The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-23
GREAT NoRrHEKS LAND GRANT.

About 200 Acres Of Lieu Lands
Granted on Pacific Extension.
Special correspondence from Washington City
70 the Oregoniaa reads:
Probably the people OF Northern Idaho, and
even . large section OF Washington, are not
aware that by an act of congress the Great
Northern railroad is enabled to select along the
line OF its road. either on surveyed or unsur-
veyed lands, $500 acres, to which IL will receive
Immediate title 80 soon as its selections arc
made. This act was passed for the relief OF GER
tain settlers in North Dakota, to whose lands the
company laid claim. IL was generally conceded
that by carrying their claims to the courts
these lands would have been awarded TO
the company, aud the settlers and innocent
purchasers would have been turned out OF their
homes and denuded of all rights TO the lands.
In order TO secure REIMBURSEMENT from the
Great Northern, congress passed law which
went through on the last day of the session and
was aligned an hour before adjournment, and
this act allows the Great Northern to select t5,-
900 acres OF land along Its line In any OF the
states through which IL runs. providing no other
title has attached TO any of the lands. II is
allowed to go upon either surveyed or unsur-
veyed lands, and the only exception is that 1t
must not take land known to contain mineral.
The Democratic committee on public lands
In the house amended the original senate
bill so that tho mineral clause gave the
company greater tights thaa 1t 9rd ~ ,h
selection OF these 65,000 acres it should
b found. alter the selection was made, that the
,snd contained minerals n me company cannon
ton 10 that the lands must not he known as
mineral lands at the TINA this selection is made.
il il understood that the company desires to
make use OF this grant OF 5000 acres, which is
practically in the nature OF scrip, although
differing from scrip locations from the fact that
after onc0 the location Is made 1t cannot be
transferred for TOWNSHIP purposes, and probably
great many acres OF the land will be made use
Of for the location and building OF towns, but
the company also has In view tho selection of
1900 or 49, 900 acres of the most valuable timber
lands In Northern Idaho
The fact that the act allows the company to
select either surveyed or unsurveyed lands
places II at advantage over other people, and It
may 60 ahead and lay its claim TO a large tract OF
timber lands in both idaho aud Washington,
which have not as vet come within reach of any
settlers, but may be near enough to the line Of
road to serve the purpose of the company. A
saving clause on this point IL that the land can
not be selected in tracts OF more than a mile
square, aud must not join, so II practically
amounts TO tho selection of every other section,
but even that will give the company q great
deal OF advantage aud allow il to secure vaua-
BILE timber lands which il desires TO use for
ties, bridges, etc.
Another telegram states that the board of
directors OF tho Great Northern railway have
accepted by resolution the terms Of the act OF
congress granting them lands in lieu OF those
held by settlers In the Red river valley, but
have not yet executed the formal relinQuish.
ment of lands within the grant. They have
called for a list Of such lands. which the inte-
rior department Is now preparing.