Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-04-24
st. Paul s. Northern Pacific
LandS.

LandS. .
The settlers in this county who have
contacted to buy land frona the st. Paul
s. Northern Pacific company, but who
have failed 70 make their payments, have
been notified that unless something was
done before May the contact would
be cancelled. II was not generally be-.
lieved that this company which has al
ways dealt fairly with the settlers would
take harsh measures where the settlers
We're doing the hes, they could. Ale'ter
of@inquiry from Hon. N. Richardson
brought tic following reply. In next
weeks issue the matter will be more
fully explained by Mr.. Richardson, but
the letter FROM Mr.. Postlethwaite shows
that the settlers need not be nervous:
DEAR SIR: I am in receipt Of your
letter Of tile 22nd, and am greatly s.r-
prised at its tenor Icannot understand
| why an intelligent gentleman of your
standing should take the position indi-,
Gated Ivy your letter Of tke 2snd. You
know very well that the company rep
resent does not propose to work q hard
ship upon those who are purchasing it's
lands; on the contrary, every indulgence
possible will be accorded the actual set
tier, but believe you will agree with
me that we are 1t least entitled to some
consideration. know Of no just reason
why any one should contract for land
and omit the payments he contracted to
make for the space of from two to four
years without arranging therefor or adj
vising the land commission er that he is
unable to make the payments,
Ewant to say to you and I want you to
distinctly understand it, that there is no
necessity for any one who has contracted
with this company to go to profession.
al money lender and raise funds to make
the payment due 10 this company; we
| will grant an extension of time to any
worthy settler upon the payment of the
legal rate OF interest, and there will be
no commissions to be paid to secure an
extension of time; we must, however,
Insist that at least something shall be
paid on account Of the land, or interest,
in each and every year, that we may
know the intentions ofthe settler respect
ing the land he has under contract,
feel that your criticism of my action
in sending out notices to those who hold
contracts for our lands, is unjust. Every
contractor understands that his contact
is liable to be cancelled whenever he
fails to make the payments when due,
and he contracts that this shall he the
case, yet you cannon point to single
cancellation where the intentions of the
contractor were honest. We have had
citizens Of Morrison county contract for
piece Of land, make one payment. skin
off the wood and ties and any timber
worth taking and then default upeu the
balance Of the payments; you know that
this has been done! I ask you therefore
how am / to tell that it will not be done
again and unless have some inforna-
ton from the contractor who is back with
his payments, cannot Go otherwise than
[ 70 make an attempt to lind him and as
certain what he proposes to do.
When you refer to the title of this
company to its lands, even to those that
nave not yet been finally adjusted in the
different departments you are treating
upon subject with which you are not
familiar, the company I represent is
solvent and does not issue othee than good
warranty deeds. You know very we'll
that you cannot 60 the United States
land office and make a filing upon any
portion Of the odd numbered sections
that have been certified to that Office for
the use and benefit of this company. and,
knowing this, you. in your position,
should be the last man to raise ques-
ton in the minds of the citizens Of your
county as to the title to the lands offered
for sale by this company.
In your letter / find the following:
II can hardly think the com pany propos-
es TO, or can afford to be quite 80 unyen-
erous as to take man or woman's farm
without giving them reasonable change
and fair opportunity to pay for their
land" Keeping this in view, beg to
inquire Of you if have ever denied any
application you have made respecting
the poor Of your county or the unfortun-
ate.
There is one thing I want to call your
attention to; we must insist upon con-
Quoting the business of this office in our
own way, and want to do it in such a way
AZ will best secure the interests of this
company and the best interests of its
customers.
The contract of Arnold Becker 10 in
no danger Of cancellation since know
his position, and as before stated, there
is no reason why be should borrow mon-
ey from another to make his payments
The Go. can carry him just as we'll and
perhaps better, certainly cheaper, than
any one else all we ask is that when he
is unable to make his payments, THAT he
will write and inform us of the fact and
say when he expects to be able to me- ct
the payment. I do not care If be takes
ten or fifteen years to pay the principal
if he will pursue the policy indicated
above,
don't know :'Unc]e Nate but it
seems to nae you mus have got out OF