The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-09-06
BOGUS LAND CLAIMS.

1t is n most singular fact, that not
withstanding all the Legislation that has
been had on the subject, since the for
nation Of the new State. our land IT,
slcs are in most dcplorablc condition.
Even now suits arc pending in the
Federal Court, involving the rights Of
hundreds Of farmers in what are known
"a ",he back Counties" to land for
which they have worked and honestly
paid for, in soMe instances twice or more.
L: is useless to talk Of Inviting I'M.
migration to our State, SO long rs this
sort Of lEiug continues People would
be worse than fools to invest their
means in lands Of which they may BE-
deprived nj any tine By the resurrec.
lion Of an old pa,er, in the hands Of
some Yankee spectator. During the
last session Of the Federal Court, two
cases, in particular, attracted cur at.
teu,iou One Is the suit of Benjamin
Rich, Of New York, against probably
100 farmers in Upshur, Randolph and
harbour countics-thC other of a man
named Morgan, also of New York.
against like number OF the citizens OF
Brax,ou county. Now the people liv.
ing en- these lands bought and paid for
them; they have lived on them in
peaccablc possession for many years !:
and now, after they have worked and
to lied to improve !heir lands, some in.
pudent Yankee Spectator comes ulong,
gets large area Of land placed on the
Commissioners books. and finally
brings suits in Cjcctmcntin the Federal
Court. Il appears that in most Of
these cases, the plan is to wear out the
patience Of the defendants, and finally,
after years Of litigation, to compromise
by the payment to the speculate: Of a
handsome bonus. A good thing, don't
you see, if the people will only submit
to the cxtor,ion. But We arc pleased
to notice that our people arc cvilcing
possession of more 'sand in their
craw" than heretofore. In this section
no such suit will be Compromised, "
and not n foot Of land surrendered,
until it is fought for to the bitter end
Tho best plan adopted SO fur to fight
these suits, was the one suggested by
General George Il. Latham, OF Up.
shur. Tho Generals land il in the
area claimed by Mr.. Rich. A joint
stock company was formed, all the par.
ties interested becoming stockholders.
a President, Secretary, Treasurer and
Board Of Directors were appointed, and
an assessment ordered upon the stock.
The funds arising from this assessment
are to be expended under the direction
Of the Directors, in. the employment Of
counsel, and other necessary expenses
Mr.. Rich will, undoubtedly, DO non.
suited, his original object appearing
TO have been to effect such "compro.
misc as We have spoken Of above.
and he was not prepared for the vigor.
Gus warfare which General Latham has
carried into the camp Of tho enemy.
No doubt this is the best way to Eight
these suits; but it is an outrage tba,
the people should be required to 60 to
the trouble and expense oven of the
best way. Popular indignation should
be aroused, and visited with power
upon tho heads Of all connected with
the prosecution Of wild cat land
claims" ANY West Virginia lawyer
who will take fee in such case,
against tho people of lis own State,
should be tuLOoed. Tho people should
drop him. Let all such lawyers get
their business from eastern clients
not from the citizens Of West Virginia
whom they would assist in robbing
Of their homes.
Another matter worthy Of commcn-
dation is the action Of the Land Com.
missioucrs in assessing the lands
claimed by these uon.rcsideuts at
something near their proper taxable
value. For illustration : Tho tract Of
land in Braxton, to which We referred
above, was formerly placed upon the
Commissioners books, in the name Of
the New York claimants, at cents
per acre; while the samo land was as.
scsscd to its proper owners atabout 81
per acre. In the late retaliation, the
Commissioner charged the New Workers
81 80 per acre, and made no change
as to tho residents. This has been
done in many instances in Brax,ou,
Gimcr and Calhoun counties. and it is
right. If these non.resi1cnts will in.
sist in causing trouble by their netari-
Gus attempts at swiudling. We arc in
favor Of making them contribute liber-
ally to the revenues Of the State.