The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1891-08-29
Editor Meridional:

A statement l made to the New Or
leans Issue, that patents had been is.
sued to a rail road company Withou-
consideration, for a large body ofpublit
land, was characterized as a "tissue O
falsehoodso by Mfr. c. C. Duson. Al
Judge E. T. Lewis, while a member 0:
Congress, had prevented patents to THU
land from being issued, I called upon
him for a statement of the case.
These are the facts: Several years
ago the R. r. Co. obtained a grant Of
land conditioned upon the completion
of the road within a time specified.
The grant. was for every alternate
section included between lines parallel
with SAID road and ten miles from it on
each side. But as some of the sections
had already been fled upon the grant
was extended ter miles on either side
ofthe first grant. That is, the company
was permitted to select enough land
within the extension to indemnify them
for land which had been filed upon in
the original grant.
The company then proceeded to mort
gage the land to John. F. Dillon of New
York. But the rail road never material
lied. Has not been built yet. But the
company applied for patents lust the
same. Judge Lewis opposed the appli-
cation and moved for a forfeiture of the
grant. He was brow-beaten and at
tempts were made to intimidate hira.
Failing in this, the company through
its agent Mr.. G. G. Duson made a sue
eessful attempt to defeat him for re cleo
He, however, continued his
opposition. Every attempt to obtain,
patents failed during Cleveland's adj
ministration. Patents were obtained
very lately and could not have been
obtaited without the cooperation Of
Congressman Robertson.
/ asked Judge Lewis If the road was
ever built. He answered, "No.n "The
company never had any better claim
than you or l." In dealing with the
farmer Congress recognizes the only
basis for a land title, namely, occupancy
and use. Accordingly by the farmer
IS required to go upon the land, improve
md live upon it five years. So great
IS the repugnance to land speculation
that when the farmer files final proof
often a counter affidavit is filed
and the farmer spends a life time fight
obstacles and dies without obtain
ng his patent.
But millions upon millions of acres
been donated to rail road COM
5anies and land companies without
liquidation, as to use. In fact, the
Whole of our magnificent public domain
has passed into the hands of land
harks in this way.
In spite of the ranting Of Mr.. Dnson
nd others the American people will
DON call for an accounting. And lest
here should be a misunderstanding as
o their power, intentions and purposes
quote from Lord Chief Justice Col
on May %, 1887, in an address
It the Queens room, Glasgow, Scotland,
said It seems an elementary propo-
ition that a free people can deal as it
links fit with it's common stock.
Then after reciting that, q There are
states on those islands of more than a
hilton acres and that the trade of a
reat emporium might be checked or
ven destroyed by the simple will of
ne or more great land owners, he says,
ii this may beto the general advantage
nd if it can be shown to be so, by all
leans, they ought to be maintained,
ut if not, does any one with anything
g is pleased to call his mine, deny, that
state of law under which 4 country
self could exist, not for its people but
IF a mere handful Of them, ought to be
lstantly and absolutely set aside?
| could quote from the ablest Ameri-
ans to sustain this point. / mailed to
le Crowley Signal a lengthy article
ON the pen of Samuel B. Clarke of
le New York bar. Mr.. Duson can