El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-23
GRANT LANDS IN
OREGON NOT OPEN
NO MEANS OF OBTAINING PREF
ERENcE RIGHT UNTIL THEY
y ARE clAesiFIED AND TAKE
REGULAR COURSE a
The New Mexican has received the
following from the U. S. district at

following from the U. S. district at
torney:
albuquerque, N, NJ, Aug. 20, 1917
The Santa re New Mexican,
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Dear sirs;
I have received from the attorne,
| general, the enclosed letter sent out
by the interior department, concern
ing certain lands within the limits
Of the grant to the Oregon and Cali
fornia Railroad company in Oregon
title to which was declared to be re
vested In the United States by the
act of June 3, 1916.
Many inquiries are being received
by the Interior department, asking
how preference rights may be obtain
ed in these lands. For the infor'
nation OF the public generally, the
attorney general requests that the
letter of the secretary Of the interior,
copy of which is enclosed, be given
as much publicity as possible. am,
therefore, asking that you publish
this letter Of the interior department
as a matter Of information to the pub
lie.
Respectfully,
M s. BURKHART,
United States Attorney.
Department of the Interior
Washington
June is, 1917.
Statement Relative to the Oregon and
California Railroad Lands
My attention has again been d.
rected to the fact that many inquiries
are being made to officials of this
and other departments relative to
the opening to settlement of the
lands within the limits of the grant
to the Oregon and California Rail-
road company in Oregon, title to
which was declared to be revested in
the United States by the act of June
Q, 1916, GAG Stat, 21S).
Under the terms Of the act, no dis
position can be made of the lands re-
in the United States until
after due classification thereof and
the payment of the taxes, as provided
In Section 8. The land department
has been exercising due diligence in
the matter of classification as we'll
as the ascertainment of the taxes &C:
crued and unpaid, but on account OF
the litigation instituted by the rail-
road company, calling into question
the constitutionality OF the act, final
action has been somewhat delayed.
The supreme court in its decision
dated April 23, 1917, fully upholds
the constitutionality of that act.
These lands are not yet open for
entry and settlement and will not be
open until they have been duly restor-
ed in the manner directed by said
act under such rules and regulations
may be adopted to govern such re-
storation. In the meantime, it Is ut
terly useless for any person to at
tempt to acquire any preference
right upon any of these lands. There
Is no method or amer by which any
filing can be made that would give
any preference right for the purchase
or requirement of any of these lands,
or of any right whatever which can
be respected by this department
When the lands have been classified,
public notice will be given from time
10 time fixing and defining the terms
upon which the lands are to be dis
posed of and the time of their dis
position.
The attention Of the department
has been called to the fact that there
are already at work in the field To-
Gators who are claiming that through
their services preference rights can
be secured by the payment OF a
small fee. The department desires
this time again to warn the pub
lie that no such preference right can
be obtained at this time, and that an"
money paid to such locators will I'M
ioubtedly be money thrown away.
It is the policy of the department
that when the lands are ready to De
thrown open for settlement and en-
nv the public is to be notified there
SO that every one will have an
,dual opportunity and an equal
This policy will be strictly
adhered to.