Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-05
FOR TRESPASS.
suIt Begun by the Government Against the
Northern Pacific,

Sult Begun bY the Government Against the
Northern Pacific,
ST.. PAUL, MINI, January 4.-The
NC. important suit that has been filed in
.he Uaited States District Court for many
years, was begun mere last evening on
behalf Of The United States Government
To IS an action against the Northern Pa
cifc Railroad Compmy which involves
between $1,000 COO and s. 100000.
Itis charged thst ever siuce the rosd has
been built, about ls69, il has been tres
pas.iag uron government land along IFS
lire. denuding government timber land
and causing great loss and damage to the
Government. The encroachments extend
to land. aud timber no ysrious parts Of
Idaho. Washington Territory, Montana
aud Minnesota.
In Montana the read has cut over City
million feet Cf timber, worth $1,000, 600;
in Idaho, 10. coo. 600 feet, worth $500 OOOi
in Washington Territory, 10000, 900 feet,
worth SOC, coo, and IN Mi0nSsota over
2OD GOO 900 feet, worth g. 600, 600. The
discovery OF the trtsplSs Was made In July,
1879 The road, which was gtumpiug the
timber on the lands it 0wnsd under the
grant. which WAS every alternate section,
and which was rot yet surveyed, Instead
of laduing itself TO such alternate section
cut Q continuously along its lines
The petition says that the Government
has made numerous attempts 10 proceed
aSainst the clmpany IN the several Ttrri-
tories ttrough which the raihOad runs,
bat 10 has been compelled to ibaadOn SUCH
a course Of policy, having found that 'ft
il practically impossible 20 sustain such
cases on account OF the limited Jurisdica-
iion If the Teuiiorsl courts, the cOmpi-
Gated ard multitudinous tTtspasses COM
mitted by great number o. persons, the
prsctcM impossibili,y Of obtaining legal
~ deucs from the company's officers aud
employees. and the diliculty Of procuring
any other evidence concerning their tres
passes. The few settlers who were s,atter-
"a through the country where the tres plC-
sss were committed SIe either ignorant
Concerning the same or unwilling 10 incur
the enmity OF tie company by giving In
formation against Il. "
The giOund upon watch the RAILROAD
company il alleged to have trespassed is
on y valuable for It's timber and material,
and forms part of the timber reserve
which i has b,el the policy OF toe govern
ment 20 protect and preserve for iuture use
and benefit TO iis citizens. Therefore lhA
denuding OF the land of timber results in q
great aud irremediil loss. Unless the
company il stopped at once by injunction
the entire c1untvy now being trespassed
uTon will be entirely denuled. The gov
eminent has frequently requested
the Northern Pseds Railroad 10
/ dts Sc but 'it 40. only re-
fuss 20 60 80. hat threatens to continue
cutting the timbsr' The Government
asks tlst an irjunction be Immediately is-
su.d to stop ths cutting and that the CON
psny De clmreilei 70 aIPsaT ir co7r' nHo
respond to thirty two quest oas coneeFo'aSi
Che dmte', whore and when cu, how snu
where u has been used, aud b, on dd "t,1-
nu. The petition is signed by A. IL;
Garland, Attorney General for the Uniteu
States Ge,rgs y. Baxter, United STATES
Attorney for Minnesota and Henry W
1 n