The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-02-18
Land Grant.
to Railroad
IsOpposed
Forest Service Shows Huge
Profits Made by Northern
Pacific, in Effort to Get
Congress to Investigate.
Accounting Is Advocated

Washington, Feb. IA claim that
the Northern Pacific railway COM
pany has received total of $780,
S,533 from the sale of lands from
it's government grants, or nearly
twice the 70.O0O.O0O cos. of con-
structing the railroad, is set up by
the forest service as a chief reason
Why congress should deny the rail-
road company the right to take over
additional 5000 900 acres of pub ie
lands which it now claims under the
original grants.
A. resolution directing the secretary
OF tho interior to withhold his ap-
proval Of the adjustment Of the
Northern Pacific land grants and the
issuance OF any further patents on
them until congressional inquiry
can be made, has been introduced in
the house. 1t Is sponsored by the
Interior and Agricultural departments
and will be pressed.
More Acreage Sought.
Asserting that the railway company
is .eeking acreage in the national
forests of Montana. Idaho and Wash
ington worth probably $S0,0o0,0o0,
the forest service, in summary OF
the controversy which became public
today, argues that the Northern Pa
sific land grants have been fully sat
isfied. Moreover, 1t says, an account
ing from the railroad, which account
ing the government has right to
demand, may justify the cancellation
of the patents to all granted lands
still retained by the corporation.
To substantiate this claim, the for
est service making the following con-
ditions:
THAT the land grants were made
for the purpose Of aiding in the con-
etruction of the railroad. The total
sros. receipts of the Northern Pa
cific to June 80. 1917, from the sale
of the lands from its grant amounted
to $136,118,533. The cost OF con-
structing the road did not exceed
$4,000, 900. The sale Of lands has
more than paid for the cost OF con-
structing the railroad.
Subject to Forfeiture.
THAT the Northern Pacific failed
: to construct 1,505.21 miles OF its rail-
road within the time required by law,
thereby rendering the granted lands
subject to forfeiture.
THAT the Northern Pacific failed
to dispose Of certain of its lands 10
settlers at not to exceed $3.50 per
acre as required by law.
"That the Northern Pacific faileo
to dispose Of hundreds of thousanas
of acres of It's lands at public sale'
as required by law.
"That hundreds OF thousands OF
acres Of poor land in the Northern
Pacific grant were enormously ciassi-
fled as mineral and turned back TO
the United States. the railroad ae-
ouiring mineral indemnity rights
therefor which were applied in part
on more valuable lands In the IN
demnity limits.
"That under rule or law iaio
down by the supreme court, the
Northern Pacific has been erroneous
,v allowed 100000 acres too much
land in the state of Washington.
Errors Are Reported.
THAT over 1000 acres of land
credited to the Northern Pacific
should be deducted because OF con-
flict with the land grant OF another
road and the erroneous fixation OF
the land grant limit lines.
THAT the Northern Pacific has
been allowed to make over 1.300,o0o
acres Of indemnity selections In Its
second indemnity belt. whereas these
selections should have been confined
to the first Indemnity belt.
"That for lands enormously patent
ed to the Northern Pacific the gov
ernment should be entitled to receive
at least what the railroad received
from the sale of these lands instead
of s1.25 an acre.
sThat the Northern Pacific under
the Mount Rainier Park act OF March
., 1899, relinquished to the United
states thousands of acres Of COM
n1ercially valueless land and receiv-
I'd therefor selection privileges to the
finest lands they could find In the
states Of Oregon. Washington. Idaho,
Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota
and Wisconsin,"