New Ulm review., 1900-10-31

anu i sQO1le the negotiations. - 80
@. What became of the title to the
land?
"A. He relinquished it to the gov
ernment again.
%. Who took it again?
"a. Mr.. Merritt had man come up
there with soldiers additional script,
and he took it up. .#
@. What were you paid for relin-
gushing it? i
A. We had a consideration OF
$15,ooo
%. That was paid?
"A. Yes, sir; it wasn't paid in mon
ey, but in different things
@. What year was that in?
"a. Well, l am not sure, but I think
in 1889.
%. What was the interest that Mr..
Marble had in it?
"A. He was supposed to have one
third interest in it. You see, we had
two pieces of land there-there was an
other piece in connection with this that
was relinquished at the same time A
piece in section 80.
20. Iron land?
"A. 1t was prospected for iron, but
nothing developed.
@. Were those relinquished also for
this consideration?
"A. Mr. Marble got another man to
file on that, but that fellow relinquished
it to somebody else without his knowl-
edge. and he lost track of it. 1t was
filed by John G. Brown, and he proved
upon it.
APPLIED TO THE AUDITOR.
20, Did YOU indirectly?
"A. Mr.. Marble was supposed to
have done that, although l never seen
the correspondence-he was supposed
to correspond with the attorney gen.
eral and the state auditor, both; and he
told me he had done so, although I
never see the correspondence.
%. Can you remember the date of
that correspondence it soon after
you went on?
"A. You see, we never went on the
land until quite while after we got the
filing on it. We had examined the
land
%. When was that?
''h. In 1887.
%. Was it soon after this that Mr..
Marble had the negotiations with the
state officials?
"A. Directly after that.
%. Then it was in the fall of 1887?
"A. I believe it was.
%. Was it Marble that said to you
that there was a way for you to get the
title?
"A Mr. Marble said that he thought
there was way for us to get the title;
and ALI Merritt said that he thought
there was way, but he done nothing,
so far as l know, to further the thing.
%. Well, what induced you to make
your filing upon lands that you knew
had already been known as indemnity
school lands?
"a 1t was the statement of Mr..
Marble-he said the land could be got
in his opinion, and, of course, we didn't
require much encouragement to attack
anything then that had an iron prospect
%. How long was it after you and
your brother parted with your interest
in it before Mr.. Rockefeller appeared
on the scene?
"A. Quite while: it must have been
two years.
%. Well, who was this gentleman
who took the land and paid you the
$4,000, and you relinquished the title?
"A I don't know his name; I have
seen the man.
g. From St. Louis?
"A. Couldn't say-somewhere in the
South; l have seen hin-he was there
the day we relinquished
%. And it was your impression that
he represented Mr.. Merritt?
"A. I know he was there for that
purpose"
Now, I want to read the findings of
this committee. found on page 10 of this
report.
FINDINGS OF COMMITTEE.
'In conclusion, your committee find:
Il. That the lands in controversy be-
came in 1884 the property of the state
as part OF the school lands of the state
"2. That the state could not have
been divested of its title to the same, in
the manner attempted, if at all.
3. That the state auditor and state
land commissioner had no right to re-
linquish these lands on behalf of the
state, and that any such attempted re-
linquishment was null and void.
u. That there was evidence produced
before your committee which tended to
show that when such attempted relin-
brought home to the knowledge of the
otclS dltO1LOl lIdl lIC ldllQS Ill 4uCS-
ton were mineral lands,' and embraced
in a region of country of vast posi-
bilities and great prospective wealth.
IS. Your committee is firmly of the
opinion that testimony can be obtained
tending to establish the fact that
combination was entered into by certain
parties to divest the state of its title to
those valuable lands.
'6. That it is the duty of the state to
take immediate steps to establish its IT,
tie to this valuable property"
The names of the gentlemen who
signed this unanimous report are Ig-
natius Donnelly. chairman; T. D. Shee-
han, c. E. Staples, the Republican nom
inee for railroad commissioner, J. F.
jacobson, A. N. Dare, who is the speak
er of the house, Andrew NJ. Hill, E. E.
Smith, a citizen of your city, Charles P.
Reeves, R. M. Ringdahl and E. T.
Young
THESE REPUBLICANS AND
SIGNED THIS REPORT CHARG-
ING THE STATE OFFICIALS
OF THIS STATE WITH HAV-