St. Landry democrat., 1890-07-12
Railroad Lands.


INTRODUCED by Senator Gibson to which
we referred in last weeks issue:
Whereas by net Of Congress OF the
United States, approved March third,
eighteen hundred and seventy-one. a
grant of land was made to the New
Orleans, Baton Ronge and ficksburg
Railroad Company of twenty miles on
each side of said proposed railroad,
with an indemnity grant of ten miles
on each side of the said granted
limits; and
Whereas by the terms of said grant.
if the said company constructed the
railroad within five years they were to
be entitled to all the odd numbered
sections within the said twenty mile
limits (granted), and upon the compile
ton of the said road they We're to have
the right to select the oddnnmbered
sections within the Indemnity limits to
compensate them for any loss they had
sustained in odd numbered sections
within the original twenty mile limits
grant as soon as said loss was ascer-
tanned and
Whereas the New Orleans Pacific
Railway Company, successor to the
New Orleans, Baton Ronge and Nicks-
burg Railroad Company, was allowed
to make, in December, eighteen hun
dred and eighty three, by the Land Of
fee, selections not only within the
twenty mile (granted) limits, but the
indemnity limits also, notwithstanding
that the loss sustained within the
twenty-mile granted hints had not
vet been ascertained nor had any law
been passed TO authorize a selection or
withdrawal of the numbered sec
tons within the said indemnify limits
before said loss was ascertalned and
Whereas the honorable Secretary OF
the Interior did. in August, eighteen
hundred and eighty seven, direct TIC
Commissioner of the General Land OF
ice to notify the register and receiver
at New Orleans that the odd-numbered
sections within the said indemnity limits
whicl: had been nnlawfully selected in
eighteen hundred and eighty -thiee had
been and were restored to settlement
entry, and the register and receiver did
cause pnb.ic notice to be given, on Octo-
Der fifteenth, eighteen hundred and
eighty seven, and November, eighteen
hundred and eighty seven, that the odd
numbered sections within the indemnity
limits Of the grant 10 the New Orleans
Pacific Railway Company (assignec)
heretofore nnlaWfully withdrawn had
been and were restored to settlement
entry, and that applications by duly
qualified parties to enter said lands
under the settlement laws wonld be re-
ceived on and after December first,
eighteen hundred and eighty seven
and
Whereas certain persons, accepting iii
good faith the said official notice, set
tied upon and made valuable improve
ments on lands within the said in
demnity limits, namely
Willie Nidrine, VIM IL Warner. Jno
n Warner, Stephen Is Fontenot, Louis
Landreneau, Octave Molitor. Dennis
Lajac, Amede Savant. Aumer Gnillory,
Aurelien Reed, Don Lede, Alcee Gull
lory, Augustin Guillory, Alibee Gull
lory, Francois Ardoin, Phiiias Hebert,
Pierre Onezime Aucoin, Zenon Ardoin,
Emile Cesaire, Aurelien |. A Fontenot,
Adam Guillory, Eugene LA Fonten0t,
Eloi Bushnell Theogene Ardoin, Alte
mon Rougcan, Theogene l. A Fontenot,
John Frnger, Joseph Bertrand, Enzebe
Alexandra Daigle, John II
Niece, Pierre NJ Fl Niece.
And others, most of whom have con
with the said New Orleans
Pacific Railway Company made proof
before the land Office in New Orleans of
such settlement: Therefore.
Resoired by the Senate aud House Of
Of the United States Of
A merica in Congress assembled, That all |
such persons as shall have in good faith |
settled upon and are now living on said |
ands within said indemnity limits shall |
De allowed to enter them under the |
and pre- emptiOn laws Of the !
United States, any law to the contrary |
Pr0rided, That all |
uch lands as have been settled upon |
ince the date of the selection in eight /
zen hundred and eighty nine by the /
Sew Orleans Pacific Railway Company |
assignee) the said New Orleans Pacific
Railway Company shall be allowed to
elect numbered sections in same
limits.
SEC. 2. That the provisions of this
ct shall be carried into effect under the
Erection of the Secretary of the
Interior.
The thanks of our people are due to
enator Gibson for the introduction of
his Joint Resolution. Its passage will
e simaly a matter of justice to the
ettlers who may otherwise be COM
elled to go to the Supreme Court of
he United States for titles to their
lnds.
We expect next week to publish a
opy of the notice OF restoration which
as published in the N. O. Picayune in
october, 1887. /;