Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-02-19

prov0caVonS or wrongs committed BY the
railroad companies upon innocent purchasers
Of lands, and settlers upon lands alcng their
intended line Of road, it is not likely the State
would at this time be very strict with the
companies. 1t is stated here by the friends
of resumption that the railroad companies are
harassing and attempting to drive from their
homes hundreds Of actual settlers who bought
their farms from the State, and from coun.
ties, Swamp Lands) and from the Des Moines
Improvement Company. These settlers paid
for their lands ard many have gone on for
years improving them, and now the railroad
companies step in and say the lands lie within
the limits of their grant, and these poor set
tiers must EITHER QUIT THEIR HOMES, OR BUY
THEN AGAIN FROM THE COMPANY. This is OPP
preston with vengeance, and I am inform
ed that hundreds have been driven, BY the
fear Of ejectment, to pay the companies over
again for their farms. These things have
taken place in Mills and other counties, as I
am credibly informed. The counsel for one
Of the roads said in his argument before the
Senate Committee, that the companies would
quit claim to these settlers those lands which
they now occupy provided the State of Iowa
will pay to the railroad companies the money
she received from the settlers. This is any
thing but modest proposition, to say the
least of it. That the State should tax her
citizens to pay million or more of dollars to
railroad corporations for lands which they
never owned, and never had right to, is q
proposition too bold even for this bold age
Let these railroads cease to Cypress the poor
bona tide settlers, and do what is right, and
the State will not resume the lands, under the
pretext Of owning which, some of said roads
are abusing their assumed power.
The Chicago Tribune seems to be swift
witness against the Legislature and people OF
this State, in behalf of the railroad compa.
MES. That paper will do we'll to mind it's own
business, and attend to the affairs of its own
State. If its editors were in the fix Of the
poor settlers in Mills county, said editors
would howl out of the other side of thei,
mouths Sass "
How this railroad matter will terminate |
cannot say, but the prospect is fair for big
fight between the friends of the several antag.
onistic interests. There is an apparent sir.
repressible conflict" the issue of which time
only can determine.
Saturday night was season of huge fun
in Representatives.. Hall. The "Third House, u
or ''lobby," was organized. This, as your
readers may know, is q burlesque Legislature,
gotten up by outsiders. Hon. c. G, Nourse
acted as retiring Governor. Dressed IN fan.
tastic regimentals he delivered his ''message''
which contained some capital hits. General
Baker was Speaker of the House," and per.
formed his part well. Resolutions were offer
ed and bills introduced, and speeches made in
such way that the whole affair was most
ridiculous farce upon legislation. The house
was crowded with men and women.
A strong effort is being made to change the
County Supervisor system to the Commits.
sioner system, but it will not prevail. -