, 1873-07-21
THE FQRT SMELLING CASE.

The st. Paul Euening Dispatch publishes the
sequel to m old transaction dating back to tho
time of President Buchanan'a Administration,
when Floyd was Secretary OF War, which, it
properly presented, is the cloarest oaso Of got
ting something for nothing that has yot bcon do
yolopod. Under the Law authorizing tho sale of
forts not required for military purposes, soorota
~ Floyd made 4 aalo Of tho Fort snelling Rosor-
vation to Franklin Steele, who was, and
always has boon, sterling Democrat, and othoc
persons associated with him. Tho torms Of tho
salo to stcolo wore 10000 cash and eco, 900 in
two equal payments, without interest, making
100000 in oil, though tho property wns then csti-
mated ut double this yaluo stoole himself is said
to havealmitted that lo would have given $40, 900
more thnu he agreed to pay for It. This resor-
vation, known as tho Alinno1laha lands, ia, por-
haps, tho handsouost piece Of property in the
by the junction Of the MissiRsippi and Minnesota
Rivers, and it is . perfect garden-spot. Fort
Smelling adds largely to tho picturesque view Of
tho scono, which would bo Rn ornament among
tho ancient beantes of the Rhino. It waB tho
dream Of tho carly United stntea engineers who
located tho fort at this place thnt tho peninsula
On Which 1t Is aituatcd would ono day DO tho aito
Of tho groat city Of that region, which has sinco
boon spread out between ST. paul aud Nlnncap-
oils. Though this dream was not realized, the
land WAS always certain to ohave great value from
ita own natural beauties md it's proximity
to these two cities. Tho stoole purchase Of oYor
6,0o0 acros Of such property as this for 100000
was, therefore, o splendid Investment under all
tho following winter, Congress aot inside tho
salo. In spite Of this, Secretary Floyd caused
tho transfer to DO made to A1r. Btoole, finding,
es ho commended, sufficient authority for 1t udor
the Inv. The st. Paul Evening dispatch now
| makea tho statement TINT tho 100000 which
| steolo was to llavo paid tho Government within
| two yoara waB noyor paid Iu tho n.oantimo tho
Unitod statos continued to occupy the fort Mr.
6toclo, 1t ia now charged, rocontly brought In a
bill against tho United States for $1G2000 ront
! for Fort Smelling since the ti,no Of tho snlo,
about IL years., deductng tho 100000
which Steele should hayo paid within
two years aftcr His purchase. Tho Dispa!ehs
statement is to tlo effect tint Gon. Delknap,
tho present Secretary Of War, has allowed and
paid this claim, md compromised with the stoolo
party by resorvng tho fort aud about 1000
ncroa, transferring G,30o ncres to Steele aud Ais
partners. The Bame Journal ollargoa that Senator
Pomoroy asHistod tho stocle party to acquire a
tit|o to the land from tho prosent Administers
tion.
II tho statement Of tho Tort Smelling case, aa
made aboyo, in truo It is IN illustration Of the
cooperative principle botwoen tho two existing
political parties, which makos corruption thor
oughly practicable. IIoro IL caso which, ao-
cording to tho representations. amounts to this
Tho Goyernmont glvos cortain gentlemen OF ro'
litical influence one OF tho most love.
ly pieces of property, now worth al
loant e50o,0o0, and also pays those gen
tlcmen 100000 to taxa it. This Ia tue gun aui