The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-20
n. P. OFFICIAL
DENIES CHARGE
ON LAND SALES
Denies That Northern Pacific
Got Twice Value of Road
Through Sales
TRANSFER HELD UP

Minneapolis, Mimi, Feb. 90
Charges by the forestry service that
the Northern Pacific Railway COM
pany has received total of $780,
1858 from the sale of lands from
its government grants, or nearly
twice the $70.0OO,0O0 cost of con-
structing the railroad, were denied
in statement by J. M. Hughes, land
commissioner for the railroad.
The forestry service charges are
the basis of a resolution of congress
directing the secretary of interior to
withhold approval of adjustment of
the Northern Pacific land grants, in
volving 100000 additional acres of
public lands, pending congression
al inquiry. The railway is making
claim to these additional lands under
the original government grants.
According to an Associated Press
dispatch from Washington. the house
resolution will be pressed.
Clash Over Valuation.
Railway men express IL belief that
the 100000 additional acres sought
in the national forests of Montana,
Idaho and Washington have an ag-
gregate value of $7,000,000 to $10,
100000, while the forestry service.
holds their value is $30,000,0O0.
The forestry service contends that
the provisions of the original charter
and land grants entered into in 1864,
when the company agreed to build
the line from Ashland, Wis, to the
Pacific coast, have been satisfied. The
company holds the United States SUI
preme court has upheld the conten-
tion the railway is entitled to lands
in the national forests under the
original grants.
The forestry service asserts that
an accounting may justify cancella-
tion of the patents to all granted
lands still retained by the corpora
tion.
The railway company today stated
figure Of $70,0O0,000 is far too low
since it includes only the main line.
It. declares, further, that the $780,
1858 does not take account Of $685.
100000 paid out or estimated to be
paid on account of expenses and tax
eS.
Service Statements Enumerated.
The forestry service, accounting to
the Associated Press dispatch, made
these additional statements:
"That the Northern Pacific failed
to construct 1.5o5.21 miles Of its rail-
road within the time required by law.
That the Northern Pacific failed
to dispose Of certain Of its lands to
settlers at not to exceed $3.50 an
acre as required by law.
"That hundreds of thousands Of
poor lands in the Northern Pacific
grant were enormously classified as
mineral.
"That more than 100000 acres
should be deducted because of con-
fict with the land grant of another
road.
"That the Northern Pacific has
been allowed to make over 100000
acres of indemnity selections in its
second indemnity belt, whereas these
should have been confined to the
first.
"That for lands enormously patent
ed, the government should be en-
titled to receive at least what the
railroad received from the sale of
these lands instead of $1.25 an acre.
| "That the Northern Pacific relin-
quished thousands of acres of COM
mereially valueless land and received
therefore selection privileges to- the
tiEest lands they could find in the
states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho,
Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota
and Wisconsin,"
Mr.. Hughes said that the railway
company would continue to press
its claims for titles to the lands with
the interior department, despite the
resolution pending before congress.