Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-02-09
LAS TRAMPAS
GRANT SALE
The Valuable Tract Of Land
in Rio Arriba and Taos
Counties Sold for
$l7,0l2.
THIRD SALE WILL STAND
Two Previous Sales Not Ap-
proved by Judge McFie Thus
Increasing Selling Price
From II to 81 Cents
Per Acre,

On Saturday forenoon in accordance
with an advertisement published In
paper printed in Taos in the Spanish
containing 27,4S1 acres of land and To-
Gated about 40 miles north of this city,
partly in the county of Rio Arriba and
partly in the county of Taos, was put
up for sale by the referee and master
appointed by the court, the proceeds to
be divided among the heirs and claim
ants of the grant. The sale was to be
made and the proceeds were to be divi-
ded among the heirs and claimants In
the case with the result of partition
suit which was ended during the sum-
mer of last year. E. A. Johnston, the
master in the case, before putting the
property up for sale, stated in effect
that there was a cloud upon the title
to the property as the survey for the
grant had not yet been approved. This
had the effect of keeping several per-
sons who desired to bid upon the prop
erty, including an eastern capitalist,
who wished to purchase the same for
an investment, from bidding. The prop
erty was knocked down to A. B. McMil-
len, esq, of Albuquerque, for $1,000,
making an average of "a cents per acre,
although it is understood that at least
one-third Of the grant is covered with
valuable timber. The eastern capitalist
and local men who desired to purchase
it, being scared off by the masters
statement and other circumstances In
the case, Immediately thereafter the
Hon. David Martinez of Velarde, ana
other heirs and claimants of the prop
erty, filed sworn protests with Judge J.
r. Merle, the presiding judge OF this
district, showing the state of affairs ana
averring that higher PR than 3'
cents per acre could have been obtained
but for the action of the master which
was considered prejudicial and harmful
to their interests and but for which a
much higher price would have been OBJ
tanned. Shortly thereafter the decree
confirming the sale for $4,000 was pre-
sented to Judge J. r. McFie, who de-
clined to approve the same and ordered
that the grant be resold, as 1t was plain
from aftidavits submitted to him that
the heirs and claimants had not receiv-
ed full and honest consideration IN the
matter. The parties to the controversy
then consulted and waived all ob1ec-
tions to another sale of the grant ana
in accordance with the order of the
court the grant was then put up in the
afternoon and sold to Frank Bond OF
Espanola, N. NJ, for $17,012, at an aver
tge of about 81 cents per acre. The sale
will very likely be confirmed by the
court, 1t will be remembered that
Judge ]. r. McFie declined to confirm
the first sale of the property made last
year at which it was knocked down at
II cents per acre. The property mas
been sold at about 62 cents per acre.
which is quite an advance over II cents
per acre, the price of last summer ana
over "a cents per acre, the figure at
which it was knocked down on Satur-
day forenoon.
The New Mexican understands tnat
Mr. Martinez and other heirs and
claimants are we'll satisfied with this
result. Several of them have called at
this office and expressed themselves as
highly pleased with Judge McFie's fair
ness and promptness and with the fact
that he did all he could in his power to
protect the just interests of the heirs
and claimants of the property. AT the
price of g. cents per acre it is a very
fine investment and will double and ire
BILE in value within the next. two years