The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-11
JUMPED CANNON'S LAND.
The Northern Pacific Takes Possession or
100 Acres on the West side

| The Northern Pacific Takes Possession or
100 Acres on the West side
| Mr.. G. w. Cannon has had his land iump.
ed 80 often that he has become used to il.
1t did not surprise him very much ycster-
! day morning when ho heard that 16O acres
of very valuable ground on the west side
had been fenced in by gang of mon in the
| employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad
company. While Mr.. Cannon was at the
Montana club last night about II O'Clock
MIR. Thomas Cooney, chief land examiner
for the Northern Pacific in Montana march,
ed at the head of about fifty men equipped
with picks and shovels. The procession
started from the Northern Pacific depot
a spot was reached a short distance beyond
the residence of Mr.. Frank l.. Sizer. A
gentleman who noticed the movements Of
the men found Mr.. Cannon al
the club and asked if he had heard any-
sh;ag II Ia about %sa hi his land being jumped. He
him we're f. Nj. Dudley and j. U. Sanders,
two attorneys Of the road. They said moth
ing. At midnight Cooney had his men at
work digging post holes on the boundary
lines of the l60 acres and at seven O'Clock
Yesterday morning posts were in position
all around the tract and a single line Of
barb wire nailed to the posts thus enclosing
the entire piece of land TO which Mr.. Cam
non received government mineral patent
eleven years ago. Mayor kleinschnidt and
Marshal Sims went out to the place during
the forenoon and found everything quiet,
shack had been erected in one corner Of
the tract and here some of tho men were
resting. At the request of the
mayor MIR. Cooney cut the wires
where they ran across Hauser boulevard
and the steam motor line. During the
afternoon the agent of the railroad com-
pany had his men digging post holes on
both sides of the boulevard whore il runs
through the 160 acres. To-day three more
lines OF barbed wire will be attached to tho
posts which will complete the fence. Mr..
morning where he met Mr.. Cooney and
Messrs. Dudley and George L. Shelton. at
torneys for tho road. MIR. Cannon ouietlv
served notice on them to cease Operations
but no attention was paid to his reuuest.
nc walked about for while, looked into
the shack and then returned to tho Oity.
He was surprised, he said, that a great cor
poration should adopt such methods In its
fight against him. 1T resembles the work
of road agents." he said. Mr.. Cooney said
he was ordered by his company TO
take possession of the land and
was merely obeying orders. He said the
action taken by his company was In line
with the opinion of Judge Knowles. rem
dered short time ago in a case brought
by the railroad company against Mr.. Cnn-
non to recover 120 acres on the east side,
known as the G. w. Cannon addition. It
was held that the company should first be
in possession before it could proceed In the
United States court to establish lis title TO
the land, which il claims was granted To IL
by congress. The tract on the east side IN
estimated to bo worth $ll0,G00, and the iG0
acres on the west side must be worth con-
siderable more. No one is living ON the west
side tract although Mr.. Cannon hos dis
posed of u few lots there. When asked
how no proposed to meet this movement of
the corporation, he replied shat he would
rest OH his government title.