Semi-weekly herald., 1909-06-10
HUGE LAND GRANT
SALE PREVENTED
O.

Denver Post.
Just when II seemed that the hun.
drods OF thousands OF valuable acres
In the Tlerra Amarilla land grant
acres which have been owned sin .
the early '70s by Thomas B. Catrou,
noted Santa Fc attorney. which have
given him millions Of dollars IN re
turn for the few thousands which he
paid for II. were about to be wreAred
from him by the auctioneer's hammer
to satisfy the claims sof William T..
Hughes of Denver. who holds mort
gnges upon the grant, Catron arrived
In Denver yesterday and announced
he had secured the 100000 necessary
to liduidate the claims and would
turn II over Monday and thus save thc
lands-whlch have the most romantic
history of any OF the famous grants
of The early west.
The Tierra Amarillo grant IL located
In northern New Mexico and southern
Colorado. 1t was to have been sold
under the hammer next Saturday. June
II, for the satisfaction of the mort
cages held by Col William Il. Hughes
OF Denver. II was only Friday that
Catron learned he would be able to
liauidate the mortgages Monday.
This enormous grant contained orig
inally $4,000 acres, an area in which
uta f.p. i,yh
easily be included and lost The grant
was made In 1894, by the republic OF
Mexico to "a distinguished citizen, Man.
mel Martinez and his eight sons, In
recognition of valuable services ren.
dered the republic by the Martinez
family.
Because some OF the uplands abound
In a certain peculiar yellow earth,
the grant took the name Of TERRA
Amarillo, which is Spanish for the
term yellow earth" Al the death
II the elder Martinez. one OF the eight
sons, Francisco, applies TO congress
for confirmation OF the grant and II
was confirmed to The Martinez family
IN June, 1860.
II was what was called colony
grant and really belonged, not only
to the brothers Martinez. but 10 q
| number OF associates who accompa
MED them when they took possession
| of the land. fought Indians and en-
| dnred all manner OF hardships, aiont
with the Martinez brothers, on tn,
understanding that all should hole
equal interest But congress- over
looked the rights of the associates
confirming the grant TO the Martinei
family solely.
Noting this fact. Francisco MARITIME;
made to these associates deeds e
small tracts OF land along the waite
courses and accorded them free righ
to the common pasturage and wate
and wood on the grant. There grew
up considerable population on tn
grant. which now amounts TO perhap
5000 people There are three or fou
prosperous towns on the grant, on
entirely American This Is Chama, o
the line of the Denver e. Rio Grand
railroad. which trayerses the grant 70
distance of twenty-four miles.
Early In the 70s Thomas y. Catrol
then partner OF Senator Stephen
FllkiDs. acquired the interests OF th
: several Martinez brothers for sui
total OF about $4,000.
This. OF course. WAS getting II
hinge trac, "for a song" ns the sn
? ing goes One OF those Intereste
l through hts wife. tells today he gay
+ up his share. the consideration beir
q new wagon, sack of sugar ar
one OF coffee.
= During the past twenty:four yea
i MIR. Catrop has received in royaiti
II from such extensive lumber Arms
n McPhee & McGinnity. the Sayre-Ne
. ton Lumber company. and the Halla