Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-07-13
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC
Must Complete its Land Graut without De.
lay, Without Inquiry to the Rights OF
Settlers.

Washington, ID. c., July 12.-The
following explains itself:
WASHINGTON, d. c.. July Il.
To the Commissioner Of the General Land
Office:
Sir.--I call your attention to my let.
tiers of May Eth and 2Sth last, asking
that the Northern Pacific lands
should MOI be closed to settle
ment any longer than is necessary to
enable the company to make Il selec-
ton of lands in lieu of those lost with
in the granted limits. All lands lying
within both limits in the states of Wis
consin and Minnesota are now sur
veyed, and | see no reason why the
company should not at once
complete its selections within those
states. | therefore direct you TO i'm
mediately notify said company that all
selections must be made in those states
within three months from the. time
you shall give such notice
and at the end of that
time all orders for Withdrawals
heretofore made of indemnity land
within those states, whether lying
within the first or second indem nity
limits, will be revoked and all
such lands will lie restored
to the public domain and
reopened to settlement under the laws
relating to public lands. Under the
authority conferred by the act which
provides that selections shall be made
under direction of the secretary of the
interior, / deem it best to indicate
at TIE outset what in my opinion
the practice should be in relation to
selections. The amount of lands lost
IL, -. ia l.. Ia
by selections within such states, with
out regard to quality, if they
be sufficient within the indemnity
limits for that purpose. do not
think it wasthe intention in granting,
nor do deem it just or equitable to
the government or to settlers to permit
the company to eull lands within such
limits, leaving portions unsettled be-
cause they are poor, and then selecting
other lands further along the line in
place of lands lost within the granted
limits in those states. | am aware that
the expiration ofthe time herein fixed
for the completion of selections,
there will remain undeter-
mined large number of
contests involving land in thu granted
and indemnity limits, and that new
contracts will arise growing out of
selections and otherwise, and that by
reason of such contests the company
will not be able to complete its selec-
ltions within such time as to lands which
it shall lose in those contests.
Those contests are from time to
time determined that the company
shall have equal rights (but not u
preference in right with set
tiers, to select lands with
in the indemnity limit in those
states, although orders Of withdrawal
shall at that time have been revoked,
and for lands lost in such contest not
made up by selections, as in that case
the company should be allowed to
make selections elsewhere within the
indemnity limits upon the line of said
road. | have thus referred To such
matters as deem it impor-
tant to be considered. 1t l.
necessary that many questions
be reserved until the final adjustment
of the grant. What is herein said will
apply to the state of Wisconsin, only so
far a. said road is built within that
state, and the grant earned.
tSigned) III. NJ. TELLER,
Secretary.
Treasury Reserve.
The treasury reserve to-day amounted
to $4,000, 900 for account of pensions.
Revenue Collectors.
The commissioner of internal rev.
enue not having received the resigna-
ton of c. NJ. Horton, internal revenue
agent, as requested, directed revoca-
ton of his appointment. A. Nj.
Swope, collector of internal revenue
for the new seventh district
of Kentucky, had an interview with
Commissioner Evans to-day, in which
he denied tie published report that he
wished to Withdraw his resignation
now in the hands of the president.
Swope said he had resigned through
deliberation, and would not recon
slider his action.
An Indian Exodus.
James Irwin, agent at the Shoshone
agency, Wyoming Territory, tele,
graphcd commissioner Price to-day that
from the Uintahaga agency in Utah
the Indians are passing into the Sho-
shone agency in great numbers, not
less than fifty lodges having already
arrived. Commissioner Price replied
! instructing the agent To order the In
dians to return to their reservation,
and not to issue rations TO them from
his supplies.