The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-03-26
The Governor Tells
Of The Land Deals

territory for the sale Of timber and
other lands. was first called to my no.
tice in February, 1905. when Mr.. Holt
requested the delivery of the deeds to
9,971.27 acres of land which had been
contracted for by him AID his asso-
ciates and the territory, is fully set
forth in house document No. $50. a
of which is hereto annexed. This
matter was presented to me by Mr..
Keen, commissioner of public lands,
soon after | took office, and inasmuch
as it has been asserted by a federal
official in nigh position in the terri
tory that there has bee a persistent
effort originating in the governors
office to break down certain persons
in the territory of New Mexico, nota-
bly, Bonham and Holt" l beg to call
your especial attention to my letter
of February Z, 1906, to the honorable
secretary of the interior in regard to
this matter. which does not appear
in house document Nc. $50.
Santa Fe. N. NJ, Feb. Z. 1906.
To the Honorable Secretary of the
Interior, Washington, D. c.
Sir:| have the honor to submit
to you M following facts for your
consideration and advice:
On or about the 3rd day of Septem-
Der, 1904. Messrs. Bonham and Holt,
for themselves and their associates,
submitted to the board of irrigation
of the territory of New Mexico an ap-
plicatiOn, copy of which is hereto
attached, marked Exhibit Al asking
for the recommendation of the selec-
ton for purchase of certain lands, out
of the lands granted by congress to
the territory by act of June 81. 1898,
for the establishment of permanent
water reservoirs for irrigation pur-
poses." n for the Improvement of
the Rio Grande in New Mexico and
the increasing of the surface flow of
the water in the bed of said river"
The commission of irrigation of the
territory was created by section "a of
chapter LXXIV of the territorial laws
1899. and amended by chapter 90
of the laws of 1901, (cOpieS of which
are hereto attached, marked EX-
hibit 3D. for the purpose of faciliat-
ing the selection Of lands donated TO
the territory of New Mexico --
for the establishment OF water reser-
voirs for irrigation purposes and the
of the Rio Grande."
1t was the duty of his board to
Such reports TO the United
States land commission created by
8 of the act of congress of
Tune 81, 1898, as would enable that
commission to properly select lands
to be used for the purposes mention
ed, as set forth in section 6, of the
act of congress of June 81, 1898.
On the Bird day of December, 1904,
h e commission of irrigation at a reg
liar meeting adopted a resolution ac-
the offer of salt Boniam n
Holt and their associates and recom1
,,4-I;-- 80 TT.s+1I C+aT@1 lo-l 4@o,
to select the lands as re-
in the application. This reso-
ution is fully set forth in the minute
of the commission of irrigation
a resolution, a copy of which is
hereto annexed marked Exhibit c..
On December 5. 1904. at a regular
meeting of the United States land
commission it was decided that the
recommendation of the irrigation com
be accepted, that Messrs Bon
lam and Holt and their associates be
Illowed to purchase the lands men
toned therein amounting to 9,971.27
lat the rate of $3.50 per acre in
accordance with the resolution of the
irrigation commission, and that the
coating agent be instructed to locate
same on the ground at once. this
be the first location he max of
irrigation lands" but that
lie shall not make out the list nor
lie them until further instruction from
he commission, he to report at once
o this commission the number of
lcres selected by him for Messrs.
and Holt"
The Board of Public Lands of the
of New Mexico (now discon-
inued by the territorial law of March
6, 19O5). was created by the law of
Torob 1c 1000 ohonfor VYTV and
composed of the governor, solicit
general and commissioner of pub
ic lands, and had the general con-
rol aid management of the public
ands Of the territory after they had
,een selected by the United States
and commission at a meeting of this
'oard of March 6. 1905, the following
ppears:
MIR. Holt of Las Cruces being pre-
ent. submitted a communication adj
to the board of public lands