The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-05
A RAILROADS. PILFERINGS
The Northern Pacific Charged with Cut
ting Timber on Government Land.
A Suit for Damages Is Brought Against the
Company by the United States Which In
wolves $4,000, OO0-Other Railway News

ST. PAUL, Mimi, Jan. 4.-The most inn
portant suit that has been filed in the
United States District Court formany years
was begun last evening, on behalf of the
United States government. 1t is an action
against the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, which involves between S5,0O0,000
and s6,0O0.OO0. 1t is charged that ever since
the road has been built, about 1862 it has
been trespassing upon government land
along its line, denuding government timber
lands, and causing great loss and
damage to the government. The en-
croachments extend to land and
timber in various parts of Idaho. W. hing
ton Territory, Montana and Minnesota. In
Montana the road has cut over fifty million
feet of timber, worth 100000; III Idaho,
100000 feet worth $4,000; in Washing
ton Territory. 20OOO000 feet worth 800, GOO;
and in Minnesota, over 20O,OOO,0OO feet,
worth S3,000000. The road, which was
stumping the timber on the lands it owned
under the grant, which was every Alternate
section and which was not yet surveyed,
instead of combining itself to such alternate
section, cut it continuously along its 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 compelled 20 abandon
such course of policy, having found
that lit is practically impossible to
sustain such cases on account of the limit
ed jurisdiction of the territorial courts, the
complicated and multitudinous trespasses
committed by a. great number of persons,
he of oh inln or
legal evidence from the cOmpany's officers
and employees and the difficulty of prOcur-
ing any other evidence concerning said
trespasses. The few settlers who were
scattered through the country where the
trespasses were committed are either ig-
norant concerning the same or unwilling
to incur the enmity of the company by Civ
ing information against it"
TIE ground upon which the railroad COM
pan, rs alleged to have tIespasSed is only
valua ole for its timber and material, AMI
. forms part of the timber reserve, which it
has be / the policy of the government 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 injunction,
the entire country now being trespaSsed
upon will be entirely denuded. The govern
ment has frequently requested the Northern
Pacific railroad to desist, but it not only
refuses to do so. but threatens to continue
cutting the timber. The government asks
that an injunction be Immediately issued
to stop the cutting. and that the company
he compelled to appear in court and respond
TO thirty-twO questions concerning the
timber. where and when cut, how and
where il has been used, and so on ad mimi
tum.
The petition is signed by A. III. Garland.
Acknowledgement of the United States;
George \. Baxter, United States attorney
for Minnesota, and Henry w. HObson,
special United States attorney.