Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-27
SW|NDLE
EPIDEM MIC
IN TEXAS
INSPECTORS FIND FEW
LEGAL SETTLEMENTS
Alleged HomeSteaderS Found
to Be Agents Of Big Cattle
men Seeking to Regain Pos
session of State Domain

Austin, Texas, Sept 26.-Assistant
Attorney General w. Il. Hawkins and
State Land Commissioner ]. j. Terrell
have returned from an overland trip
of 400 miles through many of the
counties of the western part of the
state in which extensive land frauds
are alleged to have been practiced
unon the state. The particular object
of their trip was to make personal in
vestigaton of many of these frauds,
with the view of obtaining data and
evidence upon which to base prosecu-
tions of the offenders.
Our attention had been called to
these frauds and we made the long
trip to view the situation. In few
instances we found actual settlements
had been made by bona fide home
seekers and abundant evidence that
they had made the purchase of the
land from the state in good faith,
but in most cases we found that the
purchaser was in the employ of some
ranchman who hoped to acquire the
land through that fraudulent means.
There are very few legitimate settle
ments of land in that part of the state,
The law requires that 5000 of improve
ments shall have been placed upon
the land within three years. This
provision has not been observed by
many of the so-called settlers, not
withstanding they made affidavit that
such was done.
The most common practice of
fraud, however, is where the purchas-
er acted in collusiOn with some former
lessee Of a large body of state land
constituting his cattle range, the pur-
chase by the pretended settler being
10 -
ing over the land to the former range
perpetuate an extensive range in de-
fiance If law, materially retardlng the
growth of the towns Of that region.
I'm Brewster and Presidio counties
whore most of these land frauds seem
to have been practced, the law per-
mits an actual settler to purchase
from the state for his home not more
than eight sections of school land
We found that in some instances large
ranch owners who have heretofore
taken up their full complement oi
lands have made pretended settlement
upon an adjoining eight sections, even
while actually residing in well-ap-
pointed homes located upon the orig
inal complement. We also found in
other Instances large ranch owners
who nave assigned their leases OF state
lands to poor and ignorant MeXicans
and negroes. who have no cattle OF
horses and no need for the 5,120 acres
of land which the law permits them
to purchase These men are unable to
pay actually to the state one-fortieth
of the purchase price Of the land, such
payments being made in fact by the
ranch owners for whom they are hold
ing down the eight sections apiece.
Many Of the large ranch owners
by pursuing such fraudulent tactics as
these, have held and still control the
most desirable lands along the water
courses. including valuable springs
and control their old range to all
practical intents and purposes the
same as IL their leases had been as
signed. If these fraudulent and col
lusive settlements and sales be pt
cancelled. these ranchmen will acQ' ~r
title to the lands and so control a'
part Of the state permanently
There is now a great demand 'ol
these lands by actual settlers who wil
develor water irrigate little farms
plant orchards and build up and de-
vclop the country They are ready tc
pay more than the old price paid by
the pretended and collusive settlers