Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-02-01
MARTIN STIRS
Up TROUBLE
This May Result in Lifting
Embargo on Waters of
Rio Grande
ASKS FOR FULL INFORMATION
All Department Orders and
Negotiations to Be Laid Be-
fore Congress.
Special to the New Mexican,

opSCldl W lnS ANtN 4hCAIIdu.
Washington, D. c., Feb. 1.-Repre-
sentative Martin of Colorado, intro
duced a resolution that the secretary
of the interior furnish the House with
copies of all executive or department
orders, regulations, documentary in
formation as to the disposition for ir-
rioation of the waters of the Rio
Grande and tributaries in Colorado
and New Mexico; for the Engle recla-
nation project and lands to be re
claimed, negotiations with the Repub-
lie of Mexico, statement Of private il
rigation reservoirs or projects of said
river or tributaries above Engle, and
all action of the department, regard
ing the disposition of the waters of
the Rio Grande and its tributaries.
One Phase of Boundary Dispute.
Washington, Feb. 1.-There is a
likelihood that action will be taken
by congress in a few days definite
lyfsettling the boundary between New
Mexico and Texas between Anthony
and Ell Paso, a distance of about IS
miles. Testimony is now being heard
in Washington by the committee hav.
ing the matter in charge and it looks
as if Texas would win its contention
here as it will over the difference eX,
listing about the eastern boundary
along the 103d parallel between New
Mexico and the Panhandle.
Testimony of General Anson Mills
is said to cinch the claims of the
Texans to the territory. General
Mills when very young man survey
ed all the land in the valley north
of Ell Paso to the point where An.
thony is now located, and his testi-
mony, it is learned, declares that the
boundary (and the river) between
Texas and New Mexico then ran
against the foothills to the west OF
Santa Fe track, and that all the ter
ritory claimed by Texas at present
was in Texas then. The river since
that time has moved over to the rail
road track and a strip of land three
or four miles wide in places is now
in dispute. 1t is said that map made
at the time General Mills made the
survey has been discovered and that
it shows the river right where the
Texans contend that it ran and proves
up all their claims.
The controversy is over several
thousand acres of very valuable land
L it is proved the river ran where
tie Texans say it did, then the Texas
tide is good; if the river ran where il
is now, then the title of the New Mex
leans is good. The New Mexicans
claim the land under the Ascarate land
grant, which covered all the land
"east to the west bank of the RiC
Grande." The Texans claim it under
the Canutillo grant and Texas pat
ents, which gave title to all the land
west to the east bank of the Ric
Grande"
The title of most of the Ascarate
land has been confirmed by the Unit
ed States and the title to all of the
Texas land has been confirmed by
Texas. Hence, either title is good as
soon as the boundary is decided
Things all look like they were going
the way of the Texans, but consider
able more testimony is to be taken
and it is just possible that some Of
the Congressman will make a trip Of
inspection over the land in question
which Texans claim will surely prove
their contention.
The land is now very valuable, sell
ing from $50 an acre uncleared, tc
$1O0 an acre cleared. Deeds are be
ing given under the Texas titles and
so confident are they of winning thai
the Texans are issuing warranty deeds
to all the land they are selling. The
soil is as rich as can be found any
where, all the surface being deposits
from river overflows and suited to the
growing of practically anything.