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Bits by Betty

Squatting on railroad landsThe following was printed in the Rose History in 1911:"A great deal of excitement was occasioned in Rock County in the spring of 1885, when the rumor was brought that, owing to the failure of the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad company to fulfill the conditions upon which the grant of lands was made, all the lands which had originally been included in the grant were about to revert to the government. On the strength of the rumor, which it was reported came direct from Washington and was authentic, there was a general rush for the railroad lands in Mound, Vienna and Magnolia townships and within a few days more than 50 quarter sections were ‘jumped,’ upon each of which a claim shanty was erected. The lands upon which the land-hungry located included not only the railroad lands but also those of Close Brothers & Co., who had purchased from the railroad company.Within a few days it was authoritatively announced that no action had been taken by congress or the general land office declaring the land forfeited, that idle rumor had been the basis for the rush to the railroad lands. Upon this announcement the excitement subsided and most of those who had joined in the rush gave up the idea of obtaining free lands. A few, however, maintained that the railroad company had secured more lands than it was entitled to under the terms of the grant and determined to stay by their lands. Filings were refused by the land office, and in time a ruling of the general land office made clear that there had been no warrant for the excitement. Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

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