The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-06-20

ton, quality of soil, its adaptability to
agriculture, grazing Or even timber, gives
it a certain monetary value, and as such
they reserve the right Of asking what it
is worth. But you say, 1t is to the inter-
est Of the railroad to induce immigration
and the settlement Of the country, that
they would realize more from their road
etc. That is true, and we think by limit
ing abe amount of land to one hundred
and sixty acres to bona fde settlers only
at the price named is the surest way to
settle up the county. To make this
price apply to the acquisition of unlimit-
ed land would only encourage monopo-
ly, and ere long our whole country would
be bought up by capitalists, who would
charge the settler all that could he squeez-
ed out of it. Again, the terms offered
are such that a poor man can acquire q
farm and in a short time pay for it out of
the proceeds of the soil. While it may
be unfortunate that there is land grant
and that by virtue of it the price of both
government and railroad lands is increas-
ed, the fact exists. and cannot be avoided
now and we must take things as we find
them. The general policy Of the N. P.
railroad las compared to similar corpora
tions) has been one of liberality, and as
such have acquired a popularity with the
travelling public, as will eventually make
it the most sought after and well patron
lied of all the trans-continental routes,
and we can scarcely think that they will
now adopt a policy Of extortion. While
we do not think anything we might say
or do would have any effect upon these
matters we desire to present them as
they appear to us. Again it has been
said that the railroad was contesting en-
tries of lands made prior to withdrawal.
We do not believe they can maintain any
such case, nor do we know as fact that
they have tried it in cases where the
land was filed on and occupied from the
time of withdrawal to the present time.
There are cases no doubt in which they
will make an attempt, and those are,
where the land had been filed on and
abandoned prior to withdrawal. We be-
lieve the ruling has been as follows:
Where land was filed on prior to with
drawal and then abandoned before with
drawal, the railroad right attaches, but
where the filing was carried past the
time of withdrawal and then abandoned,
that the land reverted to the govern
ment. Some have even taken the pre-
caution to obtain both the government
and railroad title, where the questions
might arise. We understand that the
attorney Of the road has theory, and
that is, ''that all the public lands of the
United States belong to the Northern
Pacific railroad" Again the question
has been asked. Does the railroad right
attach to the receded part of the Crow
The opinion generally en-
tertained is that the railroad could not
claim, only under the indemnity land
clause, and that even, only included
lands mot otherwise appropriated" at
the time of the adoption Of their route,
and as they were then included in an
Indian Reservation, that therefore they
could lay no valid claim, and as con-
sequence both odd and even sections
were subject to entry under the different
laws governing such matters. Again the
question comes. When does the date of
commence? This and many
other questions have, yet to be ruled on
by the Interior Department, and these
Filings, while not conclusive las either
party might appeal from it, will no doubt
be the law governing such cases. To
many Of us these things are very import
int, and while we believe in exact JUS
lice, our feelings and sympathies will be
with the settler, but we shall not array
ourselves AGAINST the railroad except
where we believe them to be in error.
The interests Of both ought to be mutual,
md we think will be SO looked upon In
he meantime we would urge upon all
ettlers upon public and railroad lands,
% perfect their title to such lands as soon
IS possible, as the increasing value will
)e only an incentive to defeat the acqui-
ition of title. Some may doubt the
'olicy, but as question of right they
an demand all that the land will bring
I'd as long as they stick to their promise
o give actual settlers one hundred and
ixty acres at the price of two dollars and
ixty cents per acre, we cannot seriously |
complain.