Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-09
The Disputed Quarter Section
Near Bismarck, Decided in
Favor Of Jackman.
The Doleiul Tale Of Bliss
Ceases to Wag and the
Jury Still Lives.
Reports Of American Consuls
In Ireland on the Ship
ments of Paupers.
Variou, Entertaining Items From
tho National Capital.
VAN wYCK's LETTER.

special Dbpatcn 70 lHh BE.
WASHINGTON, May S.-The follow.
Ing letter was to-day written and de-
vered by Senator Van Wyck in per-
on to the secretary of the interior.
WARRINGTON, May 8--DEAR SIR:
When the order was made recognizing
the claim Of the New Orleans Pacific
railroad company to q land grant many
years forfeited, 1 felt 1t my duty to
ask your department to be informed
of the progress of the proceedings
with q view to oppose any further
legislation and to prevent absorption
Of the public domain by q corporation
which had not even the semblance of
legal or equitable right, and also to
protect settlers who have been occu-
plying and improving portions Of this
dead grant. The New Orleans, B ,ton
Rouge & Vicksburg railway company
obtained q large tract specifying
"That said company shall complete
the whole Of said road within five
years from the passage of this act"
Five years expired and not a mile was
built, not even a survey, not a definite
location. The only act was to issue
and distribute bonds among patriots
who were intent In developing the
country. Five years more passed and
the grant Is doubly dead, yet not q
mile was constructed or definitely
located. Its third act was In Dscem-
Der, 1880, to assign what 1t did not
own to another corporation which was
organized by the legislature of Louis
lana In 1876, to build thrs ugh sub.
s~tantially the same section,
without the expectation of any
aid, known as the New Oeleans
Pacific company, which finally drifted
into the hands Of a syndicate who had
also been patr,otically developing the
country 80 that millions of dollars and
millions of acres had rewarded their
sacrifice and exertions. 1t became
necessary for the system of roads
they controlled to connect with New
Orleans. They built without any
assurance of aid from the land de.
partment or congress, not even filing
a map Of definite location of any por.
tion of the road. They knew only
congress could v~ltalize the dormant
grant. 1t was q great presumption
even for a railroad corporation tc
assume this could be accomplished
simply by their fat, and now they
hope to ~forstsll action by this recogni
ton they have obtained from your de
partment. They must we'll know tina
title to these lands is not complet,
until inal action by congress. l real
lee your embarrassment when con-
gress at Its last session failed to &C,
and the attorney general had given t.
your department in responre to tn,
request Of. your predecessor an opin
lon that the company has q right t,
said grant. An additional nece,sit,
for this notice is that the pressn
company, the New Orleans Pacific
are about issuing mortgage bonds Of
the basis of this forfeited land grant
and they naturally desire 1t legalizs'
long enough to place these bonds oil
the market. Two trustees are named
one In the interest Of the presen
company, and one interest of tn;
bonds issued twelve years ago. s,
the victims are to be the people, set
tiers on that portion of the publ
domain, or purchasers of the bonds
My object Is congress shall no
be met. next session Will
the plea of "lnnocsnt purchasers
who bought these bonds, and the,
should be protected. A patient gov
ernment has been delayed thirteen
years, and now a few months furthe,
delay will work no injury, as tn,
corporation en~deavoring in this man
ner to utilizs a dormant grant are no
In an impoverished condition.
You will allow me to make thi
public, as my purpose Is to aid tn,
public aud prevent imposition by tn
sale of bonds secured by forfeite,
title, which may be declared worth
less.
(Slgned) G. H. VANWYcK,