44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING THE LAND USE COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE TRADITIONAL HISTORIC COMMUNITY LAWS FOR INCLUSION OF THE COMMUNITY OF ORGAN IN DONA ANA COUNTY.

WHEREAS, the original townsite of Organ, New Mexico was surveyed in 1882; and

WHEREAS, a townsite grant was signed by President Chester A. Arthur in 1885; and

WHEREAS, the Civil War battle at San Augustin pass was fought near Organ; and

WHEREAS, the community cemetery contains the remains of several confederate and union soldiers killed at the San Augustin pass battle; and

WHEREAS, Albert Fall, Pat Garrett, William Bonney and A.J. Fountain, among other historic legends, visited Organ or owned property there; and

WHEREAS, legend has it that gold was mined there as early as 1798; and

WHEREAS, like many other traditional historic communities, the historic cultural values of Organ are threatened by inappropriate development;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the land use committee be requested to study the traditional historic community laws for the potential inclusion of Organ for protection from inappropriate development by those provisions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to members of the land use committee.