Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-22
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
Rathdrum, Idaho Ter. Oct. 8. 1885

Commissioner Sparks:
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR,
GENERAL LAND OFFICE
Rathdrum, Idaho Ter. Oct. 8, 1885
Hon. Commissioner Gen Land Office:
Sir-I have the honor TO report that have COM
pleted the reports on the Northern Pacific railroad
company and the Montana Improvement COM
pany timber trespass cases and herewith trans
NIT the eight reports making, with what had al
ready transmitted, 81 separate indictments in all
showing that these corporations have caused to
be cut from the public domain, As 100 600 feet of
lumber and bridge timber; S4 IA railroad ties:
49, 400 600 shingles Isl 600 bunchss); 3D. 0s5 cords
of wood and 20, 600 cedar posts.
To value the lumber at $40 per ], 600 feet which
would be a low figure; the railroad ties at 40
cents per tie; the wood at S. per cord the posts
at $50 per 100, and shingles at 81 per 1000 or fifty
cents bunch, would amount to 1913 402 This
does not represent all the ties and wood cut for
the Northern Pacific railroad company by Eddy
Hammond & Co., which changed its name into
The Montana improvement Co., in July, 1888,
as found it an absolute impossbty to get wit
pesses to testify in those to find per-
sons of whom could obtain anything like salts
factory Information.
Where the depredations were committed between
Ruthdrum, l. T., and yarmouth, NJ. T., the coun-
try is very thinly settled and the men who were
employed on the contracts during the construction
Of the Northern Pacific railroad have gone to
parts unknown. Owing to this it has taken much
longer to complete this investigation than it
otherwise should. was hampered by the off,
GERS of the Montana Improvement company, who
appeared to expect an investigation, and were
1ortIyng Cner poSltlon. The company had
agents along the line endeavoring to suppress the
facts or the Montana Improvement company s
operations. The company is an INSCRIPTIONS
corporation that will leave nothing undone to
gain their point.
1 found that no reliance whatever could be
placed upon the statements made by the officers
OF the Montana Improvement company. / have
made you copy in duplicate of the contract be-
tween the Northern Pacific Railroad company and
the Montana improvement company. TWAS fur
niSned me by II. w. FairWeather of Sprague
W. T., an ex-diviSiOa superintendent of the
Northern Pacific Railway company. [ have the
honor to be
Your obedient servant,
NJ J. HALEY.
Special Timber Agent,
Rathdrum. L T.
The contract referred TO by Agent
Haley in the above report is between
the Northern Pacific railway Of the
first part, and the Montana Improve
ment Of the second part.
It binds the railroad company to
withdraw all of It's timber lands from
sale or disposal and gives the I'M
prOvement company the exclusive
right to cut timber from the lands. In.
return for this privilege the Improve
ment company transfers to the rail
road company 1,0O1 full paid shares
Of its capital stock of value OF 81, COO,
100; reserving to itself shares valued
at 1899, 900.
The Improvement company also
agrees TO erect at it's own expense all
mills and to furnish all the plant nee
essary for it's business OF timber cut
ting