reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NM Stat § 19-4-6 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-6 - [Vacating all or part of townsite.]

When any tract of land may be filed upon, platted and recorded as a townsite in accordance with the provisions of an act of congress or law of New Mexico, and no town or organization under the laws of New Mexico shall have been perfected by the inhabitants residing thereon, or the owners thereof, the same may be vacated by consent of all such inhabitants or owners and disposed of as the said inhabitants or owners shall agree: provided, that a statement, signed and certified to by a majority of said inhabitants or owners, setting forth the fact of the vacation of such townsite, be filed with the clerk of the county in which the same shall be situated. When any tract of land has been recorded as a townsite, or has been annexed as an addition to a townsite, any part or portion thereof may be vacated upon the written consent of all the owners of that part or portion which it is proposed to vacate: provided, that no expenditures of money have been theretofore made or incurred by said town for the improvement or benefit of said part or portion, and that the same is bounded in same [whole] or in part by exterior town lines, and that when so vacated a statement, subscribed by such owners, setting forth the facts of such vacation, together with an accurate description, map and plat of such part vacated shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of the county in which such town is situated. History: Laws 1884, ch. 39, § 98; C.L. 1884, § 1706; C.L. 1897, § 3977; Code 1915, § 5518; C.S. 1929, § 144-106; 1941 Comp., § 8-506; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-6. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 73A C.J.S. Public Lands §§ 52 to 55.
NM Stat § 19-4-7 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-7 - [Disposal of lots after entry.]

When the corporate authorities of any town, or the probate judge of the county for any county in this state, in which any town may be situated, shall have entered, at the proper land office, the land, or any part of the land, settled and occupied as the site of such town, pursuant to and by virtue of the provisions of the act of congress entitled, "An act for the relief of citizens of towns upon lands of the United States under certain circumstances," passed May 23, 1844, and any amendments that may be made thereto, it shall be the duty of the corporate authorities or probate judge, as the case may be, and they are hereby directed and required to dispose of and convey the title to such land, or to the several blocks, lots, parcels or shares thereof, to the persons hereinafter in this chapter described, and in the manner hereinafter specified, and apply the proceeds of the sale thereof under the following regulations. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 1; C.L. 1884, § 2775; C.L. 1897, § 3978; Code 1915, § 5519; C.S. 1929, § 144-107; 1941 Comp., § 8-507; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-7. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Compiler's notes. — The words "this chapter" were inserted by the 1915 Code compilers, and referred to chapter 108 of that code, which is identical with this article. The Townsite Act of May 23, 1844 (5 Stat. 657), referred to in this section, is not compiled in the United States Code. Cross references. — For sale of common lands within community land grants, see 49-1-11 NMSA 1978. Nature of railroad right-of-way. — A railroad company, by complying with the act of congress, giving it a right to lands for right-of-way and station purposes, takes a limited fee therein, to which no other person can acquire any right or title, either by adverse possession or by grant from the company itself; hence, a claimant of lots in a townsite which embraces a part of such right-of-way and station grounds is not entitled to a deed from the probate judge including any portion thereof. Dugan v. Montoya, 1918-NMSC-035, 24 N.M. 102, 173 P. 118. Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 73A C.J.S. Public Lands § 54.
NM Stat § 19-4-8 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-8 - [Conveyances to persons entitled to possession or occupancy.]

Such corporate authorities or probate judge, holding the title of such lands in trust, as declared in the said act of congress, his or their successors shall, by a good and sufficient deed of conveyance, grant and convey the title to each and every block, lot, share or parcel of the same to the person or persons who shall have possession, or be entitled to the possession or occupancy thereof, according to his, her or their several and respective rights or interest in the same, as they existed in law or equity at the time of the entry of such lands, or to his, her or their heirs and assigns. Every such deed to be made by such corporate authorities, or by such probate judge, shall be so executed and acknowledged as to admit the same to be recorded. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 2; C.L. 1884, § 2776; C.L. 1897, § 3979; Code 1915, § 5520; C.S. 1929, § 144-108; 1941 Comp., § 8-508; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-8. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Compiler's notes. — The act of congress referred to in this section is the Townsite Act of 1844 (5 Stat. 657), which act is not compiled in the United States Code. Disposition of lands. — Under this section, 19-4-9 and 19-4-10 NMSA 1978, the townsite lands must be disposed of for the use and benefit of the occupants who are in actual, bona fide possession, and they are entitled to their deeds on payment of their proportion of the expenses. City of Socorro v. Cook, 1918-NMSC-072, 24 N.M. 202, 173 P. 682; Gill v. Wallis, 1902-NMSC-022, 11 N.M. 481, 70 P. 575.
NM Stat § 19-4-9 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-9 - [Notice of entry; posting and publication.]

Within thirty days after the entry of such lands, the corporate authorities or probate judge entering the same, shall give public notice of such entry, by posting notice thereof in at least three public places within such town and by publishing such notice in a newspaper published in the county in which such town shall be situated. In case there shall not be any newspaper published in such county, then in some newspaper published nearest to such town in this state. Such notice shall be published once in each week for at least three successive weeks, and shall contain an accurate description of the lands so entered, as the same is stated in the certificate of entry, or duplicate receipt for the purchase money thereof, given by the land officers at the time of such entry. In case of entry of such lands by corporate authorities, the mayor or president shall give such notice in behalf of the town, in his official capacity. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 3; C.L. 1884, § 2777; C.L. 1897, § 3980; Code 1915, § 5521; C.S. 1929, § 144-109; 1941 Comp., § 8-509; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-9. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
NM Stat § 19-4-10 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-10 - [Claim for lots; time limit; unclaimed lots revert to town.]

Each and every person or association or company of persons claiming to be an occupant or occupants, or to have possession, or to be entitled to the occupancy or possession of such lands, or to any lot, block, share or parcel thereof, shall, within sixty days after the first publication of such notice, in person, or by his, her or their, duly authorized agent or attorney, sign a statement in writing, containing an accurate description of the particular parcel or parts of lands, in which he, she or they, claim to have an interest, and the specific right, interest or estate therein which he, she or they, claim to be entitled to, [and shall] receive and deliver the same to, or into, the office of such corporate authorities, or probate judge, and all persons failing to sign and deliver such statement within the time specified in this section shall be forever barred the right of claiming or recovering such lands, or any interest or estate therein, or any part, parcel or share thereof, in any court of law or equity. In case any lots in such town remain unclaimed and unconveyed at the end of said sixty days, all such lots shall revert to and become the property of such town. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 4; C.L. 1884, § 2778; C.L. 1897, § 3981; Code 1915, § 5522; C.S. 1929, § 144-110; 1941 Comp., § 8-510; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-10. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Provisions repealed. — Two provisions of this section are repugnant to and irreconcilable with Section 19-4-4 NMSA 1978 and were therefore repealed by the latter section, namely, the absolute bar to an occupant who failed to file a claim within the specified time limit and the provision that upon failure to file a claim the property reverted to the town, since if failure to file resulted in the property reverting to the town, the title would no longer be in the probate judge and Section 19-4-4 NMSA 1978 could never be utilized. Alvarez v. Board of Trustees, 1957-NMSC-022, 62 N.M. 319, 309 P.2d 989.
NM Stat § 19-4-11 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-11 - [Notice of meeting to elect trustees; qualifications; duties.]

Within ten days after the time, as prescribed in the preceding section [19-4-10 NMSA 1978], the corporate authorities, or, if there be no corporate authorities, the probate judge holding the land in trust, shall give ten days' notice of the time and place wherein a public meeting of the inhabitants of such town will be held, at which public meeting a board of five trustees shall be elected by a majority of the votes of the legally qualified voters residing within said town, present at said meeting. Said board of five trustees shall consist of legally qualified voters, being owners of real estate in said town: provided, further, that after said election has been duly certified to by the chairman and secretary of the public meeting so held, they are, and are hereby authorized to dispose of all said lots, blocks or parcels, of said land, as described in the preceding section, as may seem best for the use of the school funds of said inhabitants of such town, as hereinafter provided in this chapter. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 5; C.L. 1884, § 2779; C.L. 1897, § 3982; Code 1915, § 5523; C.S. 1929, § 144-111; 1941 Comp., § 8-511; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-11. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Compiler's notes. — The words "this chapter" were inserted by the 1915 Code compilers, and referred to Chapter 108 of that code, which is identical to this article.
NM Stat § 19-4-12 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-12 - [Term of office of trustees.]

The board of trustees, when elected, shall hold the office for the period of one year, and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified under the laws of this state. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 6; C.L. 1884, § 2780; C.L. 1897, § 3983; Code 1915, § 5524; C.S. 1929, § 144-112; 1941 Comp., § 8-512; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-12. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
NM Stat § 19-4-13 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-13 - [Board of appraisers; appointment; oath; refusal to act; new board.]

