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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1889)
WEST SHORE. In view of the efforts of tho Northern Pacific rail way company to obtain patents on certain lands with in itH forty-mile limit in Montana, which are alleged hy the citizens to c mineral lands and hence not in cluded in the congressional grants, the members of the mineral land convention, embracing all who are interested in the subject, were called together in Hele na yesterday to consider measures to prevent the issu ance of tho patents. The original grant to tho North cm Pacific embraced the non-mineral land of theodd iiumlx'rcd sections in a strip of country extending twenty miles on either side of the railway track. Subsequently on indemnity grant was made by con gress permitting the company to make selections with in twenty miles of tho limits first set to compensate the corporation for tho odd-numlered sections it could not patent in tho first grant because of their mineral character or on account of previous occupation by set tlers, tho conditions of this supplementary grant being the same as imposed by the first except stipulations os to tho time of completing tho road and similar matters. Lately tho railway company selected and applied for patents on about 2,(HK),(HK) acres in Mon tana. It is alleged that much of this is valuable chietly for its gold, silver and copper dejMtsits. Tho ruling of the interior department that the burden of proof lies with tho people who wish to preserve such lands from falling into tho hands of tho railway com pany, is the direct cause of the assembling of this con vention. In many instance miners uro already locat ed on these lands, most of whom are unable to bear the expense of a contest to clear their title. It is de sired that tho secretary order an examination of the lands selected by tho Northern Pacific with reference to their mineral character and that the patents be withheld until this is done. Failing in this the mat ter will be taken into congress and an attempt made to compel the secretary of the interior to provide against the vitiating of mining titles through the blanket claims of the railway company. It is also suggested that the state of Montana, by a proper offi cer, enter contests in each description of the compa ny's selections in gold, silver or copper bearing lands, in order that gross injustice shall not be done those who have already taken mineral claims in good faith, and that the state shall not be deprived of valuable property through failure to properly look after its own interests. As a last resort an effort may be made to postpono indefinitely the survey of mountainous min eral lands and legal proceedings commenced against tho railroad company on the ground that the definite location of the road was not made in Montana until after the time for its completion had expired, accord ing to the terms of the granting act. Undoubtedly the company has equitable rights in tho matter that must be conceded, and the question of how to deter mine these is certainly a difficult one. An old Indian at Hood River predicts a cold winter because there are lots of acorns on the ground that the Great Spirit has provided for the sustenance of the squirrels and Indians through the hard season. Poor white trash are permitted to weather the weather as best they can without any warning from the clerk or a cellar full of potatoes. Ex-Father McCllynn says tho world needs a pope who can think in English. " Nuisance" is a plain En glish word and probably even the present pope thinks enough in English to connect that word with efferves cent cleric. SEE WHERE THEY FIX THEIR GUARDING EYES. Two itatuot in Alhambra'i courta most fair 01 gleaming marble, wrought in beauty, guiee, K.mW, with eye. alone, where lay great .hare Of treasure, buried from the light of skies iTr- ?!,meo1 U WM-' chllJ ' w All tree, with lit ai yet a iweet surprise, MmulJ rhh' Improve glanee, a The graceful .Utuea fixed their guarding eye,. Oh Love and Hope, how bright beyond compare I . dwell with men. He, who to red y, trie Mut come a. imple child in trust. Lo.Ure The rirhNt treasure of the two lirei Heat a I "T,,,.'nc ,wifl iott 1,19 l Nr, AaflU.. bird, to Lot,'. Immortal air. Flu C. Da8u.