St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-20
STANDS BY SETTLERS.


Haggart in two years of service
STANDS RY SETTLERS.
Secretary Lamar Eseverses a Couple
of ConlmissiOner Sparks Decis-
OnS.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 19.-Every day evil
aence accumulates to show that there has
been good deal OF eXggeration in regard
to the amount of fraud among settlers on
government land in the Northwest. To-
day Secretary Lamar decided two Mime
sofa cases which illustrate this conclusion.
They were cases where proof offered could
be criticised and construed favorably or not
according as the land officers might
choose. The general. land office
decided against the settlers. The
secretary now reverses the ruling of the
commissioner, and decides for the settlers.
Edward r. Turner took up presumption
claim in the TayIor'S Falls district in
March, 1884. May 81, 1885, Special Agent
Webster Eaton reported said entry to be
fraudulent. Commissioner Sparks ordered
hearing, which was held July 81. Upon
an examination of the testimony at the
hearing, Sparks decided that the claimants
proof OF residence and cultivation was I'M
satisfactory, and cancelled the entry. On
examination of the testimony it appears
that the claimant, who was an unmarried
man, made settlement upon the tract about
the middle OF June, 1888,
BUILT a LOG HOUSE
14x16, floored and rooted and having one
door and window, being ten to twelve
feet high in front, and having a room over
head used for storage. The house was not
fN~.Ex
occupied his time in clearing and grabbing
the land, besides working a part of the
time elsewhere. He raised no crops on the
land, as it was not possible to do SO that
season. he estimates his improvements at
between $3.50 and $500. Mr.. Lamar says:
In regard to residence the claimants evil
dence is somewhat vague, but it appears to
me not necessarily self-contradictory. In the
same sentence i'll which he CLAIMS the tract
because OF his continuous residence. he quail
ifieS it b. the statement that he made il his
home living on it from three days to two
weeks each month. He took the claim for
the purpose OF getting home started. From
October Till March he was at home most of
the time. He had in the house table, bunk
DR. bedstead, bed clothing, bench, stove,
Dishes etc. He also dug well. His absence
from his claim, he swears were necessary
In part to obtain and bring home
provisions, and in part to earn money where
with to purchase provisions and otherwise
support himself while improving his claim.
While in my opinion it would have been bet
ter practic ON the part of the local officers to
have
REQUIRED MORE IMPROVEMENTS
in the way of clearing and actual cultivation
before permitting the claimant to make u
cash entry, yet lnasmuch as they have ac-
cepted proof and payment fer the land, and
as / can not see that bad faith has been
shown, must reverse your officers decision
canceing said entry and direct that the same
shall remain intact.
The other case was that of Isaac Patter-
son, in the same DISCREET made at the same
time. Special Agent Webster Eaton re-
ported his entry fraudulent, and the same
proceedings were gone through with and re-
suited in cancellation. At the hearing.
A. H. Looney, assistant special agent of
the department. testified to visiting the land
eight months after final proof had been
made. The floor was partly torn up. If
the house had a roof it had been removed
There was a bunk in one corner of the
building. but no stove and no furniture
There was not what he would call clear
ing. There was about an acre ''Slashed
down."
THE LAND WAS POOR,
but he estimated there was about 100, 600
feet of pine timber on the claim. The in
ference drawn is that the land was taken
solely for its timber. The only other wit
ness for the government was one ID. N.
Robbins He testified that he was on the
land once in June, 1888, and once each
month the remainder of the year. He
never saw any house on the land until De-
cember. He never saw any clearing on the
claim Ito speak Of" The claimant and
his witnesses testified to his establishing
residence on the tract June IA, 1888. Two
of these witnesses assisted him
in putting up log house 12X14
papered inside, having ''punch-
con- floor board roof, door and
one six-light window. From half an acre
to an acre of land was cleared, prepared
for cultivation and part fenced. Claimant
raised corn, turnips, radishes and other
vegetables. The value of the improve
ments was estimated at $500. The claim
ant testified he was single man; that he
worked by the day for Mr.. Rheims from
one day to one week at tme;' was at the
claim ''Off on and on" all summer; had no
other residence and worked elsewhere
only
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN MONEY
to support himself on his claim. From
that time on proof of continuous residence
was abundant. From Dec. Is, 1888, to
Jan. Is, 1884. his two sisters occupied the
house with him. Mr.. Lamar says:
1t will be observed that the only testimony
tending to disprove residence prior to final
proof was that of Robbins, concerning whom
Robert c. Dunn, town clerk of Princeton and
county attorney of Mile Lac county, testi-
files: KNOWS the general reputation of said
Robbins for truth and veraclty. His reputa-
tiou is that of professional liar" In view
of the facts set forth, must reverse your
said official decision, holding said county for
cancellation. The papers transmitted by
your letter of March a, 1886, are returned
herewith.
While Secretary Lamar is ready and glad
to join in running down pine land thieves
in Minnesota, where so much timber steal
ing has been done, he shows in the above
cases that he can lean to the side of the
settler If there is any good reason for show
ing consideration.
An Unclaimed Corpse.
Special to the Globe.
MORRIS, Mimi, Aug. ia day or two
since a young man named Dane Dodge
was kicked in the abdomen by horse at
Benson and brought to this town for treat
ment. The wound, however. proved fatal,
and the young man died to-day at the
Metropolitan hotel. Several kilograms