Albuquerque morning journal., 1907-07-17
WILL DO A
LITTLE LAND
PROBING
SUDDEN INTEREST IN THE
SCH0MBERG TRANSACTION
Begins Suit in Rio Arriba
County to Set Aside Title, on
Order From Acting Governor
Reynolds,

tcpeciat UisDatch To the Morning journal |
Santa Fe, y. NJ, July 16--It is in
tesestfng to note the healthy interest
IN past land transactions of the terri
tory in official circles just now. The
advent of the special agents from
Washington seems to have stirred all
The old-time interest in these transac-
tions so evident about the time some
of them were being made, and the air
is full of the history of former deals
by which territorial timber lands were
sold always in 100 acre tracts and al
ways in strict conformity to the law
OF congress. which granted the lands
70 the territory.
The latest development came today,
when 1t was announced that, acting
under the orders of the acting COVER
nor Attorney General George w.
Prichard had filed suit in Rio Arriba
county court, which seeks to set aside
title to some 5,S74 acres of timber
lands which were sold in the year
1904 to r. A. Schomberg and others,
Of Trinidad. Colo, for consideration
Of SO an acre. These lands, or a
greater part of them, have since been
transferred to the Rio Grande Lum-
Der company, and the cutting of the
/ liHibtl ndh DttH lbt SUM-
time.
1t Is announced in connection with
the filing Of the suit that the acting
governor wants a decision of the
courts on the legality of the sales OF
this and other large tracts of timber
lands. which have been made since
these lands came into possession OF
the territory and under the control OF
territorial officials That the govern
ment is just now beginning an investi-
cation looking to exactly the same
end. namely. the legality or Illegally
Of these deals II will become matter
of more or less interest whether the
attorney general of New Mexico or the
government reaches q conclusion first
| The Schomberg transaction has at
| tracted a great deal OF attention from
| almost the time It was made. and has
been the cause Of much criticism oi
| the officials who made It, That ar
! action In court to test the legality OF
the transaction would have been pop
ular had IL been begun some years
ago. or about the time the deal was
made. there Is no doubt But that the
matter has been deferred until the
| beginning OF an exhaustive govern
ment investigation takes away some
thing of the glamour OF this belated
move to ascertain whether or not the
interests of the territory have beer
properly safe-guarded.
During the year 1904 application
was made before the territorial anc
officials for the selection Of large
tract Of land lying in T. 20, n. range
| Z r., in the vicinity of Ojo Callente
Rio Arrlba county In August, 1904
the bids for the sale of this timber
| land were opened IN Santa Fe, and
the land was sold to r. A. Schom berg
and some thirty associates, in tracts
Of l60 acres each. The lands Of the
associates were afterward acquired by
Schomberg and r. c. Graden. Of Trim.
dad, the deeds being transferred. Tn,
law under which the territory helt
these lands specifically provides tha
the land shall be sold In tracts of no
more than go acres to any one per
son. firm or corporation
The last Of the deeds TO these landi
were issued on the Sth Of MAY 1905
when the matter was considered
closed.
In the action filed in the Rio Ar,
riba county court, where Judge j. II
McFie presides, the territory sets uI
the contention that the transaction
made by the territorial officials wa,
Illegal and seeks to set aside tn,
deeds The territory also asks an In.
junction to prevent the cutting of fur.
ther timber until the matter is de.
cided