The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1890-01-25
Report of the United States
Grand Jury.

TO the Honorable, the Judge of the District
Court OF the United States for the Western
District of Louisiana:
Your Grand Jury for the January term, 1890,
having concluded their labors, desire to make
their final report and ask that they be dis
charged. After examining all the eases brought
to our attention the Grand Jury has found and
returned ten true bills.
Your Grand jury calls attention to the long
and unexplained delay IN commencing work on
the public building authorized by act of Con-
gress to be built at OpelOusas, and recommend
that our Senator's aud members of Congress be
requested to forward the completion of the
building, which is necessary for the accommo-
datiOn OF this court and its officers.
Your Grand Jury fusther desire to call Spe-
cial attention to certain depredations which
have been committed continuously for years
past on what is known as the Bellevue Grant
i'll the parish of St. Landry.
We find that the Spanish government, in the
year 1889, granted to the inhabitants OF Belle
yue, in said parish, the perpetual use or servi-
tude to the timber growing upon certain tract
or land, the bounds of which have been estab-
lished by survey made by VIM. Darby, Dept.
Us. Surveyor, April 9th, 1875, same lying about
four miles southwest of Opelousas and known
as the Bellevue Grant, which grant was con-
firmed by the United States in 1915, See Amer
lean State Papers, Vol. 3, Public Sands, pages
l07 and 10S.
Tt appears that the United States reserved
the sald tract from sale, or entry, and retained
the ownership i'll fee simple of the soil, grant
ing to the inhabitants named simply a perpe
tual serVltude, or use, of the timber on said
tract, a concession OF incalcuabe value to
these people, who are prairie farmers and
whose farms are entirely dependent this
grant for the timber needed for their use.
The said inhabitants complain of trespass hy
outside parties, who have entered upon said
tract, cleared great deal of the land and es-
tablshed farms thereupon in fragrant violation
of law and of the rights of the government, as
we'll as of its grantees, the inhabitants of
Bellevue, who ask the Intervention of the fed
eral courts to protect their interest from fur
ther depredatiOns.
The parties so offending claim to have bought
the said land at State tax sale, tut, as no
taxes are due on government land, they have
no shadow OF claim and are clearly amenable
to criminal as we'll as civil prosecution; there
fore, not having suf1clent evidence before us at
this term of court tc find true bills at once we
recommend that the q. 8. District Attorney file
bills OF inf0rmatI0ns against said treSpassers,
or take such other measures AS he may deem
eXpedieht, should they not yacate said lands
and cease trespaSsing thereon at once
Your Grand Jury further recommend that
the attention of the proper department OF the
federal government be called to the matter by
the U. ). District Attorney to the end of having
q full investigation, and because of the con-
tinuOuS depredatOns these lands for years |
past, and that Immediate action be taken for |
the protection OF the government and the par |
ties in interest.
We also desire To call the attention OF the !
court to the fact that the Southern Pacific Ri"
road Company has erected bridge across the |
Mermenteau river, navigable stream and the |
dividing line between the parishes of CalcasiGu |
and Acadia, which bridge has no draw and |
permanently obstructs the navigation of said |
stream, and We recommend that the U. s. Dis |
trict Attorney take steps to have this abuse |
feCtfed and said stream opened to navigation. |
The Grand Jury returns thanks to the court |
and its efficient and courteous officers for as
sstanee rendered by them to this body
/. R. STEELE,
Foreman