Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-16
IOWA BOY 8 SUCCESS
Former Student of Iowa College
Gets Verdict Involving Big
Land Deal.
Title Cleared to Tract OF Miner.
al Land Valued at
$S,OOO,oo0.
Luther c. Harris. Formerly OF
Grinnell. to Get Portion
Of the Spells.
;pecial to Times-Republican.

Special TO Times Republican.
Grinnell, Jan. 16-Luther C. Harris, a
Duluth attorney. has just won most
important decision in the United States
supreme court, involving mineral fields
worth in the neighborhood of IS 100000,
IL us finally closing litigation extend
ing over about twenty and defeating one
of the richest trusts in America. The
United States Steel trust is ready, it is
said, to pay sS,000000 for the piece of
land involved, with a clear title. The
tract was originally purchased from the
Indians in 1854 and in 1884 the section
which has caused SO much litigation was
located by Frank Eaton, a wandering
prospector, under scrip issued by the
government to Grille STRAIN, an half
breed Indian woman of the Sioux. She
later decided the claim to Eaton. The
property was variously estimated to be
worth from s5,0OOO00 to sl0,000,OO0 when
the extensive outcroppings OF hlgh-
grade iron ore were discovered, and
close scrutiny of Eaton's title resulted
Attempts were made by various parties
to secure claim to the land and finally
A. NJ Miller, of New York City, head OF
the Milway Mining Company, secured
from the secretary of the interior title
to the land on the ground that Eatons
title was invalid. This was about two
wears ago. Other claims which had been
made were defeated. and finally the Mid
way Company had for its sole opponent
Frank Eaton. the penniless prospector'
who held his title on the strength OF the
half breed woman's scrip.
The case was carried before the dis
trict court and Judge Samuel h. Nicer,
cf the Eleventh district. decided IN faVor
Of Eaton. The subsequent appeal TO the
highest court in Minnesota resulted IN
the same way. and the decision vas sus-
tanned. The final hearing before the SUI
Irene of the United States came III DC
tober and Luther c. Harris was the sole
representative OF Eaton's claims. The
decision settles the long controversy IN
which over half million has been spent
ky the litigants.
The high valuation of the property is
based entirely upon surface indications.
f.s not a dollar has been expended upon
the working of the mines. 1t is said by
experts to be the best deposit OF iron
ore suitable for the Bessemer process In
the world. 1t is in the famous Vermll-
ion range in northern Minnesota. which
has become noted by the Ely, Soudan,
Tower and Chandler mines. These mines
are owned chiefly by the Minnesota iron
Company. About thirty miles away are
the Rockefeller mines of the Mesaba aus
trict recently acquired by the unteo
States Steel corporation. The Vermlilloh
Gre is of great value and is not founei
outside OF the Vermillion district. Al
.orney Harris became interested in the
case some four or FIVE years ago and
has been Mr. Eaton's sole attorney since
that time He has devoted much time
10 the case and has had the shrewdest
talent the Midway company could COM
mand to contend with His share of the
rrof,ts from the victory will approach
500, 600.
Eaton is a resident of Duluth. Three
other parties have become Interested
with him in the property and the pro-
ceeds of the great ore field go equally
10 four men. Hr. Harris was for num-
Ter of years the law partner of Charles
A. Towne, who has figured prominently
in national politics during the last two
campaigns. Since MIR. Towne's with
drawal from the law practice, which oc-
CURED several years ago, Mr.. Harris has
continued the practice alone and is now
considered the leading attorney of Min
nesota Mr.. Harris is a son of DIR. IL. ii.
Harris of this city and a graduate OF
Iowa College about fifteen years ago.
His reputation began with the winning
Of an interstate oratorical contest as the
representative of Iowa College.