The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-25

of the southeast fourth of section Z, town
ship II, range 6S west. in FL Paso county
Colorado, which land is and comprises the
whole summit of the famous mountain.
The claim, says the Pittsburg Dispatch,
is based upon a filing made by Lewis I'M
der date Of Feb. 3 1889, when, at the Pu-
ebqo land office. he filed an old soldier 5
declaratory statement upon the land IN
question. This filing was made tmmedi-
atey after President Cleveland $ proclaim
alton transferring the entire mountain
from the war department to the depart
ment of the interior. Lewis Will go 40
washington loaded down with afiidaVits
of prominent citizens of ia Paso county,
who will testify to his having legally
taken possession Of a quarter section on
the very top of the mountain and TO his
having lived upon it the required length
of time and made the necessary improve
ments stipulated by the law for the
proving up of an old soldiers homestead.
The doctor will attempt 10 prove that he
settled upon the land In good faith while
IL was yet a part of the public domain,
and that ne had established his ownership
10 100 acres there before the peak was
converted by the government into a tim
Der reservation.
The disputed point in the controversy Is
as to whether President Clevelands proc
lamation actually and legally transferred
the land from the war department 20 the
interior department. Attorney Miller, who
served in the government land office under
Harrison, held that II did, as have several
other prominent land and title lawyers
Henry n. Copp. author OF "Copp Public
Land Laws" upon which the government
bases all decisions in land matters after
a thorough Investigation OF Dr. Lewis
claims al the general land Office at Wash
Tf.s.r
ing the Information he had gained there:
ut was also stated that settlers In good
faith on these lands would be protected
and be- permitted 20 make filings or en-
tries when the land is surveyed and OPEN
ed 20 the public. I would therefore advise
you TO continue your residence and inn
provements and there can be little doubt
of your obtaining q title 10 the land you
occupy" Mr. Copp rs still one OF the law
yers IN the case.
The story Of the doctors usurpation OF
the Peak Is an interesting one and con-
tains much history OF value concerning
the entire mountain During the latter
part Of Cleveand's first term, and for
some time previous 20 the abandonment
OF pixies Peak as a signal station, u was
known by the signal officers on the Peak
that the station was soon 20 bo done away
with.
Several months before It's abandonment
the service on the Peak organized a so
ciety In Colorado Springs. known az tho
meteorological Society, for the purpose OF
obtaining "A twenty years lease from the
government for the entire reservation or
mountain which az that time consisted Of
10000 acres. This society proposed to
build on the Peak "A large hotel. and 20
erect an observatory there for the pur-
pose or making scientific observations Of
moteors. ncbulae and comets. The So
ciety prior 70 the abandonment OF The
reservation filed a bin In congress setting
forth as requests.
la the latter part Of January. 1850
President Cleveland, among the last OF
the odncial acts OF his FIRST term, by proc
lamation transferred the reservation from
The var department. 10 the department or
the interior, thereby presumably restoring
~ TO lho public domain on the day fol-
lowing this proclamation Or. Lewis read