Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-12-10
Il LAND LAWS.

- AHS
Of the prevent Land laws still contin.
pes The president. In his message
refers TO the matter, but admits that
there Is much ground for argument on
both sides Of the question
II is doubtless tru that some modi-
flcation Of the present land laws -
needed. but that the time has come
when there should be any radical
change In the application Of the laws
TO New Mexico, We do not believe.
The southwest still needs laws en-.
couragtng the passage Of non-taxpay.
ing government land into the hands
OF those who make Il a source Of rev.
enue 10 the community
In the greater part Of New Mexico
Ii would be vain to offer one hundred
and sixty acres Of land for Ave years
residence. II the application OF the
Homestead Law would work hardship,
what would be the condition should
only forty acres o. land be offered 70
the ~settler7
Take even the splendid srtesian
belt, rev men possessed Of means 70
sink the deep wells necessary % req.
dtr the soil productive would cafc 70
settle upon fallow land in order 70
obtain title % one hundred and sixty
acres And the man without means
has no business In the artesian belt
The interior department freely exer'
cises its power 70 withdraw from
settlement any lands needed under tho
reclamation act. or any lands 10 be
utilized for public purposes. Whether
Ii the interests 81 cattle companies o.
the individual. the public lands aren''
going any 100 fast.
There may hare been fraud In othci
commonwealths. there has teen in Tho
territory. The government has oh
tanned full value In time. money ant
labor for every acre OF New Mexico
public land that has been patented
The intention Of the land department
has been fulfilled as far as possihl,
By those who have had to struggl'
against the h~ardships encountered b,
settlers III New Mexico.
II shouldn't be forgotten thai III
millions III dollars a year thai gte
to make up the funds available uids
the reclamation act Is received il
large from the operation D
the Desert Land act and the commt
fation clause Of the Homestead Law
ii may be that when reservoirs hay
been established and broad acres tfl
cd the lands reclaimed will not mi
pay back the expense OF constructor
reservoirs. but Will sustain the reels
nation fund But repeal the Ian
laws now. and the oyenue for me-
works very largely eases. Al leas
Ia the southwest, there will be yer
little land taken ap under laws sin
liar 10 those proposed by Messr
Smythe. Maxwell et al II Il be tru
that spectators take advantage ~ u
present laws. New Mexico wouldn't
helped by their repeal. ever In III,
respect. The spectators. who HOY
ever. have not injured New Mexic
would at once begin operations vii
the valuable land grants, and tho
would be practically placed beyond u
reach Of the settler and the ordina'
: citizen.
Finally. should the present lar
laws be repealed by the consent ~ Il
! west. and d resenne under the X
eiamation act be cut on, we migl
ask In vain for q congressional Apr
priation The east would be solidIy 4
rayed against us. We got the Reel
nation act only On the plea that
would BIZ self.sustaining By The "a
Of our " western lands.
z On the other hand. should the VI
resist and the east enforce the repe
Of tho present land laws. as seen
probable. the west can. on siroI