The morning call., 1892-05-06
AFTER THEIR HOMES.
The Southern Pacific Still Suing
Settlers.
A Combination to Be Effected to Fight the
Monopoly-What the Farmers
Say.

The Southern Pacific Railroad Company
IS perslsting in its efforts to wrest from a
hundred or more settlers in the San Joaquin
valley the lands which the Government
gave to them years ago, and which the set
TIERS by unremittiDg toll and the expend-
ture OF thousands of dollars earned by hon.
est labor have transformed from a desert
into beautiful homes and profitable farms.
oalo one Of the settlers yesterday, in
speaking Of the matter: "Of the many
hlgh-handed outrages the Southern Pacific
company has perpetrated upon the people
OF TINS State. this last attempt of theirs to
roD men and women of their homes and sus-
tehance is the most outrageous. The case
is ms: Certain lands were. at one time,
years ago. granted by the Government to
the Southern Pacific Company as an indem-
nifty Tor building certain lines of railroad in
tnis State. Tie roads were not built, and
In course OF time the Government recalled
Inc gilt OF the lands from The company aud
opened the same for settlement"
scores of settlers located ON these lands,
receiving patents from the Government.
Ihe Southern Pacific made no objection,
ana apparently allowed the matter 10 20 by
default. But they had deeper and more
uamna0le plan Ia their minds at the time.
road company knew the waste lands were
well-nlgh yaiueess, and they figured this
way Well make no objection to The set
tlement Of these lauds Wen allow iuuO-
cent. haTd-worklng people 10 locate on them
ana improve them for Us, and when the
time comes we viii go in and get not only
the lands back again but get them improved.
1ructihed and beautihed, and our gain Will
be the years Of toll aud privatlon OF these
people,
That is what the railroad company is
trying TO do now, and for fear they mag fail
ultimately they are bringing all the wealth,
power and influence they can command to
pear upon the well-ngh defenseess set
tiers In an endeavoT 20 scare them or drive
them oil their farms before they can plead
the Justice Of their claims. This IS shown
by the TACT that the Southern Paclnc has
brought suit against 1l9 settlers on the lands
mentioned simply to harasS them ana put
them TO cost, for the company well knows
tnat until the cases now pending IN the
Supreme Court of the United States are
decided they can do nothing with the suits
they have brought.
Instead of waiting until inc Supreme
Court had decided for or against the justice
OF their claim the Southern Pacific is Trying
to buldOZe ana scare away tile men aud
women who have made the country what
it Is.
Suppose the Southern Pacific Company
gains The suit, what thenP Are the men
who settled on these lands under the pro-
lection of patent from the United States
Government guaranteeing them the same
to lose their years Of labor? VIII the Gov
eminent aid the Southern Pacific in rObbing
its defenseless citizens? That is the ques-
ton ne are asking and TO which as yet no
answer has been made In the meantime,
however, the Southern Pacific Company
continue to make US pay out money for
trips to Los Angeles TO answer suits that
may never be tried.
II have proposed to my neighbors, and
wish IHE CALL would urge the matter,
that all the settlers affected combine in an
association to fight the legaized highway
men OF the Southern Pacific Company.
have been urging the combination of the
owners OF these lands, say at Vlsalia, Fres-
no and here in this city, and then instead of
each one trying 10 fight for himself we can
fight one for all and all for one at much
less expense.
1T doesn't seem possible that the Govern
ment will allow the Southern Pacific after
having robbed us fer years Of all We could
| make to now step in aud take from us the
very homes gave and guaranteed TO us, but,
judging from the past, 1t is not impossible
that the law will again hold us while the
robbers go through our pockets 1t is due
US that the Government should fight this
battle, and we believe that II IL does so the
railroad company will give up the contest
at once and forever"
The following letter to one Of the inter,
is taken by the settlers 10 Indicate that their
fears of the success of the railroad company
with the Supreme Court are well grounded.
II reads:
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, d. c., phi 20, 1892.
I nav of mil In q