New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-07
TOWNSHIP RINGS At THE VEST

70 tie Editor Of re Tr,buns.
SIR: have just seen the following editorial
paragraph printed In the last issue OF The Nation
"The Nation Of Nov. 30. 1873, contained paragraph
on the subject Of TOWNSHIP Rings giving an explsna
ton Of their taken from letter OF the Grange
correspondent Of TIE TRIBUNE. Two correspondents
have written TO complaining OF the paragraph con.
tanning unjust sspersOns upon the character OF the
Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad.
Among the statements contained in the paragraph Wa
the effect that the landgrant railroads got Their
own sections exempted from State taxation; another.
that certain county courthouse was being built IN one
Of the towns the Atchison Topeka. and Santa 70
Road worth 100000, as well as q very expensive
BRIDGE and another that land is sold by the road
on IL years credit the title does not pass for II years.
and the State cannot for years Our correspond
ents who ought to know about this. that the rail-
road sections not exempt from State taxation th~
the cost Of expensive Courthouse the Lac oil
the road 1900 $4,000. and not tooOD; that
the bridge, It cost tl2Oo plain structure. and an
absolute necessity that in the very county mentioned
by The TRIBUNE correspondent nvesxths OF the tares
levied in 1878 we're levied against the road In question
This looks very badly for the accuracy Of the Grange
correspondent OF THE TRIBUNE whose statements In the
matter had supposed We could rely upon"
reference TO the letter In question Will show thss
the remarks contained in II about the Atchson, Topeka
and Santa Fe Railroad were prefaced rs follows:
"a gentleman VINO mas recently iIoth sh "
cursion portion Of the Atchson. Topeka AMI
santa Fe Road told to-day that at VI the towns
he visited he found county courthouse" &C.
This gentleman met in Chicago, and privately in-
close his name. that you may that my authority Ma
good one II there any mistake about the state
ments was responsible for II. as was careful 70
give the source OF my information and 10 repeat no re
ports which did receive from respectable. and I
supposed responsible persons.
know nothing about the taxation OF the lands of tho
Atkinson Topeka and santa Fe road except s said IN
my letter, what this gentleman who had been over the
road told me- do know, however that there has been
controversy between nearly oil OF the land grant rai
roads and the State and local authorities through whcs
the roads extend in regard TO taxation. Many OF the
roads lof which have no doubt the A. and y road
"A one) have neglected complete their titles 10 theh
Lands by taking out patents even after thsy have
sod their claims TO them settlers aud that the latter
are now refusing pay state and local taxes on tns
ground that the United States Government 10 sui
technical possession Of the lands
A.. 70 the cost OF tho Courthouse. bridge Sc did
not say that personally cognzant OF the fsov.
but simply repeated what my friend tod me he hsa
seen I cannot conjecture how rae Nations cor
respoudents know which county referred TO. unless
there have been some very extrsvagant expenditures
somew here on the line Of the road. knew ny
self what counties my friend visited.
am glad 10 have learned within the past few days
that this injustice brought attention OF
some prominent Western senators aud Representatives
Congress- aud that measures will DO taken TO corse'
It, THE TRIBUNE's GRANGE CoRRssrosDSsx.
Washington. u. o.. Jan. g. IsL