Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-05-05

Heavy LAND SUIT Correspondence Gin
cnnati Commercial. -CHARLEsTON, WEST
VA, April 26 1869. The u. s. District
Court for the District Of West Virginia is in
session here, Judge Jackson presiding, and is
now cugagcd in the heaviest land suit that
ever appeared on the records of the State. 1t
- the suit OF the Hon. ex Senator Morrill,,
of Maine, as the representative Of the
North American Land Company vs.. Arm
strong et al. Large tracts OF land, amount
ng to over 400, 900 acres, we're granted TO
few individuals from the Commonwealth
Of Virginia as early as 1856, all of which
was located west OF the mountains. In
1895 the North American Land Company
was organized 10 Philadelphia, with Robert
Morris as its president, into which association
over G,0O0, 900 acres of land were put for dis
posal One of the tracts put into the company
was tract from Virginia to Albert Gallatin
and others, which had been patented in 1885,
for 225, 900 acres. Soon after the formation of
the company, they. by their president, Robert
Morris, transferred all the lands OF their asso
cation TO three trustees-Thomas Willing, the
president of the Bank OF the United States :;
John Nixon, president of the Bank of North
America; and John Barclay president Of the
Bank OF PennSylvania. This was ip 1895
This transfer to these three parties was In
trust for the benefit OF the company and in
the event Of the death or resignation Of either
oi them the title was to vest in the survivor
Thomas Willing resigned In 1896, year after
he was appointed. John Nixon died in 1905,
leaving John Barclay the remaining trustee
The latter dying in 1916, his heirs conveyed
these vast possessions to two parties -BeDja-
miu Dundess and James Kugler-in trust for
the benefit of the company. The latter
parties allowed the lands to become for
ieited to the State in 1882 but in 1874 the
Legislature, at Richmond, passed an act for
their relief, allowing them to redeem the
property BY the payment OF back taxes. The
taxes were paid, and the State conveyed the
property to Dandess aud kugler, by special en-
actment, pertee,ing the title. In 1854, the
property was purchased BY Governor Morrill,,
OF Maine, and in 1851 he instituted a suit Tor
its recovery. it having been claimed and occu-
pied by other parties since 1884.
Now 10 20 back TO the beginning of the de-
fence. After the grant to the original paten.
tees spoken of above, who were Albert Gala
tin, Robert Morris, James Greeneat, and John
Nicholson, the Commonwealth granted pat
ent to another party, one Hopkins, TOR 200, 900
acres. AMI, as the plaintiff alleges, Hopkins, in
LAYING his warrant, so laid it as to cover some
5000 acres that had beSn covered BY the
grant to the other party.
The present holders derive their title from
the Hopkins patent, though the property has
passed through third Vi fourth hands. The
suit at present is only lor a small tract, though
it will decide the ownership Of some $4,000
ceres, lying mainly in the Mill Creek valley, in
Jackson county. The land is valuable and
comprises som, of the best farms in the State,
as well as some of the finest mineral sections in
the country, Ii being all underlaid with coal
and iron ore.
Governor Morrill, is here. aud is conducting
his suit in person, assisted by the Democratic
would be Governor OF Maine. Hon. f. +. Pills.
bury, Judge Camden, Judge Lee, Judge Ell
mondson, and Colonel Hoffman-the latter four
gentlemen being West Virginians The de.
fence is conducted by Col. Benjamin f. Smith
Colonel Parker and Hon. S. \. Miller, also oi
this State.
1t the case is decided for the plaintiff it vii
unseat great many farmers who have beer
living In iancied security Tor third OF century
| understand that Governor Morrill,, i
successful, intends TO commence developing
the natural resources OF this vast region o
soon as practicable.
SIZE OF THE STARs,-How large are tn
stars, and are they alike, or do they differ il
sze? 1t used to be conjectured, that they ar
u, Al