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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2092240" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 100,  “Kate’s Dream Come True”, January 11th, 1882Before they leave Nanuet leaves a note for Jake.  The three walk over to the land office and step inside. The County Claims Office is a 20x25 foot brick building on the west side of Fremont street right after the Marshall's Office. It is physically attached to the adjacent Promise City Town Hall and Courthouse, which is still under construction at the corner of Main and Freemont. The building currently looks like a cyclone hit it. Maps and notebooks are everyone, covering every desk and table of the building. Dozens more maps are tacked up on the wall. A balding man wearing wire-framed glasses is frantically working on several of them at one. He has a pencil behind one ear and a red wax pen behind the other. Sticking from his pocket are a ruler and a protractor. A sign on the wall reads "Dennis Winston, Deputy County Recorder". "Good morning Mr. Winston, I'm Mrs. Katherine Kale, and this is Miss Sonoma Figueres and Nanuet. We'd like to inquire about a particular plot of land.”  He bellows “"Of course you would. Can't you see I'm busy! Nobody's been in here for almost three weeks and then yesterday I wind up selling over 800 acres. It will take me at least two more days to record all of those transactions so you may have to wait until I can get to you. I can't be sure where on these maps is still for sale until I finish marking and recording all of the new sales." Ignoring his tirade, she says, “A little more than a mile out of town, between the land of a Dwarf named Flint Greymountain and the Chiricahua Mountains. We'd like to know if it is available, and if not, who owns it."  Sonoma interjects “Actually I'd like to see maps of any area that is still available, just so I know what might be out there if it isn't too much trouble that is.” That gets his attention. "Chiricahua Mountains, not the Dos Cabezas? Well, that's a whole different matter. Nobody's bought any land there in over a year, so it won't be affected by these new purchases. Give me a minute to locate those maps. Where specifically were you looking?" Katherine describes the location of Flint's plot a little over a mine to the southeast alongside a stream. Winston checks in a logbook and then goes to the back where a tall, long and deep cabinet is located. He pulls out the fifth of eleven drawers and then thumbs through several maps, pulling out three of them. He brings them over to a table, putting them atop the maps already on it. The maps detail contour lines showing different elevations. Using the stream as a reference point they are able to locate the twenty-acre plot that is Flint's Hill circled in red. The hill has numerical notations on it marked in red with the date 03/16/80 and some other notes in blue including the date of 07/05/81. None of the land within a quarter mile of it have any marks, although a hill to the northeast, one to the southeast, another to the south and another to the southwest, each from a quarter to half mile from Flint's, all show similar red circles and red notations with the date 03/16/80. He looks back in another book, checking those dates and says. "Here it is. Ownership of that plot was transferred last July to a Flint Greymountain and a Peter K. Grammer. That must be the one you wanted."Sonoma says, “From the look of your maps it is only the mountains that are purchased what about the land between them is that still free or am I reading the map incorrectly?   Sonoma looks at the maps all over the room.  She whispers, "This man is in a panic and needs a good assistant" she thinks to herself "that would actually be something that I think Kate would enjoy maybe I'll talk to her later about it either that or maybe as Louise a part-time cash pickup humm..."He replies to her, "Yeah, the only land that I've sold to the southeast thus far are the hills and small mountains, considered the best place to look for silver. All the lands between them are relatively flat, good for farming but that's about it. There may be silver deep down but it would probably be far too expensive to dig that deep to check."Sonoma follows the path of the stream from the mountain that Flint owns to the next place where a red circle lies. " how much is the land on both sides of the stream cost per acre and how much of it is there?"  Kate adds, “"Farmland is what I'm interested in. What I'd like is a little more than a quarter section, perhaps 180 or 200 acres, adjacent to Flint Greymountain's land. On the side between his claim and the Chiricahua Mountains if the stream flows that way."While he checks Sonoma pulls Kate aside and whispers, "If it's too much per acre we can try by starting with both sides of the stream.  That way we have the water rights and since it looks like the water originates from Flints' Mountain then we wouldn't have to worry about someone else upstream shutting off the supply.  If we need to we could even fence it in and that way charge for not only passage but water rights from others in the area"  Kate replies, "That sounds like a good strategy. Then we use those proceeds to buy more land as we need it. Thank goodness the rush wasn't in this area. I'm glad you came, I think I'd have been a bit overwhelmed here."The Claims manager points out that the stream flows from the Mountains not to them so the flow is from east to west. However the plot of land they are looking at would not be significantly affected by the water flow from Fisk's hill to the east, as the steam itself is actually not on Fisk's property. A small tributary from that hill does flow into it, as does one from Flint's hill, but the majority of the stream's flow originates in the higher mountains further to the east.  