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| Federal government could have retained an easement at every corner when it issued patents to the checkerboard lands (every other section) to Union Pacific Railroad, but it didn't. Federal government could condemn easements across the corners, but it hasn't. Why should this guy donate access to the public? Just because he's wealthy? At the time these patents were issued, it was not contemplated that millions of acres would remain federally owned a 150 years later. History and laws created the situation. The federal government has the power to fix access issues on priority areas with land trades, purchases, condemnation, etc. Maybe the feds should sell the landlocked lands and be rid of the problem entirely and put these lands on the local tax rolls. 48% of Wyoming is federally owned (this isn't really "public" land, Congress and the executive branch just buys votes by allowing public recreation use, or restricting use for certain constituents (environmental groups, etc.)) and it is a political football for politicians to kick around at their political whims. | |
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Corner crossing
