The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-02
4 Hard Blow at the Southern Pacific
4. Company.
KCORRECTEYTRIESO OF ISDEMNITY LANDS
sbe Government Will GIN the Settlers the Prtce-
aente-Milli0ns Of Acres SOW Open for
Settlement.
Special to THE MORNING CALI

WASHINGTON, Nov. -1.-Notwiths standing
The TACT that the associate land agent of the
Southern Pacific Railroad declared THE
CALLS Washington dispatch, concerning
that ompany's indemnity land selections,
10 be incorrect, his superior officer, who
evidently appreciated the reliability of The
Calls. news. sent letter here almost i'm
mediatsy after. reading the dispatch. ask
Ing that the companies be given time in
which to correct their filings. His letter
was written October Is, two days after THE
CALL dispatch appeared.
# was sent to Henry Beard, the Wash
iugton land attorney OF the railroads, and
was by the latter referred 10 the General
Land Office. The letter stated that the
companies were willing to comply with any
reasonable requirements of the Department
of the Interior. The writer asked that the
eases of the Oregon and California Railroad
be passed until those of the California and
Oregon road were settled.
.=IHE CALL CORES poBdent had talk with
Governor Stone, acting Commissioner Of
the GeHeral Land Office, to-day, and is ens-
blrd TO give the answer that will be sent 10
the:coInpanies in q few days.
The letter will say that the department
has no authority under the law TO allow the
railroad com panies time to correct their
Of the Interior and the acting COmmiss-
sioner of the General Land Office hold these
views.
The filings of the three companies, viz
the Southern Pacific, the Oregon and Cali
fornia, and the California and Oregon, be-
ing Incorrectly made are not valid. and the
settlers who have entered on the same tracts
pending a correction of the filings will be
given ihe preference rights.
80 In other words, where these filings are
defective they will be treated as If there
was no filing at ali on the tracts. There
tore, they are open 10 entry by any settler
who desires 10 possess them. II will be a
race now between the settlers and the rail
roads TO see who can. fle on them first. The
railroads have such an immense lob on their
hands to correct over one million acres that
il will take them months to do it, even with
the aid OF experts.
In the meantime the settlers will no
doubt take advantage Of the railroad CON-
pany's dilemma, and will themselves enter
these tracts This is the worst black-eye
these raj road companies nave received in
years. Millions of acres Of land will M
dOubtedly be lost TO them, and the settlers
will have a golden opportunity TO better
their own condition and at the same time
have 4 little sweet revenge on these land
grabbing mOnopnles.
The Southern Pacific officials will doubt
less try and 0elIltle the Importance Of this
matter, but their purpose will be too obEi-
Gus. II California settlers will only take
Immediate advantage Of their opportunity
they may become possessed OF some choice
public land. They Eave plenty Of time if
they will act at once. The CALL cOrre-
spondeDt believes moreover that the Gov
eminent land officials are In full sympathy
with them as against the railroads.