The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-03-03
northern Pacific Land forfeiture.

The House committee on Public Lands
made report, Feb. IL, which if sustain
ed by the action of Congress and the
President, will settle the destiny
of the present Northern Pacific
railroad company and cause q
veritable earthquakefor eighty mileswide
from Bismarck to Puget Sound. As will
be noticed, the committee has recon-
mended the forfeiture of the land grant
to the railroad company on this line. Il
involves 35,0O0,OOO acres of land, and
covers all of the grant through Montana
The charter ofthe company was adroitly
framed for the compan3, providing, not
that congress should forfeit the lands,
but that in the failure of the company
to construct as req uired, Congress might
do whatever was necessary to expedite
its completion which would certainly
not be by forfeiting its lands, unless a
money subsidy were given instead This
is our recollection of charter, and it al
ways seemed to us, even after the time
of construction has elapsed and the road
was still incomplete, that the company
had the advantage of the Government if
the life of the charter could be continued.
The report of the committee covers all
road not completed july 4, 1879, on the
ground that the life OF the charter OK.
pired on that date but unless we are in
error, the company by another adroit
move in claiming right of way through an
Indian reservation on the Yellowstone,
secured Government recognition of the
charter long after the road had passed
Bismarck and entered Montana, We do
not have any idea that the measure will
pass even the House, as reported by the
committee On Public Lands. 1t is not
right that it should do 80 now, although
the Northern Pacific company, as . COM
pany has dealt with the people arbitrarily
and oppressively in many instances in
relation to those very lands. The road
has been completed fulfilling all condi-
tIons of the grant save and except the
matter of time to which the Government
did not take exception at any time be-
tween the date of expiration of charter
and the completion of the road. It is too
late, in all equity, for the Government
to come in now. two or three, or seven
years after the road has been construct
ed,with money secured by hypothecating
this land grant and declare the lands
forfeited. This seems to US to be the fair,
commonsense view of the matter, even If
the technical point that the charter died
July 4, 1879, can be sustained, Beside.
the Government and the people would
be but little gamers, The Government
has sold its even sections, or holds them
for sale at $3.50 pre- acer. If the forfeit
ure takes place they will be reduced to
Sl.25 per acre. requiring restitution to
those who paid $3.50 1t is doubtful if
the sections remaining unsold would
bring that price Altogether the move
looks little .demagogical That such q
forfeiture may apply whether the road 10
not yet constructed is different matter,
and depends upon the charter rights.
While there seems to us no. probability
of this report being approved, the i'm
portance Of vt is such that the action
will be watched with anxiety not only by
the railroad company, but all those who
have purchased lands from 1.-THE
New Northwest, s-.-r.. .,..--.-