The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-08-14

Our telegraphic reports Of Wednesday
morning, from Washington. announced
that orders had been issued to transfer
the whole of the valuable reservation on
which Fort Smelling stands, TO Franklin
Steele. The transaction appears to have
been one of those grand filching opera
tons by which the people are defrauded,
and erroneous fortunes are made by spec
ulators in high places. Mr.. Steele, who
is the ostensible purchaser, is supposed
to be the representative and partner OF
parties behind the curtains, who have
concocted the scheme and by political
and party Influences carried it through
the necessary legal forms. sso>-s
Mr.. Steel is apurser in the army. and
has grown rich on fat government jobs
and the perquisites Of his Office. He has
long been stationed At Fort Smelling, and
washmiIiar with the progress Of events
that would render the REIMBURSEMENT Of
the post necessary. and which would
bring me coveted property into market
But he had not the influence to gain
possession Of it without the aid Of power.
full abettors. He probably sought and
found them. How much he has paid
for ton what terms or by what means
he obtained it, the country is not ye,
informed. The people should demand
by the next congress most thorough
investigation OF the whole affair. The
New York Post gives the following &C.
count Of tbs property. .l.
''The Fort Smelling Reservation comprise:
% Gao acres. IN entire township, Of the fines
land in Minnesota. 1t lies at the junction o
the Minnesota with the Mississippi river, sis
miles from st. Paul, and about the same dis.
lance from the city of Minneapolis aud tn;
Falls Of ST. Anthony, three places which
have carried the mania for land speculation
the furthest. II is the natural site for a great
city, and has been long looked at with eagel
eyes by spectators. Taken all in all, it.
natural advantages are greater than those y
any other place in the territory, and If pu
| up for fair competition, il would doubles,
have brought Us much as has ever been paic
for a town-site in the West. It's value ha,
been estimated at from one hundred to on,
hundred and fifty dollars per acre. At the
former rate the whole would have brough
sl.S04 900; ut the latter. 81 456, 900. At pub
lie auction, with proper notice in advance
it might have comm and led still higher price
| The public has a right TO know precisely
upon what terms this sale has been made
and in default of such knowledge is at liber.
| ty, in view of the character OF such of tn,
| government purchases and sales rs are die
closed with oil their particulars, to indulge
| the gravest susnicions. Months ago numer.
Gus applications tor the purchase Vi this lane
were made to Washington, by letter, to which
il is said no answers have ever been returned
Recently prominent administration poiiti-
clans from the South have visited the terri
tory and purchased in the vicinity of thi
| reservation. That Mr.. Franklin Steele coul'
not have himself paid a fraction of its Jus
value for the property is obvious that h
holdsit in trust for other parties is to be pre-
sumed. Who are those partiesl How nue.
did he pay! The Administration owes i. d
the people, whom it ostensibly serves, .
make full and frank disclosure of the fact
in the case. Corruption seeks concealmenI
| honest and fair dealing desires publicity'-'