Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-16

put In market, the company gave q "con-
tract for deed" warrantee deed to be
made to the purchaser whenever the COM
pany should receive its patents from the
Government. 1t now seems that, owing to
negligence or something worse, on
the part Of the company,
the title TO said land still
remains with the government, and is
likely to so remain, the innocent purchasers
being defralded out of their purchase mo,
ney. This condition of affairs has been
made pu' lie through the refusal of the COM
pany TO pay taxes on the land they have
been claiming TO own. That the press OF
Nebraska is becoming thoroughly aroused
to the situation, is evidenced by the follow
ing editorials, clip ed from the Fremont
Tribune: ~,s.--.
"The following are the grounds upon
which the Union Pacifi: Railroad COmpa-
ny proposes to escape from the payment OF
taxes on the lands granted by Govern
ment:
GA clanse contained in section three
of an set of July l, 1867, which reads,
eall Hands which shall not be sold or other
wise disposed of by the company within
three years after the road shall have been
completed shall be subject to settlement
and pre- -emption the same as other lands,
the payment of SLIPS per acre to be made
to the company.
"2. That after tho track of the road was
completed, complaint was made that the
requirements of the law had not been fu'-
filed, to-wit: The drains, culverts, sidings,
bridges, depots and the appurtensnces re-
quisite for the completion Of first class
railroad, were not finished or ready for re-
quired service, and q committee Of eminent
citizens was appointed by t President tt
examine and report concerning it. The
commissioners appointed examined the
road and reported it not finished in accord
ance with the requirements of the law, and
ordered that further expenditure of one
million, five hundred and eighty-six thous-
and one hundred dollars would be necessary
to perfect it. Therefore the Sec etary of
the Interior, by order Of the President, sus
pended the issue OF all patents to the lands
granted the Union Paciti Railroad, and has
since refused and still refuses to issue the
patents until the required expenditure shall
have been made.
"3. That the cost of surveying, selecting
and conveying these lands shall be paid into
the treasury Of the United States before q
title can be obtained. It is claimed by the
complainants that the cost of surveying,
etc. has not been paid, therefore their titles
are void and the LAID untaxable, as it be-
longs not lawfully to them but to Govern
ment."
In the following, the allusion to mob rio
Ience is significant:
"Eyery paper in Nebraska, as well off the
line o. this road as those in its immediate
vicinity, should make known the facts:
"Thst the Union Pacific Company is SELL
ing lands to which its attorney swears it has
no complete title.
"That 1t made two or three payments OF
taxes Ito deIude the peope into purchasing
lands) yet has placed itself in such shape as
to bring suit foE the recovery of said taxes,
and thus bankrupt every county on line Of
road, and cripple State fnanc also;
"That its reputation of bonds in pay
ment for lands, means double swindle-
the purchaser ofthe bond;inds it Valueless,
and the land purchaser is compelled 10 pay
80 to 40 per cent. more IN cash than be
would have to do were the company to re-
ceive bonds as heretofore, and SIS they ough.
to do;
"That the bonds are virtually of no
value; ---..--
"And that the action of said company
will make of its land grant and land grant
Ia Al aol
on any people.
s'The Union Pacific Company is so pro-
tected by legal points and bubbles, is so
great in itself that individuals cannot sue
cessfully contend with it in courts. 1t there
fore becomes the duty of thu press to rally
to the defense Of the public interests, and
by vigorous war force this swindliDg cor
po.ation to come to terms, and discharge its
obligations to the public.
"Although this corporation is supposed to
run Congress, it cannot run its road ex-
cept by the good 1oiU Of residents along the
line. We do not advocate ut present re-
sort 10 mob violence, but we do advocate
such stirring up of this Whole mater as
shall force the Union Pacific Company to
deal justly with the people and State.
Again: -.
"Dces any one suppose the Union Pa
cifc Company will ever perfect title to its
land grant if the lands can be sold under
the present defective title? We rather i'm
agine the company will care nothing for
acceptance, survey fees or anyth ng else
after having disposed of the lands. As to
recovery of money paid TO the company,
there is no such thing-the $10,000,000 suit
of the government is more than can be col
lected from the company, and having 'gob-
bled' every dollar possible from government
and people, the company passes out oil
sight, remembered only as a swindling con-
Germ without parallel in the worlds his.
tory"
Under this condition of affairs, there can
be no doubt that trouble of very serious
character is close at hand. If the railroad
company really intends to carry out the
swindle charged upon it in the editorials
quoted, the men who have wrested that faiI
country from the Indians and wild beast
and made it to "blossom as the rose," will
be very apt to rise up in their might, and
show to the world that 'the people" have
rights which cannot be disregarded by any
corporation, however powerful. They are
men who possess just that spirit.