Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-07-24
MAPS OF IMPERIAL.
VALLEY DECEPTIVE
REGISTRAR FINDS WIDE VARl-
ANcE WITH OFFICIAL LINES
Private Surveys Look Like Crazy
Work QuIIt-opportunlty Is
offered for Fraudulent
Real Estate Deals

Typographical pandemonium' is the
expression used by officials of the United
States land Office, in an attempt to de-
scribe conditions in the Imperial valley
where faulty private surveys are causing
no end Of confusion and giving oppor-
tunities for endless trickery in the loca-
ton and sale of land.
Gen. Il. c. Prescott. registrar of the
local land office, is doing everything in
his power to minimize the difficulties OF
the situation by giving publicity to the
facts.
His attention was first called to the
matter by persons who appeared in his
office and attempted to file on excess
lands" in the valley.
The government survey of 1853. under
which the department works, shows nc
excess, and for this reason General Pres
colt started an investigation.
He discovered numerous maps of the
Imperial valley, showing private surveys,
so greatly at variance with the official
lines that they looked like maps of an
other district
Some Appear Fraudulent
Whether or not these so-called maps
were made in good faith is not known.
On their face several of them appear to
be Intentionally fraudulent.
At any rate they open up the way to
trickery and fraud, and may have already
resulted in much harm.
One of these maps which the general
had on his desk yesterday shows the
boundary of the district to be an irregu-
lar line, with many unexpected angles.
1t looks almost like diagram for piece
of crazy patchwork, such as young wom-
lar several years ago among young wom-
en- with a penchant for fancy work.
The government survey shows paral-
telegram, with only the four corner an
giles.
In one place on this map township l
snuggles alongside of township 6. Then
comes half township, not numbered at
all, and then another township l.
Geseral Prescott does not say that land
companies operating in the Imperial val
ley are using these faulty maps to de-
ceive customers. 1t is certain, however
that they pave the way for SUCH deceit
and it is altogether probable that more
than one tale of trickery and deception
will develop later.
Takes Long Chances
At any rate, the man who relies on one
of these unofficial maps to locate MS
wake up some morning and find that he
has improved land which he does not
own. and that his holdings, the lands TO
which he really, has title, are situated
some distance away.
Senator Flint and Congressman Smith
secured an appropriation several years
ago to have resurvey made In the VAL
ley, and the work actually was pegun'
but the engineer in charge died and since
then, so far as known, nothing further
has been done.
within the past few days numerous
nersons have tried to file on alleged "ex-
cess lands" in the valley, but all such
filings have been rejected, as the govern
ment survey shows no excess. In speak
ing of the matter yeterday General Pres
colt said:
New Phase Arises
Numerous attempts are now beirg
made to file on so-called excess lands
This is a new phase of the complication,
and is met by prompt and unquallhed
rejection. The order Is to receive desert
where the descriptions are
with reference to the established hnes OF
the original survey of 1883. Ihese appl-
cations are received under my indorse-
ment Subject to adjustment by legal
to lines of resurvey author
lied by act of July l, l9O2
Our office interprets that to mean with
reference to the established lines of the
original survey. the word lines being
used bv design as distinguished from
mere points used as starters. The seri-
Gus objection to the theory of the So
called excess land is that 1t is not based
on fact There is no such excess lands
The Henderson official survey has estao-
lished the old lines of the government
survey of 1853, and shows no excess save
in fractional sections along the south side
of the third standard parallel south. All
entries in the office are described pursu-
ant TO it, and those entries should secure
the entryman or entrywoman the speci-
fed acreage This confusion reaches only
the so-calied excess lands. AS to Vand
entries II is merely a question of adj
iustment. as under the Endorsement re-
ouired of me by the commissioner"