St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 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:

| To the Honorable, the Judge of the Distric
| 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 1inal report and ask that they be dis
| charged. After examining all the cases brought
to our attention the Grand Jury has found anG
! 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 huilt at OrelOusas, and recommend
| that our Senators and members OF Congress be
requested to forward the completion of the
building, which ia necessary for the accoEmo-
datfOn 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
/, in the parish of st. Landry.
We find that the Span sh government, in the
year 1889, granted TO the Inhabitants of Belle
vue, in said parish the perpetual use or servi-
tude to the timber growing upon certain tract
OF land, the bounds of which have been estab-
lished by survey made by VIM. Darby, Dept.
U.s Surveyor, April 9th, 1915, same lying about
four miles southwest of Opelousas, and known
as the Bellevue Grant, which grant was con-
firmed by the United States, i'll 1915, See Amer
ican State Papers, Vol. 3, Public Sands, pages
LOT and l0S.
If appears that the United States reserved
the said tract from sale, or entry, and retained
the ownership i'll fee simple of the soil, grant
ing to the inhabitants named simply q perpe-
tuai servitnde, or use. of the timber ON SAID
tract, concession OF incalculable value to
these people. who are prairie farmers and
whose farms are entirely dependent on this
grant for the TIMBER needed for their use.
The said inhabitants complain OF treapaSs by
outside parties, who have entered upon said
tract cleared great deal of the land and cs-
tablished farms thereupon III tagrant violation
of law and of the rights OF the government, as
well as of its grantees, the inhabitants of
Bellevue. who ask the intervention of the fed
eyal courts to protect their interest from fur
ther Gepradations.
The parties so offending claim to have bought
the said land at d St2te tax sale, but as no
taxes are due on government ltSad, they have
no shadow of claim and are clearly ameHable
to criminal as well as civil prosecution; there
fore, not having sufficient evidence before us at
this term of court tc find true bills at once, We
recommend that the U, S. District Attorney file
bills OF infDrmatlons against said trespassers,
or take suci. other measures as he may deem
expedient, should lleT not vticnte said lands
and cease trespassinS thereon ct 9nce.
Your Grand Jury further recommend that
tho attention Of the proper department of the
federal government be called to the matter by
the U. s. District Attorney to the end OF having
a full investigation, and because OF the con
tlnuous fepredations on these lands for years
past, and that immediate action be taken for
the pE0Ist tion OF tile government ana the par
ties iu interest.
We also desire 20 sal. the attention OF the
court to the fact that the s0Hthsru Pacific Rail-
road Company has erected Il bridge across the
Mermenteau river. nasigable stream and the |
dividing line between the parishes Of Eacasieu |
and Acadia, which bridge has no draw and |
permanently obstructs the navigation of said |
stream. agd ge recommend that the U, s. Dis |
trict Attorney taks steps to have this abuse !
rectitied aud said stream epsned to navigation |
The Grand Jury returns thanssa 10 thes court |
and its efficient and courteous officets tor as
,istance rendera& by them to this body. I
'' Ae'pS'i {. r. STEELE,
Foreman.