Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-06-09
THE VIENNA TOWNSHIP.
Mr.. Seamands Denied all Right to Any
Part or 1t, but Permitted to Retain
His House and Lot.

started scarcely anybody was loude
In his denunciaiion Of the so-callet
HALEY Desert Land Company Il q,
William &. Seamands-"Bill" Sea
mands-the old mountainecr, prospec
tor, engineer, surveyor, and map pub
Usher. But soon thereafter the Saw
tooth range doomed up as an i'm
portant ore producer, and it became
evident that there would soon be
more than one town in the section
Immediately beyond Galena.
Mr.. Seamands saw this as quickl,
as anybody, and determined to turr
his foresight to good account. So
with very few choice spirits, he LAID
out town at the head of Smiley
gulch, called it Vienna, built him a
rude log-cabin, and believing his for
tune made, went out to enjoy him
self until such time as old Soils
warm rays would admit of the real
ization of his dreams.
tie went back few days ago, and
found congregated large number Of
men as hardy and deserving as he
men who could not be made to see
why he should be permitted to fat
ron ..h ,..l
ut'ng IN any way to the general vel
fare. 50 they gave him to under
stand that this lot selling business
wouldn't go, and that whatever
rights he might claim in the matter
would not be recognized.
Mr.. Seamands determined to ~
peal to the people, and called a meet
ing for last Monday evening. 1t was
held in the largest house in town.
Every prospector, miner and pