Speech #510169301

The bill makes ample provision for such cases by providing that in township surveys hereafter to be made. if it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the deputy surveyor making such survey that any person has. through himself. his ancestors. or grantors. been in the actual possession. residing thereon as his home. of any tract of land not exceeding 160 acres. for twenty years next preceding such survey. the deputy surveyor shall recognize and establish the lines of such possession and make the subdivision of the adjoining lands in accordance therewith. and also that in cases of townships heretofore surveyed all persons who or whose ancestors or grantors became citizens of the United States by reason of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. and who are now and have been in the actual possession of tracts not exceeding 160 acres each for twenty years next preceding such survey. shall be entitled. upon making proof of such facts to the satisfaction of the register and receiver of the proper land district. to enter. without payment of purchase money. fees. or commissions. such tract. not exceeding 160 acres. as shall so be in their possession. The situation is aptly described bysome of the surveyors general. The surveyor general of New Mexico. in his report for 1880. says: The acquisition to the population of New Mexico the ensuing year from immigration is estimated at not less than 40.000. and probably will exceed that and it Is allimportant that these titles be adjusted withdut further delay. and the lands embraced therein segregated from the public domain. so that the settlers upon the public lands may locate with some degree of confidence and certainty In eventually securing title to the lands settled upon by them. I any of these grant title papers are doubtless still in the personal possession of the grantees or their descendants. and the particular location of the tracts covered by them. as well as the land embraced by those claims. on file but unadjudicated. is necessarily unknown. Individuals may locate on what is supposed to be public land. and. after they have erected valuable buildings and improved the trct. it may finally be ascertained to be embraced within the limits of a grant. and the labor and outlay of years are taken from the settler.