Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-03-20

Santa Fe. n. NJ. March 49,
The following statement was read
by Colonel W. S Hopewell before the
house committee for the investigation
of Governor Hagerman's connection
with the Pennsylvania Development
company land deal This statement.
made as ii is hE Mr.. Hopewell as
manager of the Pennsylvania corpora
ton and the man who made the deal
for the purchasers. Is convincing and
illuminating 1t Is worth reading for
every man who takes an interest IN
public affairs.
This statement shows two things
which are Of general public interest.
It shows first how very remote was
Governor Hagerman's connection with
this deal which was closed, signed and
sealed months before he came into Of
fee. and his perfect right To deliver
the deeds after the lands had been
paid for And second How slipshod
were the methods employed IN self
ing the tenitoIy's lands up to the time
Governor Hagerman came into office
with some striking Instances given IN
plain English by Mr., HopeWell under
oath to the house committee.
THE original application for the
purchase of timber lands I'm the Man
zano mountains of New Mexico was
taiett w M 'hasnshS Aqd dlryN 81 Hcto-
Der 10Th, 1905, elho was az Cmt tmr
associated withInyself and others in the
construction or the Santa Zee Central
railway as will appear from the llles
and records nf the board OF pubic
lands Of New Mexico. We deposited M
that time with the commissioner OF
public lands a check for $500 as an
evidence of good faith of the said ap-
plication to purchase the said lands.
ON November 4th, 1904, the appli-
cation of Mr.. Andrews was presented
bv me to the board Of public lands for
its consideration and action, and was
informed that the amount of land
applied for in said application could
not be sold to an individual, but that
a separate application would have I"
be presented for not to exceed 100
acres for each applicant.
on December I'd, 1907 | appeared
before the said board and asked for
an extension of time within which
to submit proper applications, untll
June, 1902, and at the same time made
n dcposit of $500 with Mr., A. a,
Keen. commissioner of public lands. 10
be applied on the purchase price OF
the lands we were seeking TO pur-
chase.
ON June I'd, 1902. ! again applied by
letter to the said board for a further
extension of time. on account of pro-
posed congressional legislation relat-
ing TO the sale of public lands of New
Mexico. An extension was granted.
on December 1st, 1902, we filed fVe
applications. each for the purchase oil
a ouarter section of the said timber
lands. or a total of 500 acres. which
were accepted and deeds executed
therefor.
on April 9Th, 1908, we filed forty.
four applications for the purchase OIL
about 1000 acres Of said lands ahu
gave a note to the commissioner OF
public lands for $4,000 dated March
2Tth. 1903, and bearing interest az
6 per cent per annum.
on July 31st 1903, we maze pay
ment of $4,000 on said note. ana u,
the same time made paVmeht ol
S4OO interest thereon. We also gave
new note for $4,000, the balance
of the purchase price of said Iands'
on September Sth, 1908, deeus We're
executed to ten of the sald appilcanVs
for total of 1000 acres but uhue'
an agreement with the board OF pup,
lie lands. the said deeds were retained
by the commissioner OF pubic lanu'
as collateral security for the paynen
of the balance due the territory lo'
the lands applied for ~
ON December Sd. 1908. we paid t'
thc said commissioner $500 interest ol
Inc saidS15. 900 note. and gave renewa
/ note for $4,000 at 6 per cent inter
! est. dated November 21th, l9O3.
on March 23d 1904, we paid th'
commissioner of public lands $4,000 t.
apply on the purchase price OF sal'
! lands. and also paid $500 interest ol
the said $4,000 renewal note, am
aave a new note dated March 2tn
I 1gOA for four months, at q per cen
interest. for $4,000. the balance du
! on account of the purchase price o
said lands.
ON March 27th. 1904. deeds wer
| executed to eleven of the applicant
! for the said lands for total OF Lto
! acres. but were not delivered, heln
held by the commissioner as IN IN
I case OF the ten deeds above referee
10. as collateral for the payment o
/ the balance due on the said purchaS
price. .,
ON August 5th. 1904, we paid to IN
commissioner S2O0 four months IN
terest on the said 10000 notes. an
gave renewal note for $4,000 date
July eth. 1904 four months, at
per cent interest
on December 18th. 1904 we pal
to the commissioner 500 interest o
the said $4,000 renewal note, an
gave another renewal note for SlO,OO
dated November 2Sth, 1904, f0u
months, at per cent interest,
(Some of the above dates may n'
he exactly correct as some Of on
records covering transactions durln