Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-09
A GREAT LAND SALE
The Territorial Land Board Has q
Buyer for Large Tract of Grant
County Land.
FUND FOR THE SCHOOLS
Chicago Colonization Improvement Com.
pany Will Pay the Territory $4,000
When Land Selections Are APP
proved May Buy More.

While little of the doings of the terri
lie heretofore because lone of the bust
ness begun had been absolutely con-
Guided, one transaction has reached the
stage where it may be stated as finished
beyond the danger point at which med
dlers might seek to prevent a purchaser
of lands from buying of the territory
Several months ago well-known Chica-
go capitalists were approached with
reference to the establishment of an IT.
rigation system Upon the Rio Mimbres,
in Grant county. A. r. Burkdoll, repre-
senting himself and A.. L. Spalding, a
millionaire, the president of the great
bicycle trust, and a famous dealer in
sporting goods, and associates of that
gentleman, came out to look over the
proposition. Mr.. Spalding already had
interests on the Mimbres, and was in
terested in the famous resort at Hud-
sons hot springs. The result was that it
was determined to establish the irriga-
ton system, provided the lands could
be had for the application of water. The
Mimbres farms are fertile, and the re-
gion is adapted to fruit growing, farm
ing and stock raising. Great tracts of
land which could not be watered be-
cause they are away from the river, and
to a great extent are upper valley rath-
err than bottom lands, lie near the MINI
bres, but have never been considered as
valuable, and settlers could not utilize
them. Therefore, the lands remained
the property of the government, 1t was
suggested to Mr.. Burkdoll to utilize
these, after obtaining them from the
territory. The result was that he made
application for 100, 900 acres of land that
no one could use without the construc-
ton Of a system of reservoirs and cam
ais, which will require such a large out
lay of money that Zone but a wealthy
corporation could undertake the enter
prise. The territorial land board agreed
to sell the land to the company, half
the land at SO per acre, the price fixed
by the legislative act accepting the do
nation made by congress for the bene-
fit of territorial educational and public
institutions, and a contract was entered
into to this effect. The other so, 900 acres
is to be purchased for the benefit Of the
reservoir fund, as contemplated by the
same act of congress-, but the company
was unwilling to buy the additional 3d.
900 acres at the same price, and it vas
agreed that this deal should be condi-
tional upon the Legislature being will
ing to accept the price the purchasers
may be willing to pay. The agreement
vas entered into with the irrigation
commission, the territorial land board
and the United States land commission,
all present and approving. The contract
for the first $4,000 acres is absolute, and
payment will be made as soon as the
general land office approves of the Sc
lections made by the locating agent of
the United States land commission and
applied for by the territorial land board.
The land selected is that which the
company can irrigate with it's proposed
system. There cannot be failure to ap-
prove of the selections, for there are no
other claimants, and the act donating
lands provides for selections to be made
in this manner. The fees have been
paid at the local land office of the dis
trict where they are situated, and it
only remains for the interior depart
mont pffiainlc tn oftapl tn ,tha yn,,tt,o
at that end of the line. The funds paid
to the territory for this land will be held
until the Legislature meets and appor-
tons them to the various educational
and public institutions entitled to share
in the proceeds.
While the detailed plans Of the COM
pany undertaking this industry have
not been announced, it is known that a
great colonization scheme is contem-
plated. There will be a townsite on the
railway line from Deming to Silver
City, and the resort at Hudson's will be
opened and used for a hotel. and per-
haps ranch headquarters. While the
company will engage in farming and
fruit growing on it's own account, colo
will be located upon small tracts
to become consumers of the water
which the company will have to distrib-
ute. The ability Of the company to car
ry out it's intentions is beyond a doubt.
Mr.. Burkdoll has had experience in the
management of similar business, and
ad~aptability Of the lands for agri-
and horticulture has been al
ready we'll proved by the settlers upon |
adjacent lands, who have for several
decades made their living from the soil.
The company, in making the purchase /
If the land, will represent many stock |
holders, who will purchase 100 acres |
each, as provided by the law, which
loes not, however, require that a pur-
'haser must contemplate actual resi- |
uDOn the p]rOperty |