and Ysleta del Sur had been granted land that covered over seventy-two square miles.The Relinquishment Act of the Texas Legislature gave the Tigua an additional two leagues of land to replace those lost by the shifting of the Rio Grande in 1832. In the Fifth Legislature Special Laws, Texas confirmed the original Spanish land grant. They then authorized the issuance of a patent title. This gave the Tigua patent to their own lands. Finally feeling secure the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo began to flourish. Crops were bountiful thanks to the rotational farming methods of the Tigua that allowed cultivated land to remain unused for one year between plantings. Irrigation was dug for dry periods and land was left untouched in reserve for future expansion due to growth in numbers. As new settlers moved into the area they began to desire the well-cultivated land of the Tigua. The land, however, was currently protected by law. The land was even more coveted by the people who knew of the forthcoming transcontinental railroad. Ysleta lay directly in the path to connect El Paso to this all-important line. The land was virtually invaluable to the Railroad companies, and whoever held the deed to said land stood to make an immense profit. This leads to the story of the blue-blood “rings” of El Paso, namely the “Fountain Ring”. While no official business agreement exists for the men about to be discussed the overwhelming evidence supports the theory that these men worked together to collectively acquire the rights to this invaluable land.1861 saw the beginning of the Civil War and Texas seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy. Three years later while Texas was still in the Confederacy, and unwitting President Lincoln made an error that would eventually cost the Tigua nearly their entire land grant. In March President Lincoln issued what have become known as the “Lincoln Canes” to the New Mexico Pueblo Governors, follo...
