St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-02-20
CHAPTER XXvu.-CoscLuDEn

CHAPTER AXVH.-CONCLUDED
The people at the Slough were now
greatly discouraged, but still not with
out hope. The resolution plainly pro-
vided that the rights of actual settlers
should be respected, and they could not
see how any one could dispute the fact
of their being such. Indeed it was only
by asserting that their rights We're Sc
cured by that clause of the resolution
that enough members of the House and
Senate who were not absolute tools OF
partners of the conspirators were in
duced to vote for the resolution to Sc
cure its passage.
Besides this, the railroad company,
when its officers first decided to make
an effort to seize upon the land in the
vicinity of the Slough, had issued cir
culars urging people to come and take
up land there. promising them that as
soon as the company received patents
for the land from the Government it
wQnld deed to the settlers, upon pay
mGnt of the price of wild land; or at
twN and (; hall dollars per acre for bar
rea plains, such as most of the land at
the Slough was; and that in no case
would price exceeding ten dollars per
acre be charged, even for timbered
land.
A large portion of the settlers now at
the Slough had come in compliance
with this invitation and agreement on
the part OF the railroad company. and
they still relied upon the promise of the
company, or thought the courts would
compel it 10 comply with the promise
set forth in its circulars-a promise
which became q binding contract when
the settlers, acting upon it, came upon
the land and began to improve it.
The officers of the company had,
however, ITO intention of complying
with the promise, and their success in
bribing Cor. grcss led them to feel that
there was nothing to be feared from
the courts. They demanded the full
value OF al lands, including improve
ments, and claimed that the words
''actual settlers III the resolution of
Congress referred to such as Govern
ment had granted patents to before the
passage Of The act making the grant OF
lands to the company; which was be-
fore the first settler came to the Slough,
and was OF lands along the line pro-
posed in their charter, distant one hun
bred and fifty miles and on the other
side OF range of mountains.
During all this time the settlers had
held frequent meetings and endeavored
in every legal manner known to them
to defend their rights. Erastus Hem
mingway was always in attendance
upon these meetings, and although he
said but little, what he did say was al
ways to the point clear and forcible,
and he came TO be regarded by all as
one whose Judgment was of value, and
who was ever prompt with his portion
OF the money found necessary to be
raised from time to time in defense OF
their homes.
At last, and after repeated meetings
and much discussion, it was decided to
make an offer to compromise with the
company as the cheapest way out of
the difficulty, and letter was addressed
to its chief officer, stating that while
they did not recognize either the legal
or equitable claim Of the company to
their lands, yet for the sake of being at
peace they would all pay the prices
which those who came by invitation OF
the company had been promised the
land at; or the price which disinter-
estcd committee would say the lands
without the improvements were, now
worth; or the price at which the COM
pany was now offering to sell raw land
of similar quality. This would compel
those who took homestead and pre-
emption claims before the company
made any pretense of being entitled to
the land-while it still professed to be
intending to build it's road and take the
lands upon the line laid dow.1 in its
charter pay from two and q half to
ten dollars per acre for what they
should have had for nothing as home
steaders, or on payment Of one dollar
and quarter per acre to the Govern
sment in case they claimed % pre-
emptors. But all were weary OF the
long contest and preferred peace at any
price short of bankruptcy, rather than
q continuation of their troubles.
In reply to this offer of the settlers
the President of the company responded
saying that they were willing to do
what should appear right, and request
inc the settlers to select committee
from among themselves to come to San
Francisco to confer with the representa-
lives Of the company. This letter was
read at regular meeting OF the Set
tiers League, and committee imme-
diately selected and authorized to act
for the whole. Among those chosen
for this duty were Erastus Hemingway
and his neighbor Mr.. johnson. The
committee proceeded to San Francisco,
put up at hotel and notified the rail,
road officials of their presence and
readiness to confer. Instead OF proceed.
;nr RI fl,a confarence. however, one OF