Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-08-30
Facts and Figures Which Set Him
Before the Public in His True
Character.
new MEXICO THR LOSER
Bigger Appropriations Asked for and Yet
Large Funds Are Annually Turned Back
Into the United States Treasury In
stead of Being Put to Legitimate Use.

Quinby Vance, who is an applicant for
reappointment as surveyor general of
New Mexico, made his estimates to the
years and insisted that the needs of the
office required larger appropriations
for the survey of public lands, for the
survey of private land claims,
for small claim holdings, for mineral
surveys, and most pathetically each
year begged that his salary be increas-
ed from $4,000 to $1,000 annually. He
clamored for the increase of the ap-
preparation for the clerical force of the
office to $4,000, and for an increase Of
contingent expenses from $1,000 to
$1,700 To help in his estimates he
would refer to the large increase OF fill
inas on public lands and referring TO
the curt of private land claims coll
filming millions of acres to grant
owners said: "The work in this office in
etDuection with the surveys Of these
grants will create large and inc "eas-
ing amount of labor" Also II there
fore estimate that the appropriation Of
$4,000 will fully be required for the
survey of public lands and small hold
ings claims in New Mexico" After an
appeal for an increase of the contin-
gent funds he says: 1.-THE salary of the
surveyor general should be allowed at
the rate of $4,000, owing to the large
amount of vacant lands being settled
upon, and to the conditions of all
branches of industry being so pros
perous." Then he makes his estimates,
For surveys of the public lands, $4,000;
private land claims, $4,000; salary of
surveyor general, $1,000 salary clerical
force of office, $13,6O0; contingent ex-
penses, s1,7OO; total, $6S,3O0. That looks
we'll on paper. What are the facts Of
record? The secretary apportioned
$4,000 for surveys of public lands in
1S99 and the surveyor general let con-
tracts for only $4,SS7. At the end of the
fiscal year the books showed only
1892 paid out and s9,s67.0s was turned
back into the treasury and the survey
ors with $4,254.OS due them have to
wait years and until the treasury gets
congress to make special allowances
for them. On private land claims 1t is
worse. With $4,000 apportioned con-
tracts for only s3,5S5.75 were let and
most all of the $4,000 was turned back
into the treasury.
In 1900, only $1,000 was apportioned
for the survey of public lands, loss OF
| $1,000; contracts were let for only 3d.
4O5.75 and only $500 were paid out al
the end of the fiscal year and all but
| $S5 returned into the treasury.
Owing to the small amounts of con.
tracts the secretary cut the apportion
ment for private land claims to $4,000
a loss of $1,000, and for public lands 6
second cut to $1,000, making net los.
| to New Mexico of $4,000 in two years
For 1902 there may be a further loss Of
$1,000.
| A person holding a responsible posi-
ton in the general land office said: III
has been a mystery around the Office
how Vance ostensibly got so muc1
work done with paying out so LITTLE
money"
| Inquiry being made Of various per
sons as to what could be the probable
cause Of such action by anyone, OBJ
tanned the reply from one also hold
ing a responsible position in the sam
office, was that there could be only on
of two reasons. One was that of show
ing great economy in conducting tn
office and thereby make a showing TO
a denomination. But where an office
in his estimates said that $25,OOO TO
public surveys and $4,000 for privat
land grant surveys were absolutel
necessary and then let's contracts TO
only one-sixtk or one-eighth of tn
amount to all serious thinking men,
only showed the hypocrite. The onl
other cause could be that the busines
of the office was so interminably mike
up that he could not attend to the bus
mess of contracting for any large
amount than was let; and in that cas-
| 1t showed the grossest Incompetence!
And the official further said: That
all other surveyor generals not onl
sed all the money apportioned to the
) but were continually calling for NOR
he thought the strange action in IN
cnse was certainly causing very VI
favorable comment everywh re Al
other official in a responsible, positio
! in the general land Office said that an
person who would make esti1,ules fl
$50, 900 for surveys of public and pr
yate lands and when he had It all
his own hands, only let contracts Il
one-sixth or one eighth of that amour
was either a fool or knave and pro-
ably both, and that he must hay
, thought that the person to whom
! reported was so careless that he wou
not look at his report, or that he WI
SO indifference that he would not ca
,, what he said in his official report or
, to how he acted on what he reported.
This official and all others questione
thought that a new surveyor gener
who would right the many wrongs,
the present case seemed absolutely ne
essary. From the highest to the 10,
!; est official in the general land Off
|, not a good word can be heard IN fav
, , of the present incumbent of the offi
! of surveyor general of New Mexico.
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