Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-04
VAST TIMBER DEpREDArroNs.
The GoveRnmeut at Last Brings Sui
Against the Northern Pacific.

HSoshrt tut Noft0tfu H-act0c.
ST. PAUL, Jan. L-The most important suit
that has been filed in the Z. 5. district court
for many years was begun last evening on be-
half Of the United States government II is an
action against the Northern Pacific railroad
company which involves between $500 600
and s6.000.o00. IL is charged that ever since
the road has been built about 1862 IL has been
trespassing on government land along its line
denuding government timber LANDS and caus-
ing great loss and damage 90 the government
The encroachnents extend 30 lands and timber
IN various parts of Idaho. Washington Terri
tory, Montana, and Minnesota. In Montana
the road has cut over 5000o000 feet OF
timber, worth $1,000. 600: in Idaho. 10 600 600
worth s2c0o00; in Washington Territory 90
600 900 feet worth 100000. and in Minnesota
over 2O0.0O0.0O0 feet worth sS.000.0O0.
THE DISCOVERY or THE rREsPAss
was made in July. 1879. The road. which was
stumping the timber on the lands II owne a under
the grant, which was every alternate section
and which was not vet surveyed. instead of
confining itself 10 such alternate sections cut
il continuously along it's lines
The petition SAYS that the government has
made numerous attempts to proceed against
the company in the several territories through
which the railroad runs. but it has been conn.,
PEELED to abandon such a course of policy.
having found that il is practically impossible
10 sustain such cases ON account Of the limited
ol tue the
complicated and
MULrrrUDINoUs TREsPAssEs COMMITTED
by great number of persons. the practical
impossibiity Of obtaining legal evidence from
the company's officers and employees and the
difficulty Of procuring any other evidence con-
cerning said trespasses The few settlers who
were scattered throughout the country where
the trespasses were committed are either ig-
norant concerning the same or unwilling TO
incur the enmity of the company by giving in
formation against it," The ground upon which
the railroad company Is alleged 60 have tres
passed is very valuable for its timber and ma
terial. and forms part of the timber reserve
which il has been the policy OF the govern
ment to protect and preserve for future Use
and benefit to its citizens Therefore the de-
nudIng of the lands of the timber results in
GREAT AND IRREMEDIABLE Loss.
Unless the company is stopped at once by in
junction the entire country now being tres
passed upon will be entirely denuded The
government has frequently requested the
Northern Pacific road 20 desist. but il mot
only refused 20 do so. but threatens 20 continue
cutting the timber" The government asks
that an injunction be Immediately issued 10
stop the cutting, and that the company
be compelled TO appear i'm court and re-
spond TO thirty-two questions concerning the
timber. where and when cut. how and when it
has been used, and so on dd infnitlfD. The Pc
ution Is signed by A. II. Garland. Attorney
General of the United States: George " Bax-
ter. United States attorney for Minnesota. and
Henry W. Hobson, special United States sttor-
ney.