OCR Text |
Show MINERAL LANDS DEFINED BY THE SUPREME COURT. Granite Deposits Held to Come Within With-in Provisions of Law. . WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. The case of the Northern Pacific Railroad company against John Soderberg, Involving the question as to what constitutes mineral lands as used In the act of July 2, 15.64. was decided yesterday by the Supreme court of the United States in favor of Soderberg. The railway company sought to enjoin ; him from removing or disposing of granite from a quarter section of land In Washington State, of which he had taken possession under a mineral location. loca-tion. Justice Shlras delivered the opinion opin-ion for Justice Brown. The court said: "We are of the opinion that this legislation conrtsts with, rather than opposes, the overwhelming weight of authority to the effect that mineral lands Include not merely metallferous, but all ruch as are chiefly valuable .for their deposit of a mineral character charac-ter which are useful in the arts or vaiu-' vaiu-' able for purposes of manufacture." The decree of the lower court dismissing dis-missing the company's bin was affirmed. af-firmed. Justices Brewer and Peckham dissented. |