Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-05-06
THREE POSITIONS ADVANCED
.Matchless ElOqucnce Of LarrO-
xOla-Veeder Scores on
Grant Question.
SEVERAL ADVOCATES OF DIIIDEO cIIl


last night to discuss the important
lwnestion of incorporation was attend
"a by q big crowd of the representa-
tive business men and citizens OF the
west side. Able and earnest ad-
dresses were made and good be-
ginning was made of thorough ven
tilation OF the whole subject. Three
distinct views were advanced, viz:
That the west side should incorpo-
rate separately; that the present con-
dition be continued, and that the east
and west sides should consolidate.
Each position received able sup
port, but if the effectiveness Of the
speeches maybe taken as criterion,
the last view will prevail. The ad-
dress in Spanish by Hon. 0. A. Lar
razolo was one Of the most eloquent
ever delivered in Las Vegas.
Hon. Benigno Romero was chosen
as chairman, Sheriff Cleofes Romero,
secretary. and Messrys E. G. de Baca
and Eusebio ChacopNls interpreters.
The first speaker was Hon. Margarito
Romero. wv
Mr.. Romero's Speech.
After announcing himself In favor
OF separate incorporation of the west
side. Mr.. Romero launched into dis
cnssion Of the Las Vegas grant, touch
ing especially his own connection
with the history of the grant. The
original survey by Pelham was spoken
OF and the subsequent survey by John
son which took 10000 acres which
had been declared grant land into the
reserve and destroyed the title to
their homes of hundred settlers. Mr..
Romero said that Johnson had offered
TO settle with him for three hundred
acres of which he had been deprived
that still greater injustice was done to
his people and he would fight the en-
cToachment in their behalf The
speaker referred to his arrest for cut
ting timber on the land which he as
serted was his own a part of the
property held by his family for years.
He said he obeyed the injunction OF
The court to move his saw mill not
because it was right, but because he
WAS not ambitious to go to work on
The Scenic road between Santa Fe and
las Vegas. The gentleman admitted
his remarks might seem rather far
from the subject under discussion,
but he asserted that the incorpOra.
tion would enable the citizens to pro
tect their rights, see justice done to a
hundred wronged families and secure
the great patrimony which belonged
TO the people. How incorporation
would enable the people to arrive at
these satisfactory results, Mr.. Ro-
nero left for the next speaker to ex-
plain.
Hon. Eusebio chacon.
Mr.. Chacon drew dismal picture
uf the condition of the west side at
present. No street cars no insurance
companies, poor water service, no
postoffice, no sidewalks. only two
Ofice buildings. not a single national
hank and not even boulevard. This
state of affairs he attributed to the
fact Of the town being unincorporated
The gentleman was in good voice and
spoke effectively. Rising to oratorica,
effect he declared in somewhat high
hown hyperbole that the descendants
a. the steel clad conquistadores who
had their homes here today we're in
= condition worse than that Of the In
dians Of the pueblos. Mr.. Chacon
said that 65 per cent of the business
was done on the west side and ar
gued that this was sufficient proof OF
The ability of the town to support
municipal government. Tho sneaker
referred 10 the three eifa~ NJ the nnes-
tion. MANY citizere ''-cl~Hi-'~ NE
Ttrapg tneinese mo- te.'-..-' 49, ,r,o