St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-09
THE RAILROADS. POSITION.
The Great Northern Only Desires
What 1t is Legally Entitled to

/ Have.
An attorney Of the Great Northern
makes the" following statements: At
tention has been called to communi-
cation from A. Biermann, present state
auditor. referring to the selection of
certain swamp lands granted to the
Minneapolis q st. Cloud Railroad COM
pany. in which he imputes to the Great
Northern Railway company desire Oh
its pant to obtain an unfair advantage
over the state in selecting the lands.
The W hole question involved is one of
legal right and of the construction of
the law granting such swamp lands to
the railway company; but the auditor,
as the coming election approaches,
seeks to make political capital for HIM
self out of his official actions in refer
ence TO the grant.
If these matters interested the public
at any time, if the
Public Interest
was jeOparded in any respect by the
conduct of the company, it is something
that shonld have been made public long
before this, but Mr.. Biermann well
knows that there was 10 such iptent on
the part of the railway company. and,
indeed, that no such purpose could be
carried out. either through his aid or
the aid of any other state official: that
the company could only get that which
the law gave it and that which the law
does give to it neither MIR. Biermann
nor any one else can take from it: but by
this statement he seeks to draw atten-
ton to his own efficiency and extreme
honesty as all official. His record
speaks for itself. He is we'll known to
the people of this state, and If his char
acter is above suspicion, he does not
need a self-formulated certificate to his
honesty.
The facts are that in 1865 a grant of
swamp lands was made to the Minneap-
oils & St.Cloud Railroad company. Two
days after this grant certain swamp
lands were granted for
State Institutions.
Afterwards, in 1869. this grant was
Increased from four sections per mile to
ten sections per mile. Subsequent leg
iSlatiOn. if it be valid, renders 1T in
! cumbent upon the company 10 make its
Eselcctions before the 1St day of March,
+ 1895. After interviews had with the
state auditor, openly and in the pres
ence of the governor by persons repre-
senting the Great Northern, it was
deemed best in order TO protect the in
+ terests of the Great Northern Railway
I company and not take the chances of
the Limitation running against IL, to file
certain lists of lands as the selections
| made by the company. This was done.
Mr.. Biermanu has refused to recognize
such selections. These lists were filed
with him or presented to him in order
to preserve
The Legal Rights
OF the railway company. Nothing more
has been done. No one is accusing Mr..
Biermann of having been corrupted. In
fact, he says that it would be impossible
for such thing 10 be done. and this
ought to be conclusive evidence that no
such attempt was made upon him, but
/ In view of the approaching election.an
of the fact that he was indorSed by the
Populists and of the possibility that he
will not be named by the Democrats.
unless he can ride in on the wave of
popular prejudice, it is necessary that
Mr.. Blermann herald to the state what
| an extremely honest official he has been
siuce he has held the Office of state
auditor. His communication is uncalled
for and is simply written for its political
effect. None of the swamp lands due
the state are in danger, and, in the
nature of things, cannot be.