The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-05
A TREMENDOUS SUIT
Brought by the GeyeEnment Against t,e
Northern paclflc for Stealing Timber,

NpftNeFh racine Tor Stealing Timber,
ST. PAUL, MISH, Jan. 4,-The most
important suit that has been filed in the
United States District Court for many
years was begun last evening on behalf
Of the United States Government. II Is
an action against the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company, which involves be.
tween S5,000,000 and $6,000,O0O, II Is
charged that ever since the road has
been built, about 1850, It has been tres
passing upon Government land along its
line, denuding Government timber lands
and causing great loss and damage TO the
Government, The encroachments ex.
tends to lands, cut timber in various
parts OF Idaho, Washington Territory,
Montana and Minnesota. In Montana
tho road has cut over 50,000,0O0 feet OF
lumber, worth '$l,000,0OO. In Idaho,
10000, 600 feet, worth 100000, In WASH
ington Territory 10000, 900, worth $780,
900, and In Minnesota over 200, ,O00, 900
feet, worth $S,000,0O0,
made In July 1870. The road which
was stumping the timber on the lands
II owned under the grant which was
every alternate section, and which was
not yet surveyed, instead Of conflning
itself to such alternate section, cut 1t con.
tinuously along It's lines. The petition
says that the Government has made nu-
mer0us attempts to proceed against the
company In theseveral loCalitles through
which the railroad runs, but 1t has been
compelled TO abandon such course OF
policy, having found that 1t IL practically
impossible to sustain such cases on &c.
count Of the limited Jurisdiction Of the
territorial courts, the complicated and
mulHtudenOus trespasses committed by
u great number OF persons, the practical
impossibility OF obtaining legal evidence
from the cOmpanS's officers and EN-
ployes, and the difficulty OF procuring
any other evidence concerning said tres
passes"
The few settlers who were scattered |
through the country where trespasses
were committed are either ignorant con.
cerning the same or unwilling to incur
the enmity OF the company by giving
information against 1t, The ground
upon which the railroad company is
alleged TO have trespassed Is only valua-
bic for its timber and material; and |
forms a part OF the timber reserve which
1t has been the policy OF the government
to protect and preserve for future use
and benefit to Its citizens. Therefore
the dcnuding Of the lands OF the timber
results in great and irremediable loss.
Unless tho company Is stopped at once
by injunction, the entire country now
being trespassed upon will be entirely
denuded. The government has FREE
Quently requested the Northern Pacific
railroad to desist, but 1t not only re.
fuses to do so but threatens to continue
cutting the timber. The government
asks that IN injunction be Immediately
issued to stop the cutting aud that the
be compelled to appear In
court and respond to thirty.two ques-
tions concerning the timber: Where
aud when cut, how and where it has
been used, and so on ad inhnitum. The
petition is signed by a. II. Garland,
Attorney General Of the United States,
George NJ. Baxter, United States At
torney for Minnesota, and Henry w.
Hobson. Special United States Attor-
neV,