The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-14

SEATTLE. SUNDAY, MARCH ~.
WAS 1T 4 JONI


tent Of some 100000 acres Of Land. the
paople interested In the matter have been
pnxzllng themselves 20 arrive At the real
underlying motive which prompted the
action. The nature Of the country Included
within the limits Of some OF the reSerya-
tons. and th6sa the most important in ex-
tent. forbade the IDEA that forest prezerva-
slon--the oxtensible motive-eoald have
had anything 10 do with II. for there were
no forests In the land to be preserved
Millions Of acres were Of rugged mountains
without even vestige Of underbrush. but
containing stores Of mineral wealth, max
Ing them FAR more valuable than the best
agricultural land In the richest section Of
the United States.
One remark made by Secretary Francis
In connection with the forest rvations
may afford a clue TO the whole mystery
The secretary alluded 10 the fact that the
land grants made TO some Of the railroads
crossed the reservations, and added that
the department will submit TO congress
bill authorizing the secretary OF the In
terlor to indemnify the beuefclar.es In any
OF these land grants included within the
limits OF the forest reservations by patent
Ing to them an equal quantity OF other
portions Of the public domain within speci-
fed limits
IL will be remembered that the various
land grants 10 the railroad companies in
express terms exclude mineral lands.
Neither IL there any provision in such
grants for indemnity for lands lost BY rea-
son OF the fact that they are found TO con-
tain mineral deposits In workable guam
titles. Yet In the reservations made. which
cover existing railroad land grants, the
great majority OF the land included within
the limits Of the reservations which does
not contain mineral Is absolutely worth
less. consisting OF rugged mountains. some
above the snow line. The mineralized
portions Of these mountain tops would not
sell for cent an acre. No one would Va
fact. take title 20 them as a gift. IL COM
PEELED TO pay taxes on them at any valua-
ton. The railroads would probably never
have applied for patents 70 lands so To-
Gated. and would have lot their grants
lapse In preference to paying their share
OF the cost Of surveys.
II can readily be perceived what a nice
thing II would be for the land grant rail-
read companies affected II this pro-
gramme. so snnocentiy outlined by seere-
iary Francis. could have gone into effect.
For barren mountain tops. which. II min
eralixed. they could not have taken. and
which. II barren Of mineral were not
worth having. they would have been ac-
corded the privilege Of selecting. acre for
acre. tie best OF Uncle Sans domain
which they could lnd uncovered hy an OK
listing location.
The Northern Pacific. Tor example. would
have pronted quite largely In this matter.
The Priest River reservation OF some s45.-
oso acres fails entirely within the limits 81
the reservation. Fer this the company
would have the right Of Indemnity seiec.
tion ~ something IN excess OF 49, 90 acres
The new Rainier reservation also laps owe;
= portion Of The Northern Pacific land
grant covering an area far Ia excess OF
this. and soms Of the otaer reservations
will probably af-oo; Northern PaciaS
lands.
OF course. " shs reservations stand
there would be a s,ronS show or justice IL
demanding OF congress indemnity fol
lands 50 reserved. and that Indemnity eoult
only take the form suggested by Secretary
Francis. Of right to select other lands q
lieu 81 those Included In the reservations.
l. r.
fseiy obvious facts we're overlooked bs
those who acre Instrumental In having tbs
reservations created. Other equally obvi
Gus facts seem @ have been 81 Ike man
nev disFeEarded. II - also equally posssbl.
that tia railroad companies which woui,
benefit go handsomely By the carrying GU
Of this programmes had no hand In initial
ing il. and that the proposed boneFsctiog
OF the governmsnt VIII come 20 them en-.
tlrely Unexpectedly. II Is possible that q
Is simply coincidence. having no bear1a.
upon the executive action In this matter
that , rieFpont Morgan. who hss hereto
fore benefited 90 some slikhs extent .,
other executive actions Of the late Fedora
administration. vas the head Of the ~
organization committee cs the Northsr,
pseiae railroad. ard IL stiI supposed % ;,
heavily Interested In that COMPANY.
II Is hardly possible 70 suspect that Tier,
was a toS concealed In TIE order rlaktul
;Acse reservations TIE ~aols matter Ia
probably better he SCI down % the geuga,
watch the !Ass administration had 20
committing slunter. which Almost mi
formly. rs happy accident. pst few raH
Hon dollars unsz asctesty taso the pockeu
o. certain wealthy gentlemen wao sa3sye.
the friendship ana eoaa6eHcs q tAs sx
president
n soeer serteusGsSs nc or. really ns
iisvss that NJ. Cleveland hassslf p.rsea
ally preated sishar directly o. tadirect.,
~ svea transactions IS Asvs hen tad
eate1. Ter hat he weas1 rsofS ~ the -
latent IN IRE rsseyva,iaa scheme. Il SAer,
= such 500, Hut Win a. rs passion 81
detail there have eeea raany salAn de
tails IN trsnsaetacns re1uirsns his persona
approval wAich se has evesIoak~.. reiyta,
tee much nscn Ire SoSs fsstA % tAsss 81.