Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1904-07-09

New Monco, showing ~ whom np-
peGled and tho fnal disposition there.
o.
From schedule ID" Il will be seen
thu, there were filed In tho Arizona
district including tho 70 cases refer.
rcd tl IN schedule "a" as Transferred
from the New Mexico district. 20
cases OF these. one case (No. 4.
Heirs Of Miguel Poralia, deceased.
vs. che United States. for the con.
hrmatlon Of tho Poraita grant roforr.
edto IN schedule a" was transferred
a. the New Mexico district. leaving rs
cases. involving the confirmation OF
~ grants, with a claimed area OF
s37 67y70 acres. OF which number the
court confirmed 1859 acres and re.
icctcd 721,ia9 acres Of land
Schedule "E' IL iist Of cases an.
pealod TO the supreme court of the
United States from the Arizona dis.
trict showing hy whom appealed aud
the final disposition thereof
Separate report was mode I'm each
case upon the conclusion Of tho trial
and entry Of the decree BY the court.
/ Annual reports were submitted each
year of tho business transacted. Ia
many Instances On the decree 81 con
Hrmation the lack OF Official survey
but the estimated area covered there
by was approximately stated In the
reports from this ONCE. IN the sched.
ulcs herewith submitted will BE- fopnd
The exact area covered by the docrooa
81 confirmation and approval ~ sur.
voys and for which patent has been
or will be issued, a. provided by law.
You are also advised that an rec.
ords, files and documents thar have
been IN the possession OF the United
states attorney or assistants and en-.
/ ployos from limo 90 time obtained
from other Offices and departments.
as we'll as private individuals. have
boou returned and not one has been
lost or mislald
The clerk OF the court. Mr.. Irenoo
T. Chayos advises mo that an papers.
files and records In the possession of
the court. belonging 10 any other pub
Iic ONCE o. the United States. have
been returned and not one has been
loot or mihaid, and that. all papers.
files and records IN the possession OF
or appcrtaining 20 said court have
bcen delivered 20 the surveyor gconral
Of the territory OF New Mexico. and re-.
ceipts taken therefor The delivery OF
these records 90 the surveyor general
81 New Mexico was made under IN.
structions from the commissioner of
mo general land Office. which in.
structlons were given upon request Of
the judges % the Court Of Private
Land Claims conveyed 60 the honor.
able secretary ~ the interior through
a letter from this Once. dated tho
18Th instant u would be a great mis-.
fortune " these papers. files and rec,
Drds should be- removed from the ter.
rItory. where the land il situate
The results disclosed by the seized.
ules iustiaes me IN calling attention
20 the position taken by this 0fico up
ON the FIRST investigations undertaken
after the organization OF tho court.
| viz;
That the aid aud assistance OF a
reliable expert familiar with the arch.
ives 81 the EonuInonoss OF the grants
whore the documentary or record cyi.
donce was Obtaiuahlo could boz de-.
] fnrfrIunH nth -a.nl..Nf. ..-..f......
but a. many of the munlmcnts of title
were very old. frarmcntary and often
Incomplete, and thy boundaries OF
land granted designated by natural
objects, the names applied thereto.
during the Spanish dominion, being
unknown az the present day and
which could be applied TO a number
Of different natural objects within the
locality, rendered the determination
Of tho amount Of land granted IN each
particular instance Of the utmost Inn.
poriance The dangers attending this
condition were fully appreciated and
reported 20 the department with the
request FOR authority % employ com
p,tcnt and reliable experts, assist.
ants and special agents with a view
OF ascertainlng whether tho claims
presented were genuine or not: and n
genuine, the location and amount OF
land conveyed thereby, as well az the
extent and nature OF the possession
I was advised that there was no mon,
~ appropriated by congress which
"a attorney general could lawfully
use for such purpose.
The danger lurking On unknown
areas Of lands 10 DO determined by
identification 81 boundaries laws I'M.
pressed upon me department and a.
Ter requests and reports made from
time 70 time 10 and ions
| by the attorney general, congress an.
proprla,ed Buficiont money with
which 20 enable the once 70 invostl.
gate and protect tho government
against e1trayagant claims. The
amount Of land claimed IN each of the
suits filed wus very often excessive:
and Il appears from tho claims made,
that fully onohalf or more Of the
totcl area Of New Mexico. was cover.
ed and apparently olouded by these
titles. The accurate amount Of land