The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-03-19

1t appearing that in the case of the
deeds dated and executed ON the 8th
day of May, 1905, by the Governor of
New Mexico and president of the
board of public lands thereof, and
attested by the commissioner of pub
lie lands, did not bear the seal of
the board of public lands. The Gov
ernor then instructed Mr.. Sharon to
bring in the deeds and the seal, and
he attached the seal to the deeds
which did not contain the same. The
commissioner of public lands being
absent, l asked to whom l should pay
the balance, and the Governor stated
that he would receive the payment on
account of the Territory. l then gave
my personal checks, one for $1,000
and another for $133.74, il favor of
H. J. Hagerman, Governor of New
Mexico. in payment of said balance; :;
and asked MIN to call up the Bank of
Commerce, at Albuquerque, N. NJ, by
telephone, and ask them to certify
my checks, which he did The deeds
were thea delivered to me, and 1 re-
turned them to Mr.. Sharon to see il
they had all been copied in the record
book kept in the Office of the COM
missioner of public lands.
Not being able to remain in San
ia Fe longer at that time, | gave a
written order for the said deeds to
be delivered. after they had been cop
led, to Cnas. F. Easley, my attorney.
Subsequently the deeds were deliver
ed to me by Mr.. Easley.
Regarding the value of the lands
purchased from the Territory by my
self and associates, | desire to call
attention to the fact that the record
of proceedings of the board of public
lands show that on May 18th, 1901,
one Edmund ]. Burke secured from
said board an option for the purchase
of all Territorial timber lands in north
erl and central New Mexico at a
price, as / am informed, of $500 per
acre; and subsequently, during that
year, had an examination made of
the same, including the Manzana
mountains timber land. by one w. H.
Farr, timber expert, to determine
their value. Mr.. Farr. 1 am informed.
made an adverse report thereon, and
stated that these lands were not
worth that price. and Mr.. Burke fail
ed to purchase any of the said lands
under his option.
The said records also show that
on December End, 1901, at the time
we made the agreement with the
board of public lands for the purch-
ase of these lands and deposited
$1,000 as before stated, that other
parties were present and made like
agreement for the purchase of tim
Der lands in the Malzana Mountains,
at the price of $500 per acre, and
made like deposit to apply on the
purchase price thereof.
l also called attention to the fact
that a special agent and representa-
tive of the department of the interior
sent here from Washington, d. c., has
made a thorough investigation of this
entire land transaction and complete
report thereon to the secretary of
the Interior, and found that the same
was free from any attempt at conceal
ment or fraud on the part of any of
the officials of the territory, myself
and associates or any other persons
connected with the transaction in
any manner whatever: that this sale
and purchase was strictly legitimate
and in accordance with the practice
under the regulations prescribed by
the board of public lands, charged
with the management and sale of ter
ritorial lands, and under the same
terms and conditions that large tracts
Of territorial timber lands have been
sold to other parties by the said board
Of public lands; and l can not under
stand why myself and associates
should be subjected to any criticism
that would not apply with equal force |
to all other purchasers of timber |
lands in New Mexico.