The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-06-09
BIG SUM INVOLVED.
Courts Decision Awaited as to the TIL
of Tract of Land.


CT Parl June 8.-Nearly Ss,0O0,OOO
in cash and possibly a much larger sum
in profits. which are now only pros
Dective. hang upon the United States
! supreme courts disposition Of the title
70 a tract of land known as Section ~
in the famous Vermillion range IL
northern Minnesota. This suit, attel
| long litigation has now been brought {
! q final issue before the tribunal OF las
| resort. Argument has been ordered 1 r.
October. The case involves a ira
which is generally believed TO contain
the richest deposit Of bessemer iron ore
in the world 1t is also so valuable
that the United States Steel corporation,
1t is said, stands ready TO pay SS,OOO,O0O
for the rights which will be awarded to
the victor in the long struggle for own
ership.
Of all who had hoped to draw riches
from the mine since its discovery only
two interests have served the winnow-
ing process Of the law. One of the con-
testants is the discoverer, a man who Is
practically without dollar in the world.
The other is A. n. Miller, who built the
Savoy hotel in this city and who held
controlling interest in it until he sold it
to Judge Dugro of the New York su-
preme court. Mr. Miller is accounted a
wealthy man.
Frank Eaton, wandering prospector
in 1884 located the section under scrip
issued by the government of Grille
STRAIN, a half-breed Sioux Indian
woman. Examination Of the claim has
shown an outcrop of an exceedingly
high grade iron ore extending for q
mile and estimated to be worth from
$1,000, 600 to $1O,OOO,OOO.
This discovery caused keen competi-
ton for the property and Eaton's title
was subjected to close scrutiny. Vari-
Gus interests sought to acquire it and
in 1899 the Midway company, which is
controlled by Mr.. Miller, obtained title
. from the secretary. of the interior
through Frank Hicks, on the ground
that Eatou's location was Illegal. Other
claims were made, but the Midway COM
pany defeated them all, taking the case
twice to the United States supreme
court. Finally Eaton remained the only
obstacle to its complete control and il
began proceedings to have this title.
founded ON the half-breed woman's
scrip, declared void.
Judge Samuel H. Moer, of the elev.
enth judicial district, who is now a..
member of the law firm of Moer & Ed.
son Of this city, heard the case and
much to the surprise of the Midway
company, decided in favor of Eaton.
This case was taken to the highest
court in Minnesota which sustained
Judge Moer. 1t has now been carried
to the supreme court Of the United
States
Though the surface indications point
to the conclusion that the mine is one
of the richest to be found in the coun-
try not cent has been expended in
working it while thousands of dollars
have been paid in litigation. 1t is look
ed upon by experts as the best property
in the range which has been made ia
nous by the Chandler, the Soudan, the
Tower and the Ely mines The Yer.
million mines are chiefly owned by the
Minnesota Iron company.
In the Mesaba range about 30 miles
away are the Rockefeller Iron mines
which have already been acquired by
the United States Steel corporation.
Eaton, whose title hitherto has been up
held and who will be raised from pow
erty to wealth, should the decisions
stand which have been given, lives in
Duluth. There is widespread interest
among iron men i'll the final Judgment.