The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-11

very likely told him 30 81 the time; did, was prior
70 his being appointed commissioner TO SELL prior
knowing OF bis appointment; have never known sale
jsrmed-
thought ought to have been made in tracts Of forty
acres each, with ample time and notice given TO pur
chasers, DO you think combination could have been
eeceived by the government for 2 Answer Yes, SIR the
sae which have spoken which took place on the east
papers in the United states for six months
Question 1858. Did not understand you to say thai
was claimed By pre- emptors9 Answer That was on the
west side that part Of the reserve on the east side OF the
river was sold Il public auction.
Question 2669 Is there any way 10 which the govern
oounterDg these combinations9 Answer is very difh
cult, because, they are encountered succeesfuny tue
pesple will always come TO Congress FOR relief Fort
Sio0 600 II was sold At public sale with the improve
mens The improvements solo, think for about 81, 900
TO Oongs for permission to ent r half section OF land
Including these improvements for dollar and quarter
Question $500 Have you any speca, reasons for sup
posing combination would have been formed in this
inssance3 Answer. have; and think SO stated in
communication to the Secretary Of War, in which ex
the desire that the tract should be sold in lots Of
40 EACH enable men Of small means TO pur
sious when spoken 10 about it, and often spoken
reference TO by men who had gone and made the Inn
provements which had given II its value all around IT,
wished that these should have an opportunity TO
purchase
Queston 2b6i Then your object was to enable your
neghbor in that vicinity to purchase II at dollar aud
quarter per acreS Answer. my object to enable
them TO purchase IL at the lowest price.
Francis J. Rosser, ex-Secretary of the Territory
Question / ,Oss. Is It your opinion that If the commis
seners he'd exposed this Fort Smelling reservation
public sale there would have been combinations which
would have brought the price down below that paid for
III Answer. am satisfied Of -perfecty satisfied Of it.
s. A. Medary, ESQ.,
Question 74s What in your opinion would have been
in had that
and sold IL at public sale, made the sale in the manner
they did, at private sale, 10 single individual at $4,000
nothing il had been sold in the way in which the sales
usually take place at the land office
Question est iso WIZ yonI s'a would as have
There generally agreement among purchasers TO get
the land for q low price as possible and those who get
1t at their price and those who hold their tongues
paid for Such things have been general at the West
Fl. L. Dousman, Esq. -
have attended great many sales Of public land and
has been the habit in that country form combinations
perty at nominal price and then to divide i up among
all who formed the combination; Ii has also been
temay when government lands were to be sold in that
way for squaers TO 60 upon it, IL Is hard to get them Off
and they claim sort Of pre- empton right presume the
object Of the commissioners was to avoid anything Of that
kind.
w. Cullen, Esq., Superintendent of Indian Affairs
for Minnesota -
Question $50. Can you give 10 this committee your
opinion Whit would probably have been the result the
commissioners instead Of making private sale had A.
II at public auctionp Answer think the effect wopld
have been that they would probably have got from fifteen
Question bb3. What the grounds Of that opinion
Answer Western people Like 10 make money, and there
T. good deal Of unanimy Of feeling among them; they
sgsnst one another they do where they have plenty Of
capital.
Madison Sweetzer, Esq, of Minnesota
Question $780, In view Of these combinations which you
n thQ pyira Of N mil lundq
when exposed at public SALE did not the commissioners
Of The government act with Judgment so far the int
Of this land 500 its value preference running
the hazards 70 which would have exposed II sold
O q be
private sale, il was from the peculiar wording Of your
question think, as tar as the matter Of dollars and
cents s concerned have been better to have sold
it at private SALE but the sale had been public would
have saved the government officer from censure.
There are other witnesses who testify TO the same
practice in the West, but pass them by TO intro
duce an extract from the evidence Of Franklin
Steele, Esq., who although the purchaser OF the pro-
perry, occupies so high position for integrity and
truth that we feel no difficulty in presenting his
statement as entitled to the fullest confidence
Question l53 DO you think any successful combina-
ton could have been made At the time which would have
prevented the government from realizing the full value OF
The iandY Answer was myself invited 10 Join in com
dnaton to make up Of money 10 place the hands
OF Individual, The balance 70 protect him in buying
the whole tract At dollar and quarter an acre.
the land at cheaper rate than you did at private sale
Answer presume could not perhaps the whole reser
va,on but that portion o. i on which my buildings are sit
Question 1856 Did you decline entering into that
blnatlopY Answer. declined.
Question iIsa understand you to say tina, this re-
had been sold al public auction would not havN
brought much as did at private sale Answer That x
Question 1856 why then did you bid for II at private
sale without seeking TO have q public sale made Of ~
Answer Because had been sold at public sal might
hxv hcen denr Of pur n
section, OF legal sub division.
Question led Explain how you would have been pre-
vented from purchasing moro than quarter section
Answer. should have been prevented by the oombina
ton thai would have becn formed.
such combination or could you no, have bid upon your
own responsibility Answer. should have been fo'ced
by the combination that would have been formed 70 com
ply with their rules and regulations
Question 16s Why would have been forced to have
done that Answer. For fear Of personal violence. II
the committee will permit me- will state that the mode OF
sale OF the portion which struck of years ago
provided for by law OF Congress- Atcr the law had
PASSED vas cue n 20 T' .ns
ed the legal subdivision upon which he bad located.
These persons in forming an association Of this kind agree
30 protect each other In the purchase OF their respective
tracts dollar and quarter per acre. They would
bind themselves protect each other, and any stranger
Sss been recorded viii, this claim they would
carry him OF not perhaps commit violence upon him.
but they would carry him away. Perhaps, under the
excitement crcaied they might commit violence. Such
at such sales frequently and the
thing would have occurred this portion Of the re
serve had been sold At public sale. AZ as had
been announced for sale would have been considered
longer occupied for military purposes and would have
been located upon BY large number Of persons escn
claiming his legal sub division who would have formed
continuation similar that formed when the other por
ton Of the reserve sold.
The commissioners having decided for the reasons
set forth, 20 dispose Of the property at private in
preference 10 public sale and 10 sell the entire re-
serve in body. they opened correspondence with
Franklin Steele for its sale. We can see nothing in
the preference thus shown % Mr.. Steele which
should subject their motives 10 any suspicion. To
one Of the Commissioners, Mr. Heiskel, 4 seems he
was an entire stranger With the other Major East
man, he was scarcely upon friendly terms. And
who IL Franklin Steele A pioneer Of the wilder
ness. and one Of the earliest settlers west Of the
Mississippi. He Is gentleman Of intelligence en-.
terprise and public spirit, of admitted pecuniary
responsibility and of acknowledged integrity and
weight of character. But the commissioners in