The Arizona sentinel., 1901-11-27
THE OLD CATHOLIC CEMETERY Bishop G-2r;On Disputes the City s Titie to fha Ground, W'il:Cii
 is Now Valuable.
TUcsoN, ARIZONA, Nov. %, 1901.

EGIN6, cCnIaiHCu ILG ICIiC" HE t,aSN L- tion about the property known as the cid Casholic Cemetery:
 "There is 10 question but that this property belongs absolutely to the city. It was stipulated that it was to be used fer cemetery purposes alone, and when it was ceased to be used fer such purposes it would revert back to the city"
 Whcreupcn permit me to remark:
 Frst-That such stipulation cannot be found cn record anywhere.
 Seccnd-To the contrary, anCtion to insert the stipulation in the doeding Cf the lets to the Catholic Church was made by member Cf the City Council, Jose NJ. Redcndc, at tie meeting held Saturday, August 4th, 1871 (See Minute Book, page 150, and was defeated, be- ing recorded solely as d protest net sec onGed.
 Again, prior to 1877, when property was donated in due form by Council to the Church, the latter had already ac- quired title to same by right of preoccp- pancy. in precisely the same manner as most of the early residents in Yuma ac- quired a title to the pieces of land whereupcn they had settled.
 Hence the fact that it is conceded by the city that the property is still owned by the Church" need not sur prise anyone. In accepting compro- mise, the Church has been prompted by a spirit of conciliation and desire to have the whole matter amicably termi- hated. At the same time she has the credit of her generous action. Other societies besides the Catholic Church have received from the city, Q few years ago, sCme ground in the new cemetery fer burying purposes, and that Cn the same terms, namely, as q gratuitous donation. The fact that the city never questioned the continued ownership of the cid cemetery ground by the Church, is further demonstrated by the action cf the Church in remov- ing her dead from the old cemetery to the new, at her own expense, which she would surely have left for the city to do, had the city been then substituted for the Church in the ownership Of the old cemetery.
 agreed to compromise the matter by dividing the purchase price Of the property, half and half, with the city, at the request Of the attorney for the city. and upon his assurances that he would communicate to the city author ities that my purpose was entirely to act in spirit Of liberality toward the city. If the sentiment of the people of Yuma is as your editorial indicates, am willing to release the city from the proposed compromise, and to leave the matter to judicial determination.
 As the statements herein quoted from the article in the Sentinel of Nov. 9th might prove misleading to few, not fully acquainted with the intrinsic merits of the case. kindly request you, Mr Editor, to insert these lines in the next number of your esteemed paper.
 With respect, yours truly.
 BISHOP F. GRANJoN.
 While the Sentinel has no de- sire to enter into extended dis cussion as to the ownership of the old cemetery property, yet the position taken by this paper, namely, that the property be- longs to the city; and, if sold, should be sold to the highest bidder, will not be receded from.
 As the Sentinel stated in the issue of November 6, the prop erty was donated to the Catholic church for use as a cemetery, it being stipulated that ''when it was ceased to be used for such purposes it would revert back to the city"
 In the above communication Bishop Granjon asserts that "such stipulation cannot be found ca record anywhere"
 The Bishop is in error, as the following verbatim copy of reso- lution which appears upon the minutes Of the city council under date of October 24th, 1876, intro duced by Councilman George Martin, attests:
 "Be it Resolved, by the Mayor and Common Council of the Vil- lage Of Yuma, in the matter of the Catholic Cemetery, Village of Yuma: That the Mayor of said village be and is hereby authorized to make convcyarces without payment, to Juan Ban tistO SllpOnipe, his representa- tives or succesaOrs, Of LotNO. 2, Block No. 2 Official maps}, now used as Catholic Cemetery: ! Provided, that said lot shall not be used for any otiler purpcss than as herein provided. And moves it's adoption as read; sec onded by David Neahr, and car ried, Councilman Martin. Neahr and Redondo each voting aye; noes none"