The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-06-24

Dear Sir-Replying to yours of re-
cent date, / beg 80 say that the stu
alton with regard to the rights oil
settlers on the railroad land grant is
about as follows:
The New Orleans Pacific Railway
Company claimed what WAS known
as the backbone Land Grant" in
Louisiana, which embraced the odd
sections of land in n grant twenty
miles on either side of the line of a
contemplated railroad from New Or
leans to the West. This Backbone
land grant was one OF the early
grants made by the United States
Government to railroad company.
/ was in Congress when this grant
was claimed by the New Orleans Pa
cific Railroad Co.. and / sought to
have the grantforfeited for non-com-
pliance with the terms of the grant.
This was in the early sos. was
unable to secure the forfeiture OF the
grant, and thereupon took steps to
secure the rights of settlers upon the
lands included IN the grant.
Congress eventually confirmed To
the New Orleans Pacific Railroad,
whose rights were succeeded to by
the Texas Pacific Railroad, the land
in question, but at the same time ex-
cepted out of the operation of the
grant the lands to the extent of 100
acres held by actual settlers at the
date of the definite location Of the
railroad through the parishes in
Louisiana, beginning with Caddo
and running southwark. through
which the railroad ran. But before
Congress took this action, the Land
Department at Washington, through
influences brought to bear on it by
the railroad, rushed the issuance Of
the patent to the railroad; aud, when
the Act of Congress was passed in
1887, confirming the grant to the
railroad, but exenpting the holdings
of the settlers out of the grant, pat
ent had already been issued.
Ny recollection is that the Act OF
Congress referred to was passed on
Sth day OF February, 1887, and the
intention of the Act was to grant to
all actual settlers the lands they oc-
cupied at the date of the definite To-
cation of the line of the railroad.
The lands held by the settlers we're
neverconfrTned to the railroad; but,
since the patent had issued, it be-
came necessary for the Government
to institute a suit or suits against
the railroad company to cancel the
patent, SO far as it affected the rights
of the settlers.
A suit or suits for this purpose
were instituted in the Federal Courts
years ago, but through the fault Of
somebody these suits have never
been pressed, and are still pending in
the Federal Court in Louisiana.
have always advised the settlers
to hold possession OF their lands;
that the same cannot be taken from
them; and that the railroad or its
assigns dare not bring suit to dis
possess them, and such is the situa-
ton to-day.
had no connection with the suits
against the railroad referred to
above. That WAS matter between
the Government and the railroads,
and if the suits have not been press
ed it is the fault OF the Government.
Something ought to be done to
press these suits that are now pend
ing in the Federal Court, aud this in
the interest oil the actual settlers.
A week or SO agoa communication
signed Farmer" dated Bentley, Ln.,
June list, 1911, appeared in the
Shreveport Times, which gives about
the true facts Of the situation.
would advise that you hunt up
this communication in your files OF
the Shreveport Times and reproduce
same.
Yours very truly,
n. G. BLANCHARD.