Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1886 — THE LAND MONOPOLY COMPANIES. [ARTICLE]

THE LAND MONOPOLY COMPANIES.

But the railroads are not alone in their raids upon the public lands. They have formidable rivals in the land monopoly companies which are organized all over the territories. These companies have carried on their stealing of the public lands with perfect system. Their mode of operation has been to employ wild, irresponsible scoundrels to mount their horses and gallop over the prairies, and then return and file claims for all the land they have passed over. These claims are then tiansferred to the land companies, which are composed largely of foreigners. By such damnable and outrageous frauds Scotch and English landlords have obtained estates in our country which surpass in extent and fertility those held by them at home. An English syndicate holds 3,000,000 acres in Texas, and the Holland Land Company 4,500,000 acres in New Mexico. Among the English lords I find the Marquis of Tweedale owns 1,750,000 acres, the Duke of Sutherland 425,000 acres, Lord Houghton 60,000 acres, and Lord Dunraven, in Colorado, 60,000 acres. Special agents have found that an English firm has obtained 100, 000 acres of the choicest red-wood lands in California. The books have not been fully opened and read, bat so far as it has been found that foreigners own 20,747f--000 acres of public domains, The foundations have been laid for carving outfseveral Irelands in our own country. These startling figures confirm the plea that it was time “to open the books," discharge the book-keeper and place an honest man in charge of the General Land Office. Should your local Republican newspaper ask, ,f Wh«n are yon going to open the booka?" give him some of the feet* I hare furnished yon, and, my word for it, his organ will cease to grind oat the question. It is the examine*

tion us these fraudulent entries that has raised such a howl all along the Republican line. In one year, ending March 31,1886, 2,223 of these entries weie cancelled or held up for further hearing, and more than 300,000 acres reclaimed for buna fide settlers. This does not include the large number of entries which have been canceled for fraud which has been developed by individual contests, aud the books are being opened every day. The great reform goes on, and Mr. Sparks is making the sparks fly wherever his hands reach.