Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-04-20
VANDALISM
ON GRANT
Valuable Timber Being Sacri.
feed For Ties Without Iii.
cense or Legality
FORCIBLE PROTEST
Heritage Of People OF Las Vegas
Being Wantonly Wasted

Anyone whose interests are in this
vicinity whether as property owner or
merely as a good citizen could not
traverse the region about the base Of
Hermit peak and the upper Gallinas
without experiencing feelings 81 hot
indignation and sore regret over the
persistent destruction OF the already
sparse timber remaining Id canyons
and on ridges and on the Hot Springs
mountains.
Along the railroad track in Springs
canyon are piled carloads Of ties and
at every road crossing In the valley
above Trout Springs are wagon loads
Of them and on every hillside are scat
tered ones awaiting hauling. Just be.
low the old Leroux mill a sawmill has
been set up and surrounding 1t Is q
log pile of goodly size gathered prob
ably from the last Of the large trees
which not long since numerously shad-
ed all these hills and hollows.
This timber belongs to all the res
idents Of the Las Vegas grant and Is
In particular charge OF the grant trus.
tees. The deluded people who are
cutting 1t are taking that to which
they have no right except the right in
general pertaining to residents Of all
parts Of the grant. In this way they
are criminally robbing others and az
the same time are robbing themselves
most ruinously. The removal Of the
forest cover Is slowly but most sure
ly Affecting the moisture Of the soil
ond the water flow Of springs and
streams. To this the native residents
will testify while yet perslsting In
their double destructlveness.
Such are the conditions. what rem.
edy Is there for them? We're not
the grant trustees appointed for the
purpose OF safeguarding the interests
Of the whole people In this property
which belongs to all collectively and
not to individuals? Has not the board
OF trustees an unquestionable right to
assume control of the woodlands as
well as OF all public portions of the
grant and make rules and regula.
tlons for their proper use SO that bene.
fits accruing shall be shared In some
measure by all inhabitants OF the
grant? This board created by tho dis.
trict court should most certainly be
enabled by the court to enforce all
reasonable measures required In the
execution of their trust. The public
has right to demand that both the
board Of trustees and the court DO
their full duty In this as In all other
matters pertaining to the grant. They
should look well to permitting no ex-
elusive use by and benefit to. persons
or corporations Of any OF the peoples
rights to waters, lands or timber un-
less all the grant population receive
compensation In some form for such
exclusive privileges. Even then such
privileges should be most jealously
guarded in order that generations to
come be not robbed Of their patri.
mony. The Las Vegas grant is q
noble heritage for It's population and
the possibilities II contains for the
and happiness Of those who
dwell within It's boundaries are scarce.
ly yet imagined. The people should
take thought Of these things and their
trustees should be urged on TO do
their full duty regardless Of fear or
reward and that too. without waste.
ful and dangerous delay.
"MoUNTAINEER."