The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-11-22
value. including all improvements, the

value. including all improvements. tho
company made no immediate attempt
to force complain with their demands.
To do 50 would bring the whole matter
prominently before the country and
raise such storm Of indignant protest
from the whole people rs not only II
force the company to relinguish their
claim TO the homes of the settlers. bud
to the entire grant Of many millions OF
acres.
The conspirators well knew that they
had complied with no portion of the
terms required in the grant. and thai
until they did so they could have nd
legal or equitable rights thereto. They
had decided. however. 10 obtain the
lands without complying with the terms
Of the grant, and their policy was tq
harrass the settlers by threats. and in
every way possible to incitc them I'd
such acts Of violence as would BRING
them in conflict with the State or 10 al
authorities, while the officers of thd
company stood ready To appeasc anY
public sentiment that nigh; b. stirred
up against themselves BY asserting their
readiness 10 submit TO arbitration cd
the decision of the courts, and it wal
in pursuance OF this policy that thew
made no immediate attempts to enforced
their orders TO pay Or yacate.
When il became evident that thew
were to be forced into Il long and cx1
pensiye contest in defense of their
homes, the settlers had formed them
selves into league. for the purpose Of
employing counsel and taking whatevct
other steps were possible for the pro-
lection of their rights. An appeal was
made to .. II. Browning. then Secle-
tary of the Interior, ut Washington, for
his decision regarding the ella ms Of the
company and Of the settlers. Mr..
Browning examined matter careful
~. listened patiently to the arguments
of the attorneys of the railroad conn
pany and decided that the company
had not built their road upon the line
specified in their charter, but had in
stead built one hundred and fifty miles
distant from that line, where they had
no authority for bu lding. and conse-
quently could have no possible claim to
any portion Of the grant At the same
| that he rendered this decision Secretary
Browning ordered the Land Commas
/ sioners to con slider the lands in Cali
! fornia claimed by the railroad company
opened for settlement. and to allow those
claiming them under the homestead
and presumption laws to prove up anc
obtain their patents from the Govern
ment.
This decision was received by thu
settlers at the Slough with glad IN,
grateful hearts. 1t secured them in
their natural and acquired rights, anc
was accepted as prcoi that the authori
ties at Washington were beyond tn,
power of the CORFU t.onists. and tina
the General Government would contin
lie to respect the rights of the humbles
of her citizens equally with those OF til,
wealthy and powerful.
| With their love for and pride in the
country and its Institutions strength
ened by the justice Of this decis on o
one of its officials. those who were in
cond ton to do SO at onee prepared
their papers for proving up. but befor'
they could secure Their patent from tn,
Government word came that Mr.
Browning had withdrawn the land
from market and that they would no
be permitted to receive their patent I'm
til further notice
The cause of this action on the par
OF the Secretary of the Interior was tn,
receipt Of request from prominen
politician, who was a Ma or-General il
the Union army. whom the IA lroa,
company had induced to nterce TO
them. asking that further opportunlt,
Of presenting evidence to show tina
they were entitled to the land in ques.
ton be given EN-. This was but
trick OF the conspirators to obtain time
prevent the settlers from at once receiy
ing their deeds from the Government
and give themselves opportunity 4
learn where an influence could be foun,
or purchased sufficiently powerful t,
secure a permanent reversal of the de
cision of the Secretary. The Presiden
tai campaign was coming on and the
hoped for change % some kind tina
would enable them to accomplish thei
dishonest purposes.
The settlers, although anxious ant
uneasy in their minds. believed that tn,
Government would ultimately deal jus,
~ with them, tended their orchards an,
vineyards as usual, and added new field
TO the territory already irr' gated.
The election came and passed. Gen
eral Grant was elected President an
j. ID. Cox, OF Ohio. was made Secretar
, OF the Interior in place of MIR. Brown
ing.
To Mr.. Cox the officers OF the railroa
, company applied for a favorable decis
ion upon their right TO the lands i
!, question, bringing every influence pos
: slble to induce him to do SO, but with
, out success. Mr. Cox decided as Nd
/ Browning had done, that the compan
, had no right whatever to the land, an
ordered it again opened to pre-emptio
and homestead, and this decis on wa
sustained by the Acknowledgement {
the United States, Hon. Charles De,
, ans.
1t is probable that the leading col
spirators and owners of the railroa
| had anticipated the nature of the d,
cision and decided in advance upo
!, their course of action. BY means whic
, may sometimes be better known to tn
public than at present, they procure
. the introduction into the United State
, Senate OF a joint resolution authoriz. n
, the railroad company to build its roa
! las near as may be- on the line spec
fled in the charter from the State {
California, and providing that when tn
road should be built in compliance i
other respects with the law making tn
: grant of lands, the Secretary of the Ii
, terror should cause patents for the sam
, 10 be issued to the company, ''eNpres
, ly saving and reserving the rights .
actual settlers"
This resolution was referred to tn
Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads
whose chairman was friendly to til
road. and who immcd ately wrote ,
Secretary Cox, suggesting that h
withdraw his order permitting til
settlers to prove up on their ella ms III
r til the committee could report, an
! the Senate and House act upon tn
resolution.
Mr.. Cox complied with the 7,
: quest, again withdrew the lands fro
: market and again the Musslc Sloug
= settlers were refused permission 10 pr
/ sent their proying-up papers and r.
I ce.ye title 10 Their homes.
I No sooner was this accomplishe
I than the attorneys for the railroad con