St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-13
HIS LAST DECISION.
Commissioner Sparks Declares Large
Tract of Northern Pacific Lands
Forfeited,
The Decision Affecting the Railroad Com
pany to the Extent Of Twenty
five Millions.
President Harris ofthe Road VIII APP
peal TO the Secretary OF the
Interior.
Fast Freight Line Trouble
General Notes.
Favoring the Government.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 12.-Land Commits
sioner Sparks to-day promulgated an i'm
portant decision affecting the claims of the
Northern Pacific Railroad company 10 a
grant Of land between point on the Col
umbia river. near Portland. Or. and Ia
coma, on Puget sound. in Washington Ter
ritOrY. The commissioner SAYS the road
between those points was authorized 20 be
constructed by joint resolution Of congress
in 1863. without land grant. The original
act Of 1864 provided for a main line OF road
across the Cascade mountains to Puget
sound and branch from a point not more
than 300 miles east OF the western terminus
passing down the Columbia river To point
at or near Portland Or. but made no pro-
vision for a road or grant between Portland
and Puget sound. The railroad company
lays claim 10 a grant for this portion OF the
road under the joint resolution Of congress
of 1870, which provided that the company
might construct its main line down the Col
umbia river and its branch across the Cas-
cades with the same grants IS provided for
by the original act Of incorporation. Com
missioner Sparks holds that as 10 grant
was made by the original act for the con-
stTuctiOn OF the road from Portland
to Tacoma, and none by the
act of 1869. TO such grant
can be presumpdvely drawn from the joint
resolution of 1870. He holds that no such
grant was made by any Of the acts of con-
greSs. and says that he does not find lhat
any formal decision has ever been made or
the interior department. holding that tine
joint resolution OF 1870 embraced a grant uf
lands between said points. Although with
drawals appear 20 have been ordered upon
the filing b. the company of its maps, the
commissioners says no reasons for snch
Withdrawals have ever been assigned so far
as the records of the land Office disclOSes.
This decision affects the odd numbered sec
tons Of land 50 miles in width. for a dis
lance of l06. aggregating some ). 427. 200
acres, estimated To be worth SIS, 900. 900.
The claim of the railroad company to these
lands has long been disputed by settlers.
large numbers of whom are in occupation
claiming the right to enter under the public
land laws. The case of Donald McRea and
j. ). Book VS.. The Northern Pacific Rail-
road Company brought out the decision.
WILL APPEAL FROM THE DECISION.
New YORK, Jan. 12.-The following
letter is made public:
Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Presi-
dents Office, New York, Jan. Ito the
Bondholders and Stockholders of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company: IL is publicly
stated that Commissioner Sparks of the gen
eral land Office has rendered a decision TO the
effect that this company has no grant of lands
for the road between the Columbia river and
Puget sound. There Is no foundation in law
or reason for such decision. Appeal will at
once be taken to the secretary of the interior,
and, if necessary, the company win resort to
the courts to maintain its rights. Neither you
nor purchasers of the lands Of this company
need entertain the slightest apprehension as
to the result
lSigned ROBERT HARRIS, President