The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1900-01-19
PROTECT SETTLERS.
tieu Land Claim Not Really Effective
Against Occupants Burden OF Proof
on Railroad, Instead of Settler.

Settlers in the states OF Washington
and Oregon, and, in fact, in all the
staes through which the Northern Pa.
cifc railroad passes, are very much in.
terested in the rulings now being made
by the interior department on the act
OF congress of June A. 1897, which al
lows the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company and others to select lands in
lieu of lands embraced in the various
forest reserves and held by them under
patent or under unprotected claims or
squatters' rights
In lieu of the lands so relinquished
the railroad company and others was
authorized to select from any vacant
lands open to settlement.
The department Of the interior has
held vacant lands to settlement" to
mean, If necessary, all unsurveyed
lands. Therefore, settlers or squatters
on unsurveyed lands have been very un-
easy for some time, and many Of them
felt that there is little prospect OF hold
ing their claims.
The land department OF the railroad
company, however, asserts that it is
not its purpose to take the lands OF any
bona fide settler.
At the same time the department OF
the interior encourages the settlers to
continue their settlement, and within
three months after the acceptance OF
the official survey OF their lands to as
sert their claims thereto.
The ruling of the department is that
the party first initiating the right of
settlement has the prior claim.
Congressman Jones, Of Washington,
who has just introduced relief bill on
behalf OF settlers, is OF the opinion
that most settlers would not think of
fighting the railroad company, and,
therefore, the law as it was enacted
does grave injustice to settlers, as a
rule. In an interview Mr.. Jones said:
ut has been repeatedly asserted that
lands upon which there are settlers
have been filed on by the railroad COM
pany under the present law. To pre-.
vent this is one of the objects OF the
law. | know that settlers have their
remedy. That is to fight the claim OF
the company and establish their prior
rights. This is expensive. The set
tiers are not wealthy. The prospect OF
delay is discouraging, and many prefer
TO abandon their settlements rather
than bear the expense and delay OF a
contest.
'The railroad cannot complain at
'hese provisions. If its claim to tract 4
'f land is just it will prevail. Delay
md expense cannot hurt it as they do
he settler. All it has to do is to in
pect the land. II 1t finds settler
nd does not think he is there bona fide =
can contest his claim as any other 3
ontestant, but it should bear the bur-
en- OF such contest. These bills are {,
Introduced without any hostility to the =
abroad, but out of desire to do JUS g.
ice to the settler. | believe the gov v
should be quite lenient with n
len who are striving to reclaim the 4,
ubiio domain, especially now..when h,
10 choice land is taken up. II we a,
ad more owners of small tracts OF
md we would be better off," g,
Senator Foster and Representative
ushman have each given much atten- M
on to the claims of settlers and their ne
ghts, and in all cases there is an un- =
ialifed' sentiment favorable to the Of,
oneer and home-building squatter 7c
Id settler. :"