Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-21
CONGRESS URGED
To BLOCK FURTHER
RAIL LAND CRABS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-(By the
Associated Press "A claim that the
Northern Pacific Railway company
has received a total of $196,11S,5 3S
from the sale of lands from it's gov
eminent grants, or nearly twice the
$70,000,000 cost Of constructing the
railroad, is set up by the forest serv-
ice as a chief reason why congress
should deny the railway company
the right to take over additional
100000 acres of public lands which
it now claims under the original
grants.
A resolution directing the secre-
tary of the interior to withhold his
approval of the adjustment Of the
Northern Pacific land grants and
the issuance of any further patents
on them until a congressional in
Quiry can be made has been intro
duced in the house. 1t is sponsored
by the interior and agriculture de-
partnents and will be pressed.
Asserting that the railway COM
pany is seeking acreage in the ma
tional forests Of Montana. Idaho and
Washington worth probably $780,
100000, the forest service, in a sum-
mary of the controversy, argues that
the Northern Pacific land grants
have been fully satisfied. More
over, it says an accounting from the
railroad which congress has the
right to demand, may justify the
cancellation Of the patents to all
granted lands still retained by the
corporation.
Claim Grants Are Voided
To substantiate this claim the for
est service makes the following con-
ditions:
THAT the land grants were made
for the purpose of aiding in the con-
struction of the railroad. The total
gross receipts Of the Northern Pa
cific to June 80, 1917, from the sale
Of the lands from it's grant amount
ed to $136, 1883. The cost Of con-
structing the road did not exceed
$70,000,000. The sale Of lands has
more than paid for the cost Of con-
structing the railroad.
''That the Northern Pacific failed
to construct 1,50521 miles OF its
railroad 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 to
settlers at not to exceed $3.50 per
acre as required by law.
THAT the Northern Pacific failed
to dispose Of hundreds of thousands
Of acres of its lands at public sale.
as required by law.
"That hundreds Of thousands Of
acres of poor land in the Northern
Pacific grant were enormously clas-
sified as mineral and turned back to
the United States, the railroad ac-
curing mineral indemnity rights
therefor which were applied in part
on more valuable lands in the in
demnity limits.
"That under rule Of law laid
down by the supreme court, the
Northern Pacific has been errone-
ously allowed 100000 acres too
much land in the state Of Washing
ton.
Fines Fixed Enormously
"That over 500, 900 acres of land
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 1900, 600
acres of indemnity selections in its
second indemnity belt, whereas these
selections should have been confined
%a1
THAT for lands enormously pat
ented to the Northern Pacific the
government should be entitled to re-
ceive at least what the railroad re-
ceived from the sale of these lands
instead of 1925 an acre.
"That the Northern Pacific under
the Mount Rainier park act of
March 2, 1899, relinquished to the
United States thousands Of acres of
commercially valueless land received
therefor selection privileges to the
finest lands they could find in the
states of Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Montana, North Dakota. Min
nesota and Wisconsin"
SAN JUAN RIVER LAND
Is OFFERED FOR LEASING
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The sec,
rotary OF the interior today directed
the land office at Santa Fe to offer
at public auction the leasing of APP
rroXimately 1000 acres of public
lands in the San Juan river field OF
New Mexico. The date for the Of
fering was left to the Santa Fe of
flee.
Under the lease the government
will demand a royalty of 10 cents
a ton for coal mined, n minimum in
vestment by the lessee of 100000
during the first three years and :
minimum production Of $4,000 tons
a year beginning with the fourth
year.
| Tonnossoo Adn,irors