St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-16
NO INJUSTICE TO SETTLERS.
The Claim Refuted that the Northern
Pacific is Charging More for Land
Than is Right.

| WASHINGTON, March 15.-Circulars from
the northwest have recently been distributed
among congressman in which the charge is
IN adethat the Northern Pacific company 1:
extortlng from settlers on its lands higher
price per acre than offered them by the reso
luton OF the company's board of directors.
The Northern Pacific officials, now in this
city, deny positively that the company has
broken faith with the settlers ON the railroad
lands They say that the resolution of the
Northern Pacific board referred to
was adopted in November, 1879,
when the road had rot been
constructed between the Missouri river in
Dakota, and the Columbia river in Washing
ton territory, distance of about l. 200 miles.
For the greater part of this distance the GOV.
eminent land surveys had not been made
and settlers were deferred from goinr into
the country in advance of the building of the
road, by a fear, that, when the survey should
be made, they might find their improve
ments to be on the railroad land and be
| forced to pay high price for the land. To
| quiet this apprehension, and encourage set
Element, the company gave an assurance to
the settlers, that in case their quarter Sec
ton claim should prove to be ON railroad
land, they would only be required to pay the
same price an acre as demanded by the
| government for presumption claims, namely
81. 80, with an addition of ten cents per acre
to cover the costs or surveys and convey
ance.
The resolutions giving this assurance ap
| Piled only to agricultural lands, and expressly
excepted coal, iron and timber lands, anC
land required for town sites, and for the usi
Oh the eompanyin connection with the oper
atlon OF the road. subsequently, as the con.
struction of the road progressed and agricul-
tural sections near its lines were surveyed,
so that settlers could select government OF
railroad land at their option, the policy of the
company was changed and a system adopted
of examining the lands and grading them in
| price on the basis of their value OF the
change the company gave extensive public
notice, but the resolution of 1879 is still in
| force so far as settlers are concerned who
have the right to claim its benefits.
The Northern Pacific officials say, if there
have been instances when such settlers have
been refused the privilege of purchase
under the terms of the resolution, such in
stances cannot be numerous and the COM
panyis at all times ready to remedy any in
! justice which may have been done when the
proper proofs is presented. The privilege of
purchase at the minimum price they say was
never intended to apply to more than 100
acres for each actual settler, the
| policy of the company being
to discourage speculation and reserve its
agricultural lands for small farmers, who
cultivate their own holdings, and make
homes upon them for their families. In all
cases where settlers have gone upon town
site lands, or upon other lands exempted
from the company's offer, it has been the
company's intention and policy, to treat
them with fairness and liberality. The rail
road officials further say the charges of in
| justice towards settlers, seem designed to
create prejudice in congress against the
recognition of the company's plain, legal
and equitable right, to retain its land grant,
rather than to remedy any real abuses.
| They also state that much the
larger proportion of all land sales
heretofore made in the district named, have
been made at the minimum prices made by
the board. They assert that mistaken i'm
preston prevails as to the character and
value of the lands embraced within the
Northern Pacific grant, especially those in
Montana and Idaho. They estimate the
available and suitable lands for farming pur-
| poses in those territories 10 inure to the COM
pany is less than 1000, 900 acres, the remain
ing 1000, 900 acres being mountain range:
and arid and broken up lands, valuable, ii a
! all, only for grazing purposes.