The new North-west., 1883-04-27
WEST: DEER LODGE, MONTANA FRIDAY, APRIL 27 1888
PRESSING THE NATTER.

. s@ss~
recently made application for Government
lands subject 10 entry uncer the rulings Of
Secretary Teller, - published In the NEW
NoRTH-WEsr. These lands, they believe,
they are entitled to snter - Government
lands. The Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, although 1t has not, that We have seen,
denied the correctness Of this decision or
claimed that such lands cannot be 90 entered,
has apparently assumed those lands belong
TO the Northern Pacific Company and is de-
manding Of occupants the payment for them
In advance Of determination Of the question
and In advance Of any possible title 1t can
acquire to them, even II the Railroad Com
pany is entitled to them. As an exemplif-
cation We publish the following copy Of .
notice now In our possession:
NOTICE.
n. p. II. Il. Co. LAND DEPARTMENT., }
GENERAL LAND AGENTS OFFICE,
HELENA, NJ. T., April IL, 1883. J
To Mr.. Emanuel Strom, Warm Springs,
Montana:
DEAR sIR-You are hereby notified to
date, at this Office, for the lands of this com
pany occupied or claimed to be occupied by
you, viz: East half of the southwest quar-
ter (Ea SW!) Of section twenty-three (23),
township five (5) North, range ten (10)
West; and that II you fail to do 50, I am
directed to sell said lands to any acceptable
purchaser, for such price as shall be satisfac-
tory TO the Land Commissioner of the COM
pany.
In case Of your failure 10 make payment
as above notified, any preference right to
purchase lands claimed by you will there
upon cease and shall thenceforth be disre-
gsrded, and the lands shall be offered for
sale at such prce as the Land Commissioner
may determine. Yours truly,
(Signed) ED. STONE,
General Land Agent y. P. r. r. Co.
We believe this is in the nature of
"pressure" to compel purchase Of the lands
from the Railroad Company In advance of
determination of the question whether the
lands belong to the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company or to the United States Govern
ment. The Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany has no title to any lands In this county.
Certain lands are reserved by the Govern
ment from entry to be conveyed to 1t on the
performance Of Q certain stipulated thing,
uiz, the construction of the road as required
by the charter. Not only has it not acquired
title, but, from the date of this notice, 1t
will be seen 1t 1t is utterly impossible for the
Company to acquire title by the time pay is
demanded. This Is not right. 1t is pre-
judging the issue and demanding payment
before delivery Of the goods. The Northern
Pacific Company and Its representatives
should not exhibit this disposition in Men
tana. We have suffered much from the in
cubus Of Its land grant, and yet have stood
steadfast always In favor Of giving the Com
pany more opportunity to acquire its lands,
even when it had again and again failed to
the road as the charter and extend.
ing acts required. The Company, by Resolu
tion, fixed the price al which actual settlers
could have their lands after 1t had acquired
title. We published this resolution by re-
quest of the Land Department of the Gem
pany, and many Of our settlers believed and
availed themselves Of the promise made. To
now anticipate acquisition of title and COM
pei payment before 1t can be acquired Is not
lust, and ii is especially irksome and wrong
in instances where the highest authority the
question has yet reached-the Honorable
Secretary of Interior-decides that the lands
belong to the Government and that the
Northern Pacific Company has no claim
upon them. Our attitude toward the North
srn Pacific Company has always been
friendly; 1t will continue to be so as long as
t maintains a fair attitude toward cur
people, but the above indicates an indefensible
disposition to "crowd" settlers. We trust
hese notices will be revoked until the ques-
ion is determined In whom Is to vest the title,
Ind, If 1t is the Railroad Company ,Iuntil tha
Company has acquired title.