The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-03-27
Des Moincs, March II.
Mr.. Wieting.

arise TO protract this session OF the
Legislature. 1t would seem as if the
various land grants made by Congress
to lava will prove curses instead OF
blessings. Two years ago the torfe'-
,ure Of its lands by the Old Central
Air Line" produced rancorous strife
for the valuable domain which had re.
verified to the State. \ still more EN-
barrassinc question has thrust itself upon
us for consideration amt evasion is
utterly impossible. Every one Of the
railroads are delinquent. Ii that were
all. an extension Of time would be =.
least temporary relief While this
matter demands settlement, the mistakes
Of the Legislators, who formerly con.
trolled the destinies o the State must be
corrected. For several years the
Legislature has been vainly striving to
ex:ricate the State from the nav Of the
Dcs Moines River Land Grant Company
and every effort but plnnses her deeper.
You know it was several times decided
by the Secretary Of the Interior that the
Des Moines River Land Grant extern
ded to the Northern line of the Iowa.
It's extent was so claimed by the State
Authorities. Many persons settled on
those land between Des Moines City and
Fort Dodge and paid said Company for
their lands. The State made deeds to
the Dss Moincs Company without
,carron.y, and The Company conveyed
to purchasers with It. Lately the
Supreme Court decided that the Grant
terminated Mt the entrance Of the
Raccoon Fork short distance below
this city Hence the Des Moines River
Railroad Company which received the
unsold lands and assumed tie RESPONSE.
blltcs Of the old Company is under
covenants to make good the title Of
the purchasers to the lands sold above
this point. The companies to whom the
lands granted BY Congress were transfer
red in May ls56to construct four parallel
roads across this State, when they made
their selections, passed over the lands
then supposed to belong to the Des Moines
River Grant. The late decision Of the
Supreme Court changed matters and
these greedy companies forthwith lail
claim to the lands within the fixed limits
prescribed by the act Of Congress- The
Dcs Moines Rail Road Company is
anxious to be released from the covcn-
ants mentioned. Therefore its corrupt
managers have been here all winter
working hard to get the Legislature to
resume the lands on the ground that
all companies have forfeited there title
This of course would throw the State
in between said Company and the pur-
chasers Of the lands named. This is
not al. The Land Grant Roads claim
also the swamp lands in the counties
through which they pass. Here is
another conflict, for many Of these have
been scla to innocent purchasers.
It's certainly wrong for the Railroad
Companies to attempt to clutch hold
Of lands which they did not expect when
they entered into an argument to build
roads through to the Missouri river in
ten years.
The railroad committees of the two
houses have spent much time in con-
silcring what should be done to recon-
Gle the parties in strife. Last Wcdncs-
day Judge Woodward Chairman of one
OF the Senate Committee submitted the
majority report, which is lengthy and
argumcntative. It counscls resumption.
After the State has made herself whole
and done equity to the purchasers
through her, then it proposes to re
donate the lands to the companies or to
other companies that may bind them
selves to comply with the first condi-
tons improved. Senator Duncomb,
read the minority report, the most lucid
aud logical document, presented at this
session.
It contains complete history Of the
Des Moines River Improvement Com
pany and depicts in strong colors the
receptions and yillainies Of the men,
who have been from time to time con
nected with that Infamous sw,ndle.
The minority also reported a bill, direct
ing the Governor to refuse to certify
any more lands to the Railroad Com
panies till they rclinquish all claims to
the lands once thought to belong to the
Des Moines River Grant, rs well as to
the Swamp lands. Eight hundred
copies Of the reports were ordered to be
printed. When they come up for consi-