Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-08
SURVEYORS SCRIP.


SURVEYORS SCRIP.
The Nature and Extent of the S,cindte
100000 Acres EnterediVt the Bogus
Scrip q. the Grand Forks Office Alone.
[Grand Forks ID. T.) Herald, May s.
Last evening telegram was received at the
United States land Office here, from Commits
sioner Mcfarland, ordering that no surveyors
land scrip, issued at Santa Fe, New Mexico,
be received in payment for final proof of
claims. The cause assigned for the refusal
to receive the scrip was alleged
FRAUDS
in the certificates of deposit upon which sur
veyor's scrip is issued. That these frauds
have existed for long time, all officials and
intelligent men cognizant with the New Mex
lean land business, have been aware of. The
news, however, that the department had taken
steps in the matter and has probably I'M
earuhened wholesale frauds will create con-
sternation in the breasts of thousands of in
nocent men in Dakota, who will find the IT,
ties Of their lands
INvALIDATED,
because they have paid for it in worthless
scrip. 1t is fact not generally known out
side Of interested circles that thousands and
thousands of dollars of New Mexican scrip
had been shipped to Dakota for disposal-and
as fast as brought here had been used in
"proving up" An extremely low estimate of
the Santa Fe scrip in the Grand Forks land
district alone places it at
$780, 1000.
These figures are modest and made after
careful and thorough inspection by conserva-
tive man. 1t is probable that the actual
amount would run far in excess of the amount
stated. That means that there is probably
160, 900 acres of Red River land in this district
to which the supposed owners believe they
have q clear title from the government,
whereas,
THEIR DEEDS ARE WORTHLESS,
and they are in the position of holders of
claims who have not proven up. The only
way to remedy this, unless there is an act Of
congress for the relief of the unfortunate
settlers, will be to commence over again and
prove up from the beginning,
paying for the patent good law
full money of the United States. The number
of settlers in Dakota who have proved mp by
the aid of Santa Fe surveyors scrip is amaz-
ing.
FULLY ONE-HALF
of the payments Of final proof fees In the
Grand Forks district have been made in this
scrip. The records show page after page of
solid Santa Fe script payments with hardly a
cash entry. One-half of the decided farming
land in this district. and presumably Of all the
land districts of Dakota, if not held by invalid
deeds, there at least is a cloud resting on
the title, which will be a
ErARFJrr DR AwRACE
to poor settlers, and opens the way to serious
hardships to those who have as they sup
posed complied with the law, and departed
with their deed in their pockets for other
places, under the impression that their patent
was valid one. Many having thus done will
be in the position of settlers who have deserted
their claims before proving up, which will be
subject to Jumping and contest.
Just what is and what IS not fraudulent
scrip is difficult 10 determine. The commits
sissioner has been working up the matter,
and finds frauds to that extent that it war
rants the reputation of the whole amount of
Santa Fe scrip.
SURVEYORS sCRIP-wHAT 1T is.
Surveyors scrip, as it is popularity called, or
what is more proper, surveyors certificates,
are issued in the following manner: When
there is no appropriation by the govern
ment for the survey of new township, and
there are settlers in that township who are de-
sirous Of having it surveyed, they, by deposit
ing in national bank the sum of 5000, can
have a certificate OF deposit and scrip issued,
which is paid to the surveyors for their labor.
This is negotiable and is receivable at land
offices in payment Of final proof fees. The
government subsequently makes an appropri-
alton which reimburses those settlers who
have advanced money for the survey.
THE CHANCE FOR FRAUD.
In New Mexico there are vast tracts OF arid
and uninhabitable land which will not and
cannot support life. OF course there is no
object in surveying such land except for the
fees. The alleged surveyors and the bank
officials, as in the case of the First National
bank Of Santa Fe, are
CoNFEDERATED
together in the swindle. Anapplication comes
in for the survey of some desert township from
some dummy" settler. The formula is gone
through, but the surveyor" who gets his
pay never goes near the township. Bogus plats
are sent in, and the scrip is received in
the Surveyor dividing the profits. An
appropriation is made by the government.
and the party who advanced the 5000
is reimbursed. In short, the surveyor
who divides with the bank gets 5000 for
work which he did not perform. These prac-
tees have been carried on at wholesale rate
in New Mexico, and Santa Fe is hot-bed of
this kind OF fraud. There is SO much that is
fraudulent that tbs whole issue from that
place has the stigma resting on thence it's
reputation by the department.
THE LOCAL EFFECT.
Aside from the disastrous effects of the in
famous swindle on the poor, Woodworking
settlers who have fallen into the trap, the
order will puts stop to the quite heavy traffic
in this scrip. IL is estimated that there is
from $4,000 to $4,000 Of this scrip in the
hands OF spectators in Grand Forks alone,
the market value of which will take fearful
fall
Close Of the May Music.
NEW YORK, May 6.-Tae musical festival
closed tonight, in the presence of an immense
audience. The singing was most excellent,