The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-11-29

- nc sCdCe O1 minnesota mas PAID It's last
debt to the Great Northern railway com
pany.
After six weeks of negotiations State
Auditor Dunn to-day closed up the famous
'Biermann land grant deal He decided
272, 900 acres of state land to the COM
pany. The deed was delivered at the
Great Northern land Office this morning
and accepted
This immense tract has already been
bought from the Great Northern by F. E.
KenastOn Of Minneapolis and o. A. Rob-
ertson of st. Paul 1t is spot cash trans
action, and the purchase price is con-
siderably over half million dollars. 1t is
the largest cash purchase of land ever
made in the northwest. This land has
been tied up in litigation for seven years,
open for settlement Messrs. Kenaston
and Robertson are president and general
manager of the Minnesota Land and Colo
nization company, which will put the Vari-
Gus tracts on the market Immediately.
The Biermann land grant has been a
AAEAIuAeAS z ~ 6ldCO OAAC1dlS anu q II uAI4u1
source of trouble.
The Great Northern railway was enti-
tied to ten sections of land for each
mile of road built under the act of 1865.
In 1894 all the selections had been made
except for the St. Cloud and Hinkley
branch. The company was entitled to
425, ,664 acres, and had already taken
about $50, 0O0
Company Refused 1t.
Adolph Biermann, then state auditor,
denied the right of the company to make
Its own selection of lands, and arbitrarily
picked out -271, 1868 acres, supposing that
filled the grant. The company refused to
accept the deed.
When r. c.. Dunn came into office a few
months later he upheld his predecessor.
He found, however, that considerable land
had been decided twice, and that the COM
pany was entitled to some 5000 acres
more. This he decided to them, and con-
tended that the grant had been filled. To
all inquiry about the land he referred in
quirers to the Great Northern land depart
ment. They were from there referred
back to the state auditor. Neither claimed
the land. There were 100000 acres in
Aitkin county alone, and the dispute
caused much hardship, retarding the set
tlement of the county.
Governor Clough sided with the railway
company. Shortly before leaving Office he
wrote Cancelled" on the back of the Bier
mann deeds and decided the company 1923
litigation over it.
Attorney General Douglas declined to be
drawn into a legal controversy, fearing
the outcome. The legislature instructed
him to bring suit to cancel the Clough
deed. This action was taken in 1899 and
again in 1901, but the attorney general de-
clined to act.
Meanwhile the available state land was
rapidly taken up. About six weeks ago
Mr.. Dunn presented figures to the Great
Northern company, showing that If the
Biermann deed were set aside they would
nevertheless have to take about two
thirds of the tract in order to file their
grant.
Dunn Finds a Purchaser.
Mr. Biermann thought he was selecting
the poorest land he could find, but since
1894 it has been found that much Of the
tract is valuable for agricultural purposes,
and drainage will make the rest Of it high
class property.
Consequently the Great Northern off,
cials turned a willing ear to a prospect of
settlement. To make sure Mr.. Dunn en-
ployed his well known talents as a land
salesman, and found purchasers for the
land. Messrs. Kenaston and Robertson
agreed to buy it If the Great Northern ac-
cepted it and gave them clear title.
NJ. D. Grover, general solicitor for the
road, and L. w. Hill agreed to the terms
and the consent of James J. Hill was Sc
cured by wire.
The Biermann deed, however, was not
accepted, and the Great Northern was not
forced to surrender it's contention. 1t was
found that the Biermann deed was still
little short of the required amount.
There were 272,015 acres due the COM
pany, and Biermann had only decided 271,-
565. The Clough deed had already been
entered, so it was allowed to stand, and
574 acres were stricken off the original
Biermann grant. With this difference the
land conveyed was the original Biermann
selection.
Goes on the Tax Lists.
The land is now taxable in the various
counties, and the state will receive rev.