The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-06-27
THE RAILROAD GRANTS.

The proposed adjournment Of Congress
next week will bring 10 issue speedily or de-
fer for long time the legislation concerning
railroad land grants which has been sgtated
during the past few months. The matter Of
FORGETTING any lands, where tho companies
have In good faith up to the present time
constructed their roads, has not met with
favor. The matter Of forfeiting lands where
the roads have not been constructed, as on
the western division of the Northern Pacific,
has awakened opposition in quarter not an
ticIpated, viz: from the people on the line
Of the proposed road who apprehend In cass
Of such forfeiture that the road would not be
built. We can readily comprehend this
feeling which would doubtless have prevailed
along the line Of the Northern Pacific in
Montana had the project Of forfeiture been
urged at a day when lis accomplishment
would have rendered doubtful the compile
ton Of the road.
The agitation Of these question has, how
ever, brought out prominently one Of much
greater importance to the communities, Ter
ritories and States penetrated by these land
gran. roads-that of taxation Of these land
grants. The system Of railroad companies
Is to let their lands lie unsurveyed without
taking out patents until some
settler wants tract, when patent for the
particular portion he desires is procured and
decided TO him, and tbereupon it becomes
subject to taxation in his hands. But SO long
rs there is no purchaser for 1t the railroad
company allows 1t 10 remain unpatented,
and, wherever possible, unsurveyed. The
result Is, the railroad companies own half the
country they penetrate ana burden the courts
with their causes, but, as in the case Of the
Northern Pacific pay but a rifle toward the
maintenance of the local governmen ts.
Especially in Kansas and Nebraska, under
the grant TO the Union Pacific, has this sys
tenn been irEsome upon the people and they
have succeeded during discussion of the land
grant forfeiture bills the present session in
throwing strong light on this system. As
q result the House Committee on Pacific
Railroads reported measure last week re-
curing the land grant roads, before any land
is conveyed to them, 10 pay the United States
for the cost Of surveying, selecting and con-
veying them. This, however, was deemed
tao easy of evasion and Intellectual in reach
ing the end sought, and Payson, Of Illinois,
offered substitute which goes to The root of
the evil. 1t requires the companies, after q
township Is surveyed and the plat filed and
notice thereof given by the Secretary of In
terror that the patents are ready for delivery,
to pay the costs of surveying, selecting and
conveying, and take out their patents for the
lands they are entitled 10, and unless the
same Is done within sixty days all such lands
shall be forfeited to the United States and
be open for sale and settlement under the
homestead laws. The bill Is said to effect
about Is, 900 acres ofland, principally in
cluded in the grant to the Union Pacific
Company, and the temper of the House is
evidenced in the fact that the substitute
passed almost unanimously. We confess
inability to comprehend why the bill is con-
sidered to apply relatively to so small por-
ton of the domain granted TO railroads, I'M
less the figures apply only 10 lands already
surveyed, and on which the companies
have failed TO pay the cost Of survey or take
out patent. This measure should pass the
Senate and become law and 1t should apply
to the Northern Pacific land grant in Mon
tana. The Company at present pays no
taxes on Its lands In Montana and none on
Its road-bed, and yet 1t owns, or did own
nearly $1,000, 900 acres of land IN this Terri
tory. On all of this that is surveyed it
should be required to take out patents and
pay taxes in proportion as pui chaser Of the
10 mo ~nnId h.~e ~ pay. Its road bed never
can be taxed while this Is Territory, and
IL is an open question whether it can be when
The Territory becomes State; but 1t was
fortunate for the people the trainers Of that
wonderful instrument, known as the North
ern Pacific Charter, ommitted to exempt
from taxation the forty solid miles of land
grant. 1t Is to be hoped the Senate will not
be in such haste TO adjourn as to leave this
bill among the unfinished business of the
session.