The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-09
Van Wyck to Plain Talk

WASHINGTON, May S.-The following let
ter was to-day written and delivered b,
Senator Van Wyck in person to the secre
tary of the interior;
Washington, May s-To Hon. IL. NJ. Teller SEQ
reiary Of the Interior.
DEAR SIR When the order was mad,
recognizing the claims Of the New Orlean,
Pacliic Railroad l'mpany TO the land grant
many years forfeited, | felt it my duty Il
ask your de}2'.ment to be informed of tn,
progress VI the proceedings, with
view to oppose any further leeis
lation, and to prevent the absorption
OF public domain by corporstion
which has not even the semblance of legal
or equitable existence, and also to protec,
settlers who have occupied and improved
portions of this dead grant. The New Or.
leans, Baton Rouge a. Vicksburg Railroad
company in 1871 obtained large grant,
specifying tnat the said company shall com.
plele the whole OF said road within five years
from the passage OF this act. The five
years expired and not mile, not even a
survey, not q definite location was made,
The only act was to issue and distribute
bonds among the people who were intent
in developing the country. Five
more years pass, and the grand
doubly dead, not mile constructed or
even definitely located. Its third act was
on December 3Oth, to assign what it did
not own to another company, which was
organized by the Legislature of Louisiana
in 1876, to build through substantially the
same section, without any aid, known as
the New Orleans Pacific company, which
finally drited into the hands of a syndicate
who had also been developing the
country, so that millions of dollars and mil
lions OF acres had rewarded their sacrifices
and exertions. 1t became necessary that
the system of roads they controlled be con.
nected with New Orleans. They built with
out any assurance, any assistance from the
land department or congress, not even
filing map Of definite location of any nor.
ton of the road. They knew that only
congress could vitalize the dormant grant.
1t is great presumption even for the railroad
to assume that this could be ac-
simply by their fiat, and now
they hope to forestall action by this recog.
milton they have obtained from your de.
partment. They must well know the title
to these lands is not complete until final
action Is had by congress. | realize your
when congress, ut ils last
session, failed to act, and the attorney
general had given to your department, in
response to the request of your predeces-
sor, an opinion that the county had right
to said grant. An additional necessity for
this notice is that the present company,
the New Orleans Pacific are about issuing
and bonds on the basis
OF this forfeited land, an6 they naturally
desire 1t legalzed long enough to place
these lands on the market. Two trustees
are named, one in the interest of the pres.
ent company, and the other in the interest
Of bonds issued twelve years ago. SO the
victims are 10 be the people, the settlers on
that portion the public domain or the
purchasers of the bonds. My object is that
congress shall not be met at next session
with a plea that innocent purchasers
bought these Nonds and they shall be pro-
lected. A patient government has been
delayed thirteen years.
Now, q few months further delny will
work no injustice, AS the association, en-.
In this manner to utilize the dor
nant grant, are not in an Impoverished
condition. You will allow me
o make this public, and present
Is my prrpose is to aid the public and pre-.
'ent imposition by the sale OF bonds Sc.
ured by the forfeited title which may be
declared worthless.
Yours faithfully.
g, ii. NANwYcK.