The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-08
LAND MOSTLY
UNDER WATER
Project of Mexican Land & Sugar
Company of Utah Given Up.
CORPORATION TO DISSOLVE
NEW ORGANIZATION MAY TAKE
PROPERTY.

The unfavorabIe report made by the
special committee composed of w. J.
DoOley. J. G. Dick and Alma Eldredge
a short time ago on the conditions Of
the vast tract of land in the state of
TabascO. Central America. in which the
Mexican Land & Sugar company of
Utah was interested, has caused that
corporation to make voluntary dppli-
cation for dissolution in the district
court. The matter is now pending in
the district court, but il Will be set
tied in a few days.
The company was organized about
eight months ago with the following
officers: President, Benjamin Cuff
vice president, James Chapman; secre-
tary and treasurer, Richard w. Young.
\ board of eleven directors was also
elected.
The tract Of lend which the com
panv intended to purchase, covers an
area of about 376.000 acres and it was
through Bishop Benjamin Cuff, presi-
dent of the corporation, that the COM
pany was organized. Soon after the
company was formed a special commit
tee was sent to look over the tract of
land and on their return they pre-
scented an unfavorable report.
Land Largely Under Water.
The committee vent 20 Tabasco dur
ing the rainy dson and found about
half of the tract of land was sub
merged. The sight of the swampy
fields and wooded country, which
would have to be cleared before either
rubber trees or sugar could be planted,
the foundation on which the mem
bers based their report.
They were In that section of the
country for several weeks and it was
foUnd that some of the land would be
covered with water for three or four
months and certain portions would
Iav 70 no There also
some hitch in the title of the land and
that also caused some trouble before
IL could be Strengthened out.
Aquila Nebeker was responsible for
interesting Bishop Cuff in the coloni-
zation of the state of Tabasco, and, II
is said was one of the original promOt-
ers of the scheme. Now that the Mex
lean Land & Sugar company has with
drawn it's interests, it is understood
that Mr.. Nebeker and Bishop Cuff are
looking for soma one to go into the
original plan and it is not unlikely
that another Utah company may be
formed. In view of this they are per
fecting the titles and description of the
lands in order to prevent any more
difficulty in regard 10 the property on
which they have flied.
Better Land Higher Up.
Apostle John Henry Smith, president
of the Utah-MeXIcan Rubber company,
together with 3. +. Grant and J. A.
MaCAllister, directors of the company
and James Mack and L. g. Carr of
Ogden, are now in Mexico looking over
the plantation of about $4,000 acres
owned by that company. Their tract
of land is much higher than the sec
ton the Mexican Land & Sugar COM
pany was interested in, and it is in a
thriving condition.
II is the intention of the party now
on the grounds to look after the plant
ing of about 1000 acres with rubber
trees and the clearing off of a large
tARCt Of the plantation. There is also
plenty of rosewood, ebony, mahogany
and other valuable woods on the land.
all of which viii sell for good prices
" hen brought to the market.
They are also considering some
scheme to open up transportation so
that the valuable woods may be hauled
to the seaport towns. The only means
Of transportation at the present time is
10y horseback, and the party is look
ing over the territory to discover a
suitable road to some small river where
the wood can be shipped to the ocean.
Until the rubber trees become older
and give indications of producing a
large amount of rubber sap nothing
viii be done in the building of a rail-
road for transports ton
Apostle Smith and his party expect
10 return in about a month and at
that time the annual report Will be
given as to the condition of the land
and the improvements that may have
been made.