The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-05-07
H4dY PRITILEGES.

dSalilSt tilc IStllOitU COlupduJ AOA oCA4ul6
the privilege of cutting grass on their
lands. Mr.. Josiah Smith addressed
letter to President Drake upon this SUBJ
ject, and received the subjoined reply
giving the reasons for so doing. 1t is
so common at this time to regard the
railroad companies us the enemies Of
the people that there is constant dam
ger Of doing great injustice:
ST. PAUL, April .16, 1875.
JOSIAH SMITH, ESQ.,: Dear Sir: Your
letter of the 18th to Mr.. Drake is by
him referred to me.
In reply beg to say that the selling
Of grass permits for hay or pasturage IS
with us commenced this year, less as a
source of revenue, than as compliance
with requests so numerous us to lndl-
cate that the public convenience will be
promoted by the practice.
In neighbOrhOOls where settlers are
few and grass lands plenty the people
help themselves to the grass OIL our
lands. All can get enough and.they are
as welcome to it now rs they heretofore
have been.
1t not unfrequently occurs, however,
that when the homesteads are all taken
and Il part of the railroad lands are
sold and the population becomes dens-
er, the privilege of pasturing cattle or
cutting hay Oh unoccupied lands be-
comes thing of value, and is appro-
priated by the older settlers to the
exclusion of the new, or by the greedy
and selfish to the exclusion of those not
disposed to contend for it. Instances
are reported to us where our lands have
been staked off into grass claims by
certain men who had no right or claim
to them whatever and all others were
by intimidation excluded from them or
compelled to pay for the privilege OF
cutting hay on such "claims." In one
instance the hay already cut and
stacked by one man was hauled Oft by
another who claimed" the ground to
which neither had any sort of lease or
title. 1t seemed to me that in those
neiglborhoods where these grass per-
mits had become so valuable that peo'
pic were willing to, and could afford to
pay for them they should lie sold, under
such rules as would prevent any mon
= Opoly of them by one or by few men
to the exclusion of others, and sucl
, sales have been made this Spring to al
applicants therefor in all the counties
wherein we have any lands in Mime
, sofa and Iowa.
The prices charged are but nomina
: and the permit gives the purchaser :
e legal right in which he can protect
: himself against trespassers. So far a
! know the parties who have purchased
= such permits are satisfied with them
L and if those who have not purchased
t them are not satisfied without then
h they can yet be accommodated. In TIN
a vicinity Of such villages as Window
Worthington, Sibley and others of sim
liar population the company's instruc
tions are to make such disposition 0
these grass lands as seems most likel
to best accommodate the; public will,
n out reference to the collection of an
l. revenue from them. At WorthingtOn
9 for instance, the sum of fifty dollar
. from one party for the grass OH a singl
l. section was refused and the same gras
I conveyed for the sum of one dollar t,
O four trustees for the benefit OF the pee
pie of the village.
Something like this will be done a
any other Village if called for unde
s like circumstances, but as to neighbo,
e hoods not villages the system Of ind
vidual permits under proper limitation
- os to land and prices seems to he the OF,
J. most likely to give general satisfaction,
n AS no permits are sold that are not frs
J. applied for, the system is not likely
% intrude itself where it is not wanted
If, as you intimate, the public want t
j. know about this, you may publish TIM
II explanation, which l hope will be sati:
l. factory. Yours truly,
% J. w. BISHOP,
General Manager.