The Rock Island Argus

GLORY FOR CONGRESSMAN NEECE.

Hon. W. H. Neece, member of congress from this, the Eleventh district, is making a good record at Washington, and is proving himself to be an able legislator, and one of the shrewdest members of the house. His latest move is the unearthing of a proposed steal, which has won for him fresh laurels. The scheme was a large one, and involved the sale of five sections of Hot Springs land in New Mexico, which contained all the water in about one half million of acres. The sale was advertised to take place on the 27th of February, and Mr. Neece only discovered the state of affairs a few days before that date so he was compelled to take active measures to intercept the proceedings. He first visited the secretary of the interior and the secretary of public lands but failed to make an impression on them, and they refused to have the sale discontinued. He then introduced the following resolution into the house:

Whereas, George D. Bowman register of the land office at Las Cruces, N. Mex., has advertised to sell on the 27th day of February five special sections of land situated in townships 8 and 19, south of ranges 7 and 8 west, known as the Hot Springs reservation, to be sold in one body, and no bid to be received less than $15,000; and

Whereas it is represented that said lands contain the principal watering places for probably half a million acres of land, and that the persons controlling the said five sections will substantially control all the water in that part of the country, thereby rendering the remainder of the lands in that section worthless; it is represented that a portion of said lands are occupied by actual settlers, who have made valuable improvements on the same, and said lands being sold in a body deprives these settlers of competing at such sale; and

Whereas it is believed by persons who have good opportunities of judging that said lands ought not to be sold but reserved for a health resort, and that said waters are known to contain medical properties, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the United States of America, That the president of the United States be requested to stop and discontinue said sale, because if sold the result will be that said land will fall into the hands of large capitalists and thereby greatly hinder the settlement of the territory, besides doing injustice to actual settlers.

He also induced the committee on Public Lands to call a meeting of that body, who decided in favor of the resolution. This caused the secretary of the Interior to command a suspension of proceedings, and the sale was stopped. Mr. Neece should receive great credit for this masterly piece of work, for the sale referred to was probably one of the most gigantic schemes ever attempted to be sprung on the people of this country.