The board of trustees of any such town shall appoint, by order, resolution or ordinance, a board of appraisers, to consist of three freeholders of any such town, who shall have no interest in such unclaimed or unconveyed lots, or parcels of land, or the improvements thereon. Each of said appraisers shall take an oath to faithfully discharge his duties as such appraiser, and shall file such oath in the office of the clerk of said board before commencing his duties as such appraiser. In case such appraisers should fail or neglect to make the appraisement hereinafter specified in this chapter [19-4-14 NMSA 1978], and file the same with the clerk of said board, for a period of more than ten days after their appointment, then said board may appoint a new board of appraisers for the purposes herein provided. It shall be the duty of such board to appoint such appraisers within thirty days after the time has expired for persons to present claims for lots in such towns. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 7; C.L. 1884, § 2781; C.L. 1897, § 3984; Code 1915, § 5525; C.S. 1929, § 144-113; 1941 Comp., § 8-513; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-13. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
NM Stat § 19-4-14 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-14 - [Appraisement; contents; valuations.]

Said appraisers shall appraise all lots or parcels of land, unclaimed or not, conveyed by virtue of any law, in such town, at their just and full cash value, and file their written appraisement, as aforesaid. Said appraisement shall contain a description of each lot or parcel of land so appraised, and a statement of the cash value of each lot and parcel of land so appraised. Said appraisers shall make a separate statement of the value of such lots and parcels of land without improvements, and the aggregate value of both; there shall be attached to such appraisement a written affidavit of said appraisers, verifying each statement of such appraisement, and alleging that each of said lots and parcels of land is appraised at its just and full value. The appraisement shall be required only in cases where the time has expired by prior laws for claimants to file their statements. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 8; C.L. 1884, § 2782; C.L. 1897, § 3985; Code 1915, § 5526; C.S. 1929, § 144-114; 1941 Comp., § 8-514; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-14. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
NM Stat § 19-4-15 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-15 - [Notice of sale; publication; contents.]

The mayor, or president, or probate judge, as the case may be, shall, upon the filing of such appraisement, give notice, signed in his official capacity, of the time and place of sale of said lots and parcels of land, by advertisement, published once a week for three successive weeks in some newspaper published in the county where such town is situated, or if no newspaper is published in said county, then in the paper published nearest such town. Such sale shall be advertised to be made at some public place in said town, and to be sold at some specified time between the hours of sunrise and sunset. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 9; C.L. 1884, § 2783; C.L. 1897, § 3986; Code 1915, § 5527; C.S. 1929, § 144-115; 1941 Comp., § 8-515; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-15. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
NM Stat § 19-4-16 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-16 - [Conduct of sales.]

Such lots or parcels of land shall be sold at public vendue to the highest bidder for cash and shall be offered for sale singly unless a greater price can be obtained by selling several lots or parcels of land together, in which case several lots or parcels of land can be sold together, after an attempt has been first made to sell them singly. Such sale may be continued if necessary, from day to day for a period not to exceed three days at any one sale. In case all said lands are not sold at first sale, the remaining lands shall be advertised as many times as may be necessary to sell said lands, and all sales subsequent to the first sale shall be advertised and conducted the same as the first sale. No lot or parcel of land shall be sold at less than its appraised value. A new appraisement may be had of all lands remaining unsold: provided, that such new appraisement shall not be made oftener than three months. Such new appraisement shall be made by a new board of appraisers, or the old board of appraisers, to be appointed in the manner of the first board of appraisers. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 10; C.L. 1884, § 2784; C.L. 1897, § 3987; Code 1915, § 5528; C.S. 1929, § 144-116; 1941 Comp., § 8-516; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-16. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
NM Stat § 19-4-17 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-17 - [Conveyance of streets, parks and commons by probate judge.]

If the title to any such land shall be vested in any probate judge, such probate judge shall convey to any such town, the land used or laid out by the town authorities, or otherwise, as streets, lanes, avenues, parks, commons and public grounds, within such time as provided in this chapter, for making conveyances to individuals, and in the same manner, and the mayor, president or probate judge, may make such statements in behalf of the town, showing the right of such town to such lands. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 11; C.L. 1884, § 2785; C.L. 1897, § 3988; Code 1915, § 5529; C.S. 1929, § 144-117; 1941 Comp., § 8-517; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-17. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Compiler's notes. — The words "this chapter" were inserted by the 1915 Code compilers, and referred to Chapter 108 of that code, which is identical to this article.
NM Stat § 19-4-18 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-18 - [Purchase at private sale by person in possession.]

In all cases, when subsequent to the time provided by law for persons to claim lots on such townsites, and prior to the taking effect of this law, any person may have entered thereon and improved any lots belonging to such town, such person, after the report of such board of appraisers, and prior to the public sale, may purchase any such lots from the said trustees or commissioners at private sale, for cash, at the appraised value of such lots, exclusive of improvements, unless there shall be adverse claimants to any such lots, in which case the respective rights of such claimants shall be determined, as hereinafter provided in this chapter. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 12; C.L. 1884, § 2786; C.L. 1897, § 3989; Code 1915, § 5530; C.S. 1929, § 144-118; 1941 Comp., § 8-518; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-18. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Compiler's notes. — The words "this chapter" were inserted by the 1915 Code compilers, and referred to Chapter 108 of that code, which is identical to this article.
NM Stat § 19-4-19 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-19 - [Reservation for park or public purpose.]

The corporate authorities of any town or board of trustees, may set apart and reserve any of said lots or blocks, not to exceed four blocks in all, nor situated in more than eight different blocks in any one town, for the public use of said town, for a town park, or other purposes, for the benefit of the public, in lieu of offering them for sale, and shall execute to such town a deed for said lots so reserved. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 13; C.L. 1884, § 2787; C.L. 1897, § 3990; Code 1915, § 5531; C.S. 1929, § 144-119; 1941 Comp., § 8-519; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-19. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
NM Stat § 19-4-20 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-20 - Disposition of proceeds.

The proceeds received from the sale shall be disposed of as follows: A. first, to pay the expenses of the sale; B. second, to discharge any outstanding claims incurred in entering the townsite of the town; and C. third, the surplus, if any, shall be retained by the town trustees to be used for making improvements within the townsite for public purposes. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 14; C.L. 1884, § 2788; Laws 1891, ch. 29, § 1; C.L. 1897, § 3991; Code 1915, § 5532; C.S. 1929, § 144-120; 1941 Comp., § 8-520; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-20; Laws 1967, ch. 279, § 1.
NM Stat § 19-4-21 (2021)
2021 New Mexico Statutes|Chapter 19 - Public Lands|Article 4 - Townsites|Section 19-4-21 - [Adverse claims; litigation.]

In case there shall be adverse claimants to such lands, or to any part, parcel or share thereof, either party may bring a suit against the adverse claimant or claimants, in the district court of the judicial district, or in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the lands shall be situated, or in any county to which the county in which such lands shall be situated is attached for judicial purposes: provided, always, that no judge of the district court, or county judge, who has been an adverse claimant, directly or indirectly, of any portion of the lands embraced within such towns, or who is a party to any action brought to determine a right to a conveyance of any portion of the lands within such town, shall entertain, hear or determine any such claims, by or between any parties whomsoever; but in all such cases, if the cause shall be pending in a district court, the judge thereof shall order all papers, with a transcript of the record in the cause, to be transmitted to another judicial district, as in cases of changes of venue, and if the cause shall be pending in a county court, the judge thereof shall order all papers, with a transcript of the record, to be transmitted to the district court of said county, and the cause shall proceed in the courts to which the same is removed as if originally instituted in that court: provided, also, that the laws applicable to a change of venue, shall apply to such actions: and provided, also, that nothing in this chapter shall prevent the district or probate judge of the district or county in which such lands are situated from executing any and all conveyances of such lands, pursuant to the determination of such action. Suits shall be brought against adverse claimants or defendants, and it shall not be necessary to make the judge, or corporate authorities, parties thereto. The complaint must show what interest or estate in the lands in controversy the plaintiff claims. The answer, pleadings and other proceedings shall be as in cases in chancery, except that oral testimony may be introduced upon the trial, and the evidence, if not in the form of depositions, shall be reduced to writing, certified by the judge and filed with the papers in the cause. History: Laws 1882, ch. 70, § 15; C.L. 1884, § 2789; C.L. 1897, § 3993; Code 1915, § 5534; C.S. 1929, § 144-122; 1941 Comp., § 8-522; 1953 Comp., § 7-5-22. ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Compiler's notes. — The words "this chapter" were inserted by the 1915 Code compilers, and referred to Chapter 108 of that code, which is identical to this article. The Rules of Civil Procedure now govern all civil suits, whether cognizable as cases at law or in equity (except for special statutory or summary proceedings), and provide for one form of action, "civil action." See Rules 1-001 and 1-002 NMRA.