Winston tells the women "Looks like you could go in any direction from that claim for your farm. Unfortunately land here in Cochise County is pretty expensive. It will cost you five dollars an acre." Sonoma asks, "Sir, Could you please tell us who owns the next hill?" He looks up the notation in his books and says "That hill is owned by Hamilton Fisk. He's a lawyer here in Promise City."She then says in a whisper "Kate I think I could buy the area on either side of the stream to the next landowner from money I have acquired,  but I would only have about 400 feet on each side.  It's enough to lay claim to the water rights but hard to keep people you didn't want out of. How much money were you thinking of putting into this adventure?" Nanuet overhears Sonoma ask Kate the question. He whispers, "Miss Sonoma, don't forget I am also willing to buy some land. I am willing to spend about $550. I am hoping to work on the ranch once it is settled.""I didn't forget you" Sonoma smiles and blushes slightly.  “It's just that we're going to need start up cash too along with money to purchase stock.  And although we can build adobe we're still going to need fencing and supplies and other things, so I don't want to invest all of our cash in land.  If we did that we’d just be able to look at it and not do anything with it.  Although it's not like I'm in a huge rush but I think buying land is about to become the thing to do around here"Nanuet replies, "Miss Sonoma, again I say you are very wise. You are right that we shouldn't be in a huge rush. If the land is most in demand now we should get it before it is gone and we can work on some of the other things later. But I am not good in ways of business so I will leave my investment up to you."  Kate says, "I can also add another $500, although I'd like to keep it a little smaller if I can. Between just Nanuet and I, we could get the 200 acres we need." Kate was quiet for a moment, thinking of Maggie's problem at the Lone Star. She couldn't come up with the money on her own to help Maggie, but Jake had suggested there were other ways.  "Yes, I think if we want this land, we need to buy it now. The rush doesn't seem to be quite here yet, but it may come. Sonoma, I know you were thinking of buying land of your own, but you're welcome to pitch in with us if you want. Split evenly between all of us, it would be about $335 each. We could split it differently if necessary. Flint may also be willing to pick up some of the cost, but I think we should let him reimburse us if he wants to. What do you think?"Sonoma says, “Right now I don't need the money I have a place to stay free and a job at the cantina for as long as I like.”   Sonoma starts talking almost to herself, "We could start with fencing and build with adobe and put almost all our money into land.  I think I know where we could get some sheep to start with and they don't take near as much work as cattle.  They are not as much profit though but we should be able to sell most of what we needed to right here in town to break even.  That and music lessons should put us into a profit provided we're careful and work hard making sure we don't lose the stock.” Kate interjects, "Plus, with all the land being bought, this city might be about to grow quite a bit bigger. I think we can do well. I'm willing to buy the land now. 100 acres on each side of the stream, split three ways between the three of us, with Flint having an option to reimburse for a larger share. Sonoma, if you can show us how to build with adobe we can take your advice and start with sheep.  Are we all agreed?"  "Mr. Winston, where would we make payment? I don't imagine you keep large amounts of money here."If they wish to purchase a full 200 acres that would allow them to get a plot of land the 4/10's of a mile to the next hill and 3/4's of a mile wide with the stream in the center. He says the total cost of that plot would be $ 1,000 and that they would have to leave him 10% now as a deposit for it to which they would received a receipt and exclusive option to buy. The balance would then be due to be deposited in the Arizona Territory's account at the Promise City National Bank within two business days. Once the full payment is confirmed they would receive the deed to the property, although he says that might take him a bit longer due to all the work he has to still finalize from the prior day's transactions.Sonoma comments, “I think the land and a deed are a far better investment than putting the money in the bank around here. what with the amount of robberies that happen on a regular basis. She gives Kate a knowing look "and I know of the perfect place to keep the deed safe.  If we come into more money we can always expand towards the water source I can't see people wanting to buy closer to the mountains unless they have an unusually good relationship with the Indians in the area.  And I don't know of anyone who fits that bill, she looks at Nanuet and smiles. "If Flint is willing to go into it with us and stay on the land while we get started we should do Ok I say go for it but I have no other bills or things to worry about. Nanuet I think this may be the best investment for your money at the moment unless you want to become a silver miner and most of the good easy mines seem to be locked up. Kate it's your dream but it will be a lot of work what do you think, are we ready for this?”Kate says, "I've never been afraid of work, and I don't think we're going to be more ready than we are now. Something to work for will be....well, it will be good for me."  Instead of reaching into her purse Katherine lifted one of the pieces of draped fabric on her dress. She carefully worked open a pin attached to the underside and pulled off a slim, paper-wrapped packet. From inside she counted out five twenty-dollar bills and handed them to Mr. Winston.  "You have a sale, sir. The deposit will be made today."</blockquote>

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