The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-09-15
Those Railroad Lands.
HADNO1, La, Sept, Z, 1871
Edfjor Colf1s Chronicle:

| uhbNoi, Aos, Oept, ., 1881.
Editor Coyas Chronicle;
In an article in the La. Populist of Au-
gust oath, relative to railroad lands, that
paper directly Injuries me in M business,
when it says, "Those lands will not be
taken from The railroad and restored TO
the people until the Peoples Party gets
IN power" Now this, it seems to me, was
| intended to make settlers who are living
on lands that have been patented TO the
railroad, whose settlements were made
prior TO the definite location of the rail-
road, believe that they cannot homestead
on the same; that, too in the face of the
fact that L have succeeded in obtaining
decisions IN twenty odd cases in favor of
the settlers, and against the railroad
am glad, Mr. Editor, that you answer
ed the Populist as you did in this mat
ter, for it certainly is a great injustice to
let it go uurebuked, but you did not Gov
er all the points. The editors of the Pop
ulist pretend to be friends and advocates
OF the farmers, when IL truth the above
allegation proves that they are enemies,
for the reason that the allegation tends
to mislead and disheartep the settlers,
and may cause some to not attempt 70
secure home for themselves and fami-
hes. am a Democrat, and always have
been, and for that reason the Populist at
tempts to couple my name and MY bust
ness with the Democratic party, by know
ingly misrep-esenting facts in order that
they may be able to deceive and delude
a few ignorant and uneducated settlers,
make political capital ont of It, thereby
deprivlng the settlers of their rights, and
ut the same time deprive me of my fee in
securing home for those settlers Or for
their heirs and assigns.
Now, Mr.. Editor, allow me to say that
by act of Congress, approved Feb. s, 1887,
any settler, his heirs or assigns, are enti-
tied TO make homestead entry on any
railroad lands, if settlement was made
prior to or at the time of the date OF the
definite location Of said railroad And, TO
prove what say, let rs refer to the case
OF f. tx. Norris, who bought tho i'm
prOvements OF VIM. Lambert, and then
filed contest against the h. O. F. r. r.
Co., claiming the right to Homestead En-
ter the n e Il Of sec. 3, township north,
range 2 west. The land had been pat
ented by the N. 0. p. f. R. Co. and the
railroad had sold, or claimed to have sold
said land to Chas. Easton, London, Eng
land. filled a contest for Mr.. Morris, and
The Democratic officials Of the u. s.. land
office decided in favor OF MIR. Morris all
the way through. Morris made his final
proof, and is now expecting the Receivers
final receit The final proof has been re-
ceived and accepted, and hold the Reg
ister's acknowledgment. stating that II
mas been received, examined and found
correct and satisfactory, and the Receiv-
er's hnal receipt win be forwared as soon
as possible" Now, in conclusion, I will
say l will guarantee any settler who was
on railroad land prior to or at the time of
the date OF the definite location of the N. |
U. 2. X, r. to procure for him, or his
heirs Or assigns. patent, provided said
settler, his heirs or assigns. are in all 9th |
or respects qualified to homestead
Yours truly, JNo. P. HaDNor