Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-29
HTY PART OF
AN OLD GRANT
Land Granted by Spanish
Crown to de La Cara
In 1881

Early known history Of Browns
vine goes q far back as the grant
Try the Crown OF Spain in America
70 Jose Salvador de Ia Cara, Sept.
26 1871 Of the Espiritu Santo con-
ststtng Of 50 IL square leagues Of
land.
When the city Of Matarnoros was
founded on the south bank OF the
Rio Grande In 1926, It's eiidos, or
town common, Of four square
leagues. measured from the center
df the principal plaza, an invariable
incident 70 Spanish and Mexican
municipalities. lay on both banks OF
the river.
That portion o. this town ON
mo- OF Matamoros which was sur
veyed on the north bank OF the Rio
Grande. was on land then owned by
Francisco Cavazos, one OF the des-
cendants and heirs of the original
grantee Of the Espiritu Santo.
ck6er the constitution OF the
Mes5ican state Of Tamaulipas, in
which this land was then situated.
provision was made for the use Of
the municipality, but, ss under our
laws the prescribed proceedings
must be strictly observed and the
land paid for at its appraised valu-
alton, before the private owner cen
be deprived OF his property.
\ The city OF Matamoros attempted
70 condemn the lands OF Francesca
CavazoS included within the town
. common Of Matamoros as surveyed.
took possession and granted por-
tons Of them 10 various individuals
for use as fields for laborers. These
grants were Of a leasehold nature.
Francisco CavaZos refused TO rec
ogntze these condemnation proceed
tngs and TO appoint an appraiser as
1 she was permitted TO do under the
law. The lands were granted TO va
4 rious persons anyway by the M-ata-
moros officials. Maria Josefa Ca
vazos. her niece and successor in
title. subsequently Irrigated the ques-
4 ton OF title growing out OF this ct
tempted appropriation before the
4 congress CT the state OF Tamaulipas.
the supreme court Of Texas and the
supreme court Of the United States.
The Congress OF Tamaulipas. IN
1913 found that Matamoros had not
acquired title to the land. This de-
A cree was binding as between Mata-
n1oros and the heirs OF Francisco
ravazos; but when it was rendered.
2 reason OF the taking effect Of
NE treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo IN
f846. jurisdiction over the land in
controversy lad passed to the Unit
ed States and the state Of Texas.
The legislature Of Texas inccrpor-
/ ated the city OF Brownsville IN 1850
and granted in all that portion Of
the former town commons Of Mata-
moros on the north bank Of the
Rio Grande. Litigation began i'm
'imedaftely between the city OF
brownsville and Josefa CavazoS and
! her heirs for 80 years. The recon-
struction supreme court of Texas.
1commonly called the "sem.-colon
court" rendered judgment favorably
Ito the city Of Brownsville but the
Isupreme court OF the United States
In 1879 finally decided in favor OF
Skhe Cavazos title.
Pending outcome OF this litigation
many persons claiming leasehold
titles from the city OF N-.amoros
Or city OF Brownsville. remained in
possession OF their lands. in some
leases without having been made
Hparties to any OF the suits, and ac-
quiring various posSesSory and lin
.itation titles TO the tracts occupied
by them. The CavaZos title 10 the
greater part OF the lands now incor-
porated within the city OF Browns
vile. was acquired from Maria
Josefa Carazos by Elisha Basse and
sRobert II. Hord. their title In turn
\ passing to Charles Stillman. VIII
iliam @. Hale and Samuel A. Belden.
In 1881 widow and heirs of Still
man Conveyed the Basse and Hord
Interest 10 the New York end
dBrownsville improvement
limited. claiming that Mr.. Stillrnan
had acquired the holdings OF his
partners.
COTTON V0GTTr