The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-10-15
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Disclosures in the Report of the General
Land Commissioner.

Washington Special:-The annual re-
port Of Land Commissioner Sparks is
nearly completed. 1t has involved II
vast amount OF work. and will reveal some
startling facts in the condition OF the vari-
Gus railroad land grants large force oil
c Jerks have gone over all the grants to ad-
just them. Strange as it may seem, no
road has been found to have less than its
grant called for. All have more, many far
more than they are entitled to. The mode
OF obtaining the great excess is set forth
at great length and is bound to create IL
sensation. 1t appears that by conceal
ing or keeping in the dark the essential
facts, and by ignoring the character OF the
grants and the plain provisions OF the law
the railroad division Of the general land
office has succeeded in allowing railroad
corporations to obtain patents for
lands which were not granted, and in
amounts which were largely in excess OF
the quantities authorized. Neither the
commissioners nor the secretaries were ad
vised of the facts. The whole responsible
ty was left to one or two clerks, who made
such examinations as best suited their con-
venience and purposes. No written state
ment OF the result was required or made,
and the facts upon which the rights OF the
companies depended were thus ignored and
concealed. In order to more effectually con-
ceal the true status of the grants, they were
treated rs grants OF specific quantities and
estimates OF the quantity OF land granted
were made and published. These estimates
are false and deceptive, and were made
without taking into consi deration the
limitation as to VIII re the indie maity lands
were to be selected and other restricting
clauses in the grant. They have been used
for the purpose OF inducing the public to be-
lieve that the companies have not received
the q uantity OF lands granted. These frauds
would have long since been exposed, but for
the fact that the companies have had sutfi-
cient influence and power to keep the ad-
justment Of the grants in the hands OF their
friends. There are clerks now in the depart
ment who are responsible for many Of
these irregularities. Maps have been
made showing how false lines were run in
surveying the bends and crooks ofthe grants
whereby large amounts OF lands were taken.
1t is understood that the report will recon-
mend that suits be brought to recover from
the railroad companies the lands patented
to them in excess OF their grant, and where
they have sold the lands thus fraudulent
ly obtained the government should re-
cover Judgment for their value. One out
come OF this will be to open the door to
multitude OF suits by settlers who have
bought ACCOMPLISHMENTS orwaivers from rail
road companies. When the amount ofany
railroad company's losses OF lands is
placed, and the amount OF lands patented
in lieu of them are ascertained, ii the latter
exceeds the former it is clear that the COM
pany had no right to sell waivers. This
will give the settler who has paid for such
REIMBURSEMENT n chance to sue for his
money. Usually such waivers have been
sold for about the government price OF the
land.