Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-28

They Correspond With the Number of
Miles of Railway Certified to the
Land Office.

Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, Ten. May 27-The following
letter explains itself:
GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
AUSTIN, TEX, May II, 1894.
Col II. C. Withers. Land Agent Texas and Pa
cific Railway Company. Austin. Tex.
DEAR SIR-In note of sd inst. you ask
for certificate of the commissioner of tho
general land office, showing that the mum
Der of certificates issued TO the Texas and
Pacific railway company Is III exact con-
formity with the number of miles of rail-
way examined by the state engineer and
certified to the land Office and commits
Sioner, and that no excess of certificates has
been issued to said road. "
After careful examination of the records
and archives i'll this department. ! find
from the state engineers reports that tia
Texas and Pacific railway company has
built and put IL complete running order
the sections of road, viz: From Sherman
to TeXarkana, l15.2 miles of main track,
with 5.3 miles Of sidings and turnouts;
from jefferson north to Junction, 66.2 miles
of main track with So miles OF sidines,
turnouts and Y's; from Fort Worth to Dali
las, 81 8 miles of main track with 81 miles
of SidingS and turnOutS from Dallas to
Longview, l2i.5 miles of main track, with
81 miles of sidings and turnouts, making
331.s miles of main track and 203 miles of
sidings, turnouts and VS.. There is gap
between Longyiew and jefferson upon
VII ch no report by state engineer can
be found in the land office. hence
a definite statement cannot be made
without survey Of that portion of
the road. Referring, however, to the
land certificates issued to the said railway
company. | find that in the years of 1S73-4-
SO, S0S3 certificates for GAO acres each were
issued, based upon the claim as set forth in
the face of said certificates. 404 miles and
1915 feet main track, sidines, turnouts and
US. This, at twenty sections of land to the
mile, would be s0S5 certificates Of $40 acres
each, or two more than the number issued.
Therefore, If the number of miles of the
road built, as claimed in the face of the GER
tifcates, be correct, the railway company
has received two certificates less than it
was entitled to. This discrepancy may
have occurred in estimating fractions, and
therefore, the number of certificates issued
may be regarded as substantially correct,
provided switches, turnoats and VS. should
be considered in the estimate OF the road
built: and provided further. that the
Texas and Pacific railway company be not
properly chargabie with 40 certificates for
$40 acres each issued for grading to the
Memphis. Ell Paso and Pacific railway COM
pany, fhe franchises of which company,
together with lands. 100 miles of completed
grade. etc, which passed as by inheritance
20 said Texas and Pacific railway COM
panyl then can certify that the number
of cert ficateS issued $685. corresponds
substantially with the number of miles Of
main track, sidings, turnouts and Y's,
built by the said Texas and Pacific railway
company as appears from the face of the
certificates issued.
Respectfully, W. L. McGAUGHEY,
IF. A. NJ. Commissioner.