The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1907-01-18

esti't, During Tie time frlm 1857
. 1893, while chs portion OF Ken
thcbs was part Of Bourbon county,
w several large SURVEYS Of land
were made Oh the Big Sandy, Lick
ing and Kentucky rivers by Benja-
min Rabihsdh. Richard Young, John
Robinson, John Weaglesworth and OH
eis. and land warrants Or patents
were issued 10 them for said lands
By Saite Of Virginia These paten-
tees never attempted to obtain
possession OF the lands, and after
Kentucky became State, the same
te-litory was surveyed by her citi-
zens and patented TO them by the
Commonwealth. willie they have held
arr occupied the same and paid taxes
r'hereon for more than century,
thee has always been cloud ex-
is'ng on account u the Old grants,
and felr that some effort would
be rtade 10 gain possession under
theri Several attempts have been
made 70 remove this cloud by leg
islafibn and no longer ago than last
year the. Great Northern Coal and
Coke company, which had secured
several million dollarS worth Of min
era! lands in the territory covered
by these grants. thinking the paten-
tees all dead and their heirs so
scattered over the country that they
could never be gotten together, draf-
ed bili and Ind the slime enacted
into a law. which gave the holders
Of these old grants until January l,
1907 to list the same for taxation,
and provided that on failure TO con-
" herewith. any claim they might
have would be forfeited and revert
to Ise Commonwealth which, Of cours
would have secured tie present hold
ere 10 Ia peaceful possession II theil
h,mes.
Wile this law Wis being enacted
other PARTIES were bnslly engaged
10 organizing lie Eastern Kentucky
Coal lands Co pofatiou, better know
now among the natives as the"vir
sinia Grantefs aud in obtaining
tiileT IN. theae old claims Within
the time prescribed by the bill en-
acted last year This corporation III
ed US petition asking to be allowe'
70 list ia property for taxation an,
10 pay the back taxes due thereon
Is provided in ne bll, claiming Z
be he owners OF the interest Q
m1re than 200 heirs in eighteen Q
these old grants, covering somethin
over $4,000 acres in Floyd, about two
thirds OF Pike, and more than half {
Eaott and Lstcher counties. Q
course. this came as a surprise |
the parties wh) had the bill enacted
Us well as To the other corporation
who are large holders OF uInera
, ard timber lands in che Territory
rnd has forced these companies I
become the allies OF the natives 1
. the battle to hold their lands. zee
Tie Northern Coal and Coke Con
lazy has secured control of III
P'keviile Plain Dealer, and the wi
! rnia Granters" have launched IN
pikeyille Plain Talker. and each
tying 10 c5rrt favor with the pee
PIE by an sorts of promises, throug
ihcse papers.
The VIRGINIA Gsanters" compan
is represented, and II Is claimed Ia
been organized. by the Hon John c
CO nsle, Gen. Jack Aendrick, Judg
J mes II, Hazelrigg and Congressman
If A. Hopkins. while tie Northes
Goal and Coke Company has such leg
Al talent rsprs ming II us judy
J,mcs Goble and Walter S. Harkins
Of Prestonsbutg. together with tn
l.w firm Of Hager and Stewart, Q
A,hland With these counsel oppos
'rg each other, coupled with tn
fact that the value OF the propert.
in controversy viii reach far int
re millions Of dollars, il is but nat
MA 10 expect hot legal battle,