Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-04-15
Large Area Withdrawn From En-
try Again to Be Thrown
Open to Settlement.
SUCCESSFUL
REMONSTRANCE
Only Timbered Lands and Not Open
Range to Be Set Aside by interior
Department.

On November /, 1908, by simple
telegraphic order, an enormous area
of land in northwestern New Mexico
was withdrawn from entry. While the
withdrawal may only be temporary
vet for the time it has paralyzed i'm
provement in that portion of New
Mexico and stopped the influx of pop
ulation.
The desirability Of proper forest re.
serves in order to preserve the water
supply of the rivers is recognized by
all. The area withdrawn from settle
ment last fall is not only greatly in
excess of what is necessary, but en-
braces many thousands of acres OF ex-
celent agricultural and grazing lands
i'm fact it includes one of the finest
grazing districts in all New Mexico.
The tract reserved extends from a
point near Cochiti in the southeast to
a line little this side of Canjelon and
Gallina on the north; thus covering a
large part of Rio Arriba and Sandoval
Counties. 1t includes the whole Baca
location of 100000 the whole of the
Nacimiento and San Diego grants;
nearly all of the Piedra Lumbre and
Canada de Cochiti with part of the
Polvadera and other grants. 1t covers
Bland, Allerton and all the Cochiti
mining region; Cuba, Copper City and
the fertile and well watered lands
around Coyote; with the vast grassy
plains of the Piedra Lumbre and old
Canon de Chama grant. 1t amounts
to As entire townships and as each
township contains SO sections, it's
area ;s 1920 square miles. This is
larger than the state of Rhode Island.
Is is 49 miles long from north to
south and from 80 to 40 miles from
east to west. 1t is easy to see what
a paralyzing effect the withdrawal of
such an immense area must have on
all tke surrounding country.
About month ago Hon. L. B. Prince
on behalf of the people of Rio Arriba
County sent vigorous protest to Dele
gate Rodey against the continuance of
the reservation; and this was trans
mitted by Mr. Rodey to the interior
department. The following letters
from Delegate Rodey, Governor Rich
ards, the commissioner of the general
land Office, Hon. E. A. Hitchcock, the
secretary of the interior and Hon.
James Wilson, secretary of agricul-
ture, show that this protest has had
the desired effect and that large por-
tion OF the reserved land will soon be
released and opened to settlement.
Delegate Rodey's Letter.
Delegate Rodey submitted the pro
test with the following letter:
March IA, 1904.
t'Hon. Secretary of the Interior, Wash.
ington. D. c.:
"Sir-With reference to the with
drawing of lands in Rio Arriba County
New Mexico, from settlement, receiv'
ed letter from a constituent of mine
Hon. l.. B. Prince, Ex-Governor of New
Mexico, on the subject, and I quote
from it, as follows:
"T wish to write about a matter
that is interesting a good many people
and which I have promised to write
about for sometime That is the con
dition of great part of Rio Arribs
County under the order from Wash
ington which withdraws the public
lands there from entry. This practical
1y puts stop to all colonization, eth
er from outside or by the Mexican
people, and prevents any increase II
itxy in
ty. 1t is the worst blow that has evel
been given to New Mexico by actor
of similar character AS you know,
am in favor of necessary reservation
for the protection of forests and waite
supplies, and am directly interested il
the conservation of the water suppl.
of the Chama River; but this propose,
reservation is utterly ridiculous in it
extent and as to the character of tn
lands included therein. Not a human
being in New Mexico is in favor of il
unless possibly some owner in gran
who hopes that the government ma
take the grant in exchange for scriI
II is one of the things which calls 70
YOUR most active efforts in order t
protect the people and give an oppol
tunity for the creation of homestead!
In this very vicinity the Mexican pet
pie we're taking up homesteads rapit
" until this unfortunate order"
.Mr. Secretary, I submit the abov
to your department for such action a
YOU may deem proper. under the ci
cumstances.
Sincerely yours,
"B. S. RODEY,
Delegate in Congress From Ne
Mexico"
Hitchcock's Answer.
To this Secretary of the Interior
IutchcOck answered as fnl1owS.-