Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-26
DECLARES COURT OFFICERS WERE
REMOVED AND NAMED AT REQUEST
OF AGENTS FROM WASHINGTON
Charges Savagey Part of Government in Effort to Force
New Jersey Women to Come Before Grand Jury to Testify
as to Alleged Illegal Coal Land Entries and ntimaeS That
Witnesses Were Instructed as to How to Testify

laws Of the country in every way pos
sibie.
Il refer 20 the members composing
the firm Of Phelps. Dodge & Co. The
indictments also constitute an attack
upon the character and reputation of
such men as DR.. James Douglas and
Or. l.. ID. Ricketts,, who are eminent
in science and who are most directly
known to the people Of this section of
the country in the great development
work which has been carried on by
them. as the lieutenants and officers
Of the Phelps-Dodge company; and
also an attack upon the character Of
a great many young men Of Arizona,
who have affiliated with these gentle
men in their work--to say nothing Of
the embarrassment 'and UNJUST noto-
riety given to the names OF the ladies
Of Or Ricketts, family including an
aged mother and an invalid sister.
by these indictments also, 1t Is
sought to involve one or two attor-
neys. land surveyors and others,
whose connection with the whole mat
ter was as remote as possible, and
who have acted in this instance, as has
been customary in thousands of sim
liar instances in which the develop
ment Of coal fields has been sought,
and who have I'm no way made proof
government questions.
in order that the public may un-
derstand upon what statement of facts
these indictments are predicated. II is
necessary to refer to the acts of con-
gress which provide the method by
which coal lands upon public domain
may be acquired. and also to refer to-
the facts which must exist before coal
deposits, under the laws as they exist,
can be developed.
'In the first place every citizen of
the United states is entitled to locate
100 acres of coal land. II must be
located for his own benefit and at the
time of location he must make proof
that he is not acting for the interests
of any other person in seeking TO eN-
ercise his right. II is well known
fact that the coal deposits of New
Mexico. and generally wherever found
in the mountain regions, are remote
from railroad connections, and II is
impossible to in any way develop the
same or handle the output until rail-
road is built to such fields. II is
fact that hundreds of thousands Of
acres of well known coal lands exist in
solid bodies I'm various parts of New
Mexico. and that nobody VIII enter
them because no capital can be gotten
together 10 build a railroad to them.
The government requires that $40 per
acre shall be paid for these lands
whenever entered, If the same are
more than fifteen miles from a rail-
road and 500 per acre II within M
teen miles.
whenever a railroad is promoted
10 build into hitherto unoccupied coal
fields. for the purpose Of bringing out
the coal. the same becomes of some
value.
.The friends Of the promoters i'm
mediately see prospect ahead or be-
ing able to profit In event OF location
Of such coal fields, and II is not an
unusual thing. but quite the regular
order. for those who have inside IN
formaflon as 80 the probability OF the
construction of such railroads 70 i'm
mediately make filings on such coal
lands. Some persons may ne actlng
more or less in unison and with an
idea and plan Of disposing OF their
entries TO the best advantage aitef
such railroad Is constructed, ana they
frequently club together, employ an
attorney. in fact. who Thereafter Iur-
nishes all proof the government re-
auires i'm the interests of each OF the
entrvmen. Every man who makes MS
coal entry in this manner undoubtedly
has the belief that he viii proiit by II.
No Individual can work a coat mine
and no individual in entering such
lands has any idea OF himself working
his coal field.
His hone and idea invariably Is TO
sell and dispose Of the same 10 some
compauy that he may know which
has been organized. or hopes viii be
organized. for the purpose Of supply
ing coal from such lands 20 the mar
ket. The mere fact that lot oi men
Of kindred association work IN unison
with each other. thus taking up rights
90 be held by each thereof, is by y"
means any evidence that there was
any agreement. contract OF secret ar
raneement that they were acting In
mslSne such entry for any one else.
But under precisely such statement ~
facts. the special agents 81 the United
states charge that the men who made