The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-06-24
As TO SWAMP LANDS
Washington Authorities SuS-
picious Of the Action Of
Minnesota.
SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS
Alleged the Railroads Own the
Principal Portion-Walk.
er'S Mission.

s.. PAU-.. June 24.-A Washington
special to The Dispatch says: Officials
Of the general land Office are Of the
opinion that certain railroad interests
in the state of Minnesota are trying to
work big deal in connection with the
swamp lands.
1t is claimed here that the scheme is
for the state to demand greater por-
ton of the lands in the Red Lake and
other reservations on the assumption
that these lands are really a por-
ton OF the original grant Of 1860. 1t
will also be the policy Of the state. it is
alleged, to set up the claim that the
Red lake lands mustEe recovered from
the Indians, and that the act Of JAN
ii, 1880, which organized the Chippewa
commission and provided for making
allotments and securing relinquish.
ments from the Indians, having been
complied with in hardly any particu.
lar, the lands must be forfeited back to
the government.
Have Made Big Grants.
The state has already made immense
swamp land grants to several of the
railroad companies. The Duluth and
Winnipeg, the old Manitoba and Iron
Range roads have been fighting for
years for these swamp lands and as
fast as list has been approved in the
Dulu.h district, the railroad companies
secure it Us soon as patents are issued.
The suspicious of the land Office off,
cials have been aroused by the appear
ance here of Platt b. Walker, appointed
by Governor Clough to come to Wash.
ington to look after the swamp land
grants.
State Not Directly Benefttted.
They make the following statement
in regard to the situation:
That the State of Minnesota will not
be direct beneficiary in receiving any
of the swamp lands in the Northern
part Of the state included in the Duluth
and q portion of the Crook on districts;
that between the years 1853 and 1890
Special Agent DR.. Woolen was sent to
that district and discovered that the
field notes had been tampered with,
and that the government surveyors
had evidently made gross errors or
stood in" with the railroads, which
were to receive the lands under grants
from the state.
It is further alleged that the swamp
lands are being approved here more
rapidly than the state of Minnesota is
making its selections. In deciding
what constitutes swamp lands two
methods prevail. One is to abide by
the field notes Of the surveyors, the 9th.
er is to make an examination of the
lands and decide from the condition of
the same whether or not they come
properly under the head Of swamp
lands. - - -..rs1 --.;, 20
2s Investigating the Matter.
The clerks and the head of the
swamp land division say that a special
agent, J. NJ. Farrell, is now in Mime.
sofa making examinations in the Du-
luth district, where it is alleged that
frauds have been perpetrated. They
cite the fact that Mr.. Walker has done
absolutely nothing since his arrival
here, only to look over the records.
Further. they insist that back of his
appointment is the scheme to secure
for the state, and from the state to
the railroad companies, portions of the
valuable timber lands in the Duluth
district. 1t is well known that the
Chippewa Indian commission has not
been able to make satisfactory terms
at all with the Indians. They will no,
accept the allotments, and since recen,
decisions have been made shutting ou
the half .bloods from the benefits Of the
act, and also changing the number o
acres each head of family is to re
ceive, the representatives of the In
dians insist that it will render the en-
tire act void, for it has not been car
ried out in accordance with the severa
treaties made with Minnesota tribes
For the year ending June 30, 1894, ther,
had been but 8l,629. 81 acres selected
and nothing at all approved, save on
tract of S5 acres. The rapidity will
which the work was progressing
when Mr.. Walker made his appear
ance here as the special agent OF tn
state has made the officials very suspic
ious Of what the state is really after
Hence they have determined to plac
special agents in the field to ascertain
by inspection If the state and the rail
roads are getting the best of the Unite,
States. Since the original grant il
1860 about 5,7OO, 900 acres have beel
patented to the state,
French Battleship Ashore.
ToULoN, June 24.-The French bal
tleship Redoubtable. Of $500 tons dis
placement, is ashore off Cape Sepet
She has signallel for assistance.
Aasistant Attorney General.
MADISON, Wis, June 24.-J. L. E
dali Of this city has been appointed o
sistant attorney general Of the state
sncceed l. X Incaa reSipnAd