Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-20
Northern Pdcifc r.. II. Land Granf.j


WASHINGTON, Jan. 19. = Secretary Kirk
wood, in his letter accompanying the papers
received in the senate to-day, in regard to the
Northern Pacific land grant, says: 81 have
the honor to transmit herewith the report of
the commissioner of the general land office on
hthe subject. From this report it will be seen
Washington territory, were issued on the Sth
of April, 1880, for 3,016S acres, opposite a
portion of the road constructed by said COM
pany previously to 1875. No patents for land
have been issued for AIS miles of said road
constructed, examined and accepted in 1880
1881"
Commissioner McFarland's report to Secre-
tary Krkwood is as follows:
General Land Office, Washington, D. c.,
Jan. IL, 18S2.--To Hon. 8. j., Kirkwood, Sec
rotary of the Interior. Sir: am in receipt, by.
reference from the department the 18th inst,
for report of senate resolution passed the 18th
inst. Commissioner Mcfarland quotes in
full and continues: In accordance with
instructions I have to report as follows:
I know of no decision in any actual
case presented by the commissioner of the
general land office, declaring the grant to the
Northern Pacific railroad company lapsed.
which has been reserved by the secretary Of
the interior. enclose copy of a letter to
the register and receiver at Bozeman, Montana
Territory, Oct. IL, 1877, by the then commits
sioner, stating the time for completion of the
railroad under the grant expired July 4, 1S77,
but that under the cited decision there was no
power in the office to enforce the forfeiture.
There may have been other let
tiers of similar import. May 10, 1879,
Geo. Gray, ESQ.,, attorney of the company
transmitted to your predecessor map of the
amended branch line of the proposed road in
Wo hin ofo, TarrifOrv ond Qcknd that IL hn
accepted by the department, and accordingly
said letter and map were referred to this Of
flee for report. This report called for was
made May 81, 1879, and Gray's letter returned
Herewith, to the department where
it is now on file. A copy of
my predecessor of said report
is herewith submitted. 1t will be observed
that there IS presented to the secretary the
question whether or not the grant in question
returned approval of the amended route and
map, with his decision upon the questions
involved in said decision. The above recited
decision by your predecessor is the only
one of which am aware touching the lapse
of the grant in question. / know of no opin-
ion of the attorney general on the premises.
Full reports with maps showing the several
lines of road proposed by the company, and a
history of the withdrawal of the grant was
mace DY tne acClng commissioner Oh ILLS Oh
flee, March 8, 1881, and by your prede-
cessor, communicated to the SEN
ate March 10, 1880. The only
patent issued to Cosino, July 4, 1877, was dat
ed April s, 1880, covering 301 68-100 acres in
the granted limits OF the Olympia land dis
trict, Washington territory, opposite portion
of the road constructed previous to October
26, 1880. The attorney general rendered an
opinion on similar questions relating to the
grant to the Atlantic 81 Pacific railroad COM
pany.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
(Signed), N. c. MCFARLAND, Com'r.