Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-07-03
RaflrOads--HOvv far they can be Bull
from the Routes Already Surveyed.

RailrOads--HOW far they can be Built
from the Routes Already surveyed.
To the Editors Of the Minnesotian:
Among the letters received by myself from
the General Land Office, just previous to the
election on the 18th April last, is the follow
ing, which 1 now send you for publication,
as the time has arrived when the same will be
interesting to many who reside along the diff
ferent railroad routes
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
April 6, 1858. :
SIR: | have the honor to return herewith
the letter referred by you to this office on
the 2nd inst, from Amos Coggswell. Esq, rel
ative to the Railroad Grant to Minnesota by
Act of March 3, 1857, and in reply, state,
That when the line of railroad shall have
been definitely fxed," and the duly verified
maps in connection with the public surveys,
filed and accepted, this office can recognize no
material change in the route, nor depart IN ats
adjustment from the map Of such definite loca-
tion-although we will take no heed of any
iacoasiderabIe DETECTION or modification that
the company may find necessary to make. ii
being understood that neither our adjustment nor
dny iadiUidudL adUe7Se interests are 10 be Mtre
By affected.
Very respectfully your ob't servant,
THos. A. HENDRICKS, Com'r.
Hon. E. B. WAsHBURNE, II. of R.
The above decision establishes first, that,
as a general proposition, the railroad compan-
les must build their road upon the routes
they have already surveyed, and upon which
they have filed their maps or plats. Second,
that they cannot vary from those routes at all
when such variation would either affect the
adjustment hereafter to be made by the Gen
cral Land Office with the Companies, or "any
individual adverse interests" OF course the
Department would know. nothing of any in
reference with individual adverse interests,
unless informed by affidavit properly authen-
ticated.
1 have been informed by two persons re-
siding along the surveyed route Of the Cedar
Valley and Minneapolis Road, that certain
individual had been to them, representing
himself to be an agent of said Company, and
sent out to procure the right of way, and
when they refused to sign his blank releases,
he threatened to move the road twenty nj lies
away from them; and when he found that did
not affect his purpose, he threatened to run
the road through their land without paying
them anything.
Let no one be driven to the surrender of
his rights by the utterance of any such false
hoods. The fact is, these railroads will be
built, if built at all, upon the routes now ''dcf-
initely fixed" by them; and if any change
takes place, it will be when they have, by
purchase or voluntary release, procured the
right of way. If any of the Companies should
undertake to change the line of their route
and enter upon the lands Of an individual
who is injured thereby, and who has not
granted them the right of way, the Courts
will furnish him adequate relief. The Con.
stitution also gives to every person the right
to require of these Companies either the pay.
ment, or security for pay ment, of all sums Of
money adjudged to them as damages, before
they can commence the building of the road
upon their lands. AMOS CoaaswELL.
Aurora Centre, Steele Co., Min,
June 26, 1858.