The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-30
FIGHTING
THOS. H.
TONGUE
Why You Can't Get a
Timber Claim,
From Speech of J. K. Wealth,
erfOrd at Albany.
Corporation Gets Valuable
Lands That Can't Be Taxed.

Albany, May 3O.-In his campaign
speech here Hon. j. X. Weatherford
quoted sections 3 and in full of the
act of Congress passed March 2, 1899
entitled IAN act to set aside a portion
of certain lands in the state of Wash.
ington, now known as the Pacific For
est Reserve, as a public park known
as Mount Rainier National Park"
Under this law the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company has appropriated
nearly 100000 acres of the best timber
lands in Linn county.
But for this law there would be no
necessity for any citizen of Linn coun-
ty going out of the county for valu-
able timber claim.
The question now being asked by
many voters why foreign railroad
company should be given this vau.
able timber land instead of the people
of Linn county. who are entitled to ii.
and who could now secure it under the
homestead and timber acts but for
this law.
Voters should read this law for
themselves, and see If II is the kind
OF business they desire representatives
at Washington to engage in:
Sec. 3. That upon executing and
filing with the secretary of the interl-
or, by the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company Of proper deed releasing
and conveying to the United States
the lands I'm the reservation hereby
created also the lands i'm the Pacific
Forest Reserve, which have been
heretofore granted by the United
States TO said company, whether sur
veyed or unsurveyed, and which lie
opposite said company's constructed
road, said company is hereby author
lied TO select an equal amount of non.
mineral public lands, so classified as
nonmineral, at the time of the actual
government survey, which has been o,
shall be made, of the United States.
not reserved and to which no adverse
right or claim shall have attached or
have been initiated at the time of
making the selection, lying within any
state into or through which the rail
read OF said Northern Pacific Railroad
Company runs, to the extent of the
lands so relinquished TO the United
States: Provided that any settlers
in said national park may relinquish
their rights thereto and take other
public lands in lieu thereof, to the
same extent and under the same lin
itations and conditions as are provid-
ed by law for forest reserves and ma
tional parks.
Sec. 4, That upon the filing by the
said railroad company at the local land
Office of the land district in which any
tract of land selected and the pay
ment OF the fees prescribed by law in
analogous cases, and the approval OF
the secretary OF the interior, he shall
cause to be executed, in due form OF
law and deliver TO said company, a
patent OF the United States conveying
to II the lands 50 selected. In case
the tract so selected shall at the time
OF selection be unsurveyed. the list
filed by the company at the local land
Office shall describe such tract in such
manner as 10 designate the same with
a reasonable degree OF certainty; and
within the period three months after
the lands including such tract shall
have been surveyed and the plats
thereof filed by said local land Office
new selection list shall be filed by
said company describing such tract
according to such survey; and In case
such tract as originally selected and
described in the list filed in the local
land office. shall not precisely conform
with the lines OF the official survey, the
said company shall be permitted 10
describe such tract anew, so as 20 pro.
cure such conformity.
enger Hermann's Letter.
In a letter dated May 22d, Hon.
Binger Hermann, commissioner OF the
general land ONCE, writes II. NJ Pal
mer. OF Albany. as follows:
Il am in receipt OF your letter Of
May -, 1902, stating that the North
ern Pacific Railroad Company has
73 900 acres OF timber land in Linn
county Oregon. which were selected
In lieu OF the lands in the State Of
Washington, OF which amount 100000
acres are unsuryeyed, and you ask TO
be informed what can be done 20
have these lands surveyed and made
subject 20 taxation
In reply I have 20 state that this
once has no authority 10 compel the
railroad company 10 have said land
surveyed
"The only procedure possible, un-
der existing laws. Is 10 secure the ap-
pllcation Of the railroad company for
the survey, under the provisions Of
the act Of congress, approved Febru
airy 27. 1899. and circular Instructions
OF April 9. 1893 (copy herewith. and
Il Is further suggested that the matter
be brought % the attention Of the
United States surveyor general for or
agou and also the state authorities "