Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-05-07
BOLD THEFT OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

The Fort Benton River Press, an
ably edited paper which sometimes
is accredited with rejecting the
views or opinions of the Hon. T. G.
Power of1lelena, prints the following
timely and plain spoken editorial
comment on the campaign against
iiagrant theft of the public dom inns
by notorious land grabbers and their
accomplices among knavish politi-
clans:
"A recent judgment in the federal
court at Helena, by which large
tract of coal land in Carbon county
is recovered by the government from
the Northern Pacific railroad
is All incident Of the campaign against
public land thieves that is of more
than ordinary interest. The lands in
question are Of considerable value,
one of the estimates making them
worth over two million, and Il strong
fight was made by the railroad COM
pany to retain possession of them.
"This attempted theft of valuable
Montana coal lands recalls the nefari-
Gus scheme by which the Northern
pacific has acquired other portions Ut
the public domain, to the loss and det-
riment of the community. The steals
have been perpetrated by using script
issued in connection with the Mount
nN f1NU fnt Of
Washington. 1t appears that the
land grant made to the Northern Pa
citic would have given that corpora
ton a patent to large tracts of noun
famous and rocky land in the state Of
WashingtOn-land that was utterly
worthless for any purpose whatever
and II scheme was evolved by which
it could unload these lands OH the
people and secure something better.
members Of congress who were
friendly to the Northern Pacific, or
who were in its employ, secured the
creation Of the Mount Rainier forest
reserve, which included these rocky
and barren lands belonging to the
railroad company. In accordance
with the regulations, forest reserve
scrip was issued to the company in
exchange for the lands surrendered,
and this script has been used to secure
more valuable lands in Montana and
other states. Some Of the scrip has
been sold to settlers at six to eight
dollars al acre, making the transact
ton Il very profitable deal for the
railroad. This Mount Rainier forest
reserve job is one of the biggest and
most successful public land steals on
record. but rs the scrip does not apply
to mineral lands, the company. lost
out in it's attempt to acquire Montana
coal lands by it's use.
1.-The theft Of public land was
scarcely regarded as crime a few
years ago, the practice having be
come SO general in many parts of tn
country. In most eases the otfens
applied to comparatively small tracts
but in few instances the viOlatOr
III Tic law NclC IuVIc UOIu anu OSk lCo
sive. and appropriated tracts of lam
Of enormous extent. Under the ROOse
welt regime, however, these depretla
tions We're checked and large numb
er of the more conspicuous Ian
thieves were prosecuted and the stole
plumber recovered. Hon. Ethan ALE
Hitchcock. former secretary Of til
interior, who died few days age
earned the gratitude Of American cit
liens by the vigur and success wit
which he conducted the campaig
against the dishonest acquisition {
, public lands. and brought several Z
; the thieves tn justice. The offender
who were detected and p,nishe
through Mr.. llitcl,cOck's efforts il
clutled members Of congress and Oths
/. prominent and wealthy citizens
p whoSp nwnorS1,in s.f roal .Sf.,to VA.