Drizzt
March 20, 2003, 06:42 PM
Land Commissioners to settle dispute with an old-fashioned duel
The Associated Press
A 144-year-old dispute over a strip of land along the New Mexico-Texas border will be settled with an old-fashioned duel, if the land commissioners of both state´s have any say in the matter.
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson issued a challenge Friday to New Mexico Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons. The duel would take place on the New Mexico-Texas border with traditional dueling pistols, Patterson said.
"Since Pat´s the only statewide elected Republican in New Mexico, you can trust me _ I won´t shoot to kill," Patterson said in a humorous written challenge. "I think I´ll just wing him."
"Anytime, anywhere," Lyons said as he accepted the challenge. "We´ll settle this once and for all ´cause I never miss a shot."
The dispute centers on 603,485 acres in west Texas.
In 1859, a surveyor established the nation´s 103rd meridian as the border between Texas and New Mexico. But he then set the actual boundary too far west _ 2.29 miles in some places, 3.77 miles in others, according to New Mexico officials.
Today, the Texas towns of Farwell, Texline, Bledsoe and Bronco lie within the strip, along with a lot of empty oil and grazing land.
New Mexico´s territorial officials protested the error in a 1910 draft constitution for statehood. Federal officials then redid the survey and ruled that the 1859 version had indeed botched it.
But Texas fought back. In 1911, the feds essentially told New Mexico to give up the land claim or forget about statehood.
In 1912, New Mexico became a state _ minus 603,485 acres.
Despite quips from Lyons and Patterson, the land commissioners duel is not likely to involve real bullets, said Kristin Haase, spokeswoman for the Lyons.
"It´s a joke...If they do it, I´m sure they will use blanks or take every precaution to ensure the safety of the two land commissioners," Haase said Saturday.
It´s also unlikely the duel would legally resolve the issue, she said.
The New Mexico Senate approved a measure Monday to instruct the attorney general´s office to sue Texas over the land and for compensation for "subsurface mineral rights, oil and gas royalties and income, property taxes and grazing privileges.
The measure has been sent to the House for consideration.
Lyons said Friday the time and exact place for the duel hasn´t been determined.
Patterson said it made sense that he and Lyons would settle a dispute with a duel since both, as state senators, authored legislation allowing citizens to lawfully carry concealed handguns.
The Associated Press
A 144-year-old dispute over a strip of land along the New Mexico-Texas border will be settled with an old-fashioned duel, if the land commissioners of both state´s have any say in the matter.
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson issued a challenge Friday to New Mexico Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons. The duel would take place on the New Mexico-Texas border with traditional dueling pistols, Patterson said.
"Since Pat´s the only statewide elected Republican in New Mexico, you can trust me _ I won´t shoot to kill," Patterson said in a humorous written challenge. "I think I´ll just wing him."
"Anytime, anywhere," Lyons said as he accepted the challenge. "We´ll settle this once and for all ´cause I never miss a shot."
The dispute centers on 603,485 acres in west Texas.
In 1859, a surveyor established the nation´s 103rd meridian as the border between Texas and New Mexico. But he then set the actual boundary too far west _ 2.29 miles in some places, 3.77 miles in others, according to New Mexico officials.
Today, the Texas towns of Farwell, Texline, Bledsoe and Bronco lie within the strip, along with a lot of empty oil and grazing land.
New Mexico´s territorial officials protested the error in a 1910 draft constitution for statehood. Federal officials then redid the survey and ruled that the 1859 version had indeed botched it.
But Texas fought back. In 1911, the feds essentially told New Mexico to give up the land claim or forget about statehood.
In 1912, New Mexico became a state _ minus 603,485 acres.
Despite quips from Lyons and Patterson, the land commissioners duel is not likely to involve real bullets, said Kristin Haase, spokeswoman for the Lyons.
"It´s a joke...If they do it, I´m sure they will use blanks or take every precaution to ensure the safety of the two land commissioners," Haase said Saturday.
It´s also unlikely the duel would legally resolve the issue, she said.
The New Mexico Senate approved a measure Monday to instruct the attorney general´s office to sue Texas over the land and for compensation for "subsurface mineral rights, oil and gas royalties and income, property taxes and grazing privileges.
The measure has been sent to the House for consideration.
Lyons said Friday the time and exact place for the duel hasn´t been determined.
Patterson said it made sense that he and Lyons would settle a dispute with a duel since both, as state senators, authored legislation allowing citizens to lawfully carry concealed handguns.