of the Cochiti region, but by
hundreds of citizens of Santa Fe, Albu-
querque and Denver and capitalists and
mining men all over the country.
AS TO ADJOURNMENT.
1t was announced in yesterdays paper
that the land court would in all probable
ity adjourn Saturday until January and
that the decision of the Cochiti case would
thus likely 60 over for some months. A
member of the court this morning author.
lied the statement that it would continue
It's sitting until all cases now ready for
trial are disposed Of; and that all cases
already argued and submitted would be
decided without delay. The prospect for
adjournment on Saturday, or early next
week is, however, good, as it is probable
that all cases ready for a hearing or for
decision can be disposed Of during the
next few days.
THE PERALTA CLAIM.
The Peralta claim, which, In addition
to the several cases already tried, is alleged
to cover part of the Cochiti district, was
taken up Yesterday and submitted with
out argument. Mr.. G. H. Howard rep.
resented the claimants.
SEVERAL DECISIONS.
This morning the court rendered sew.
eral important decisions as to cases which
have been heretofore argued and taken
under advisement.
The La Bajada grant was confirmed to
the extent Of the boundaries proved. This
grant is located IN Santa Fe and Berna
lillo counties and the claimants were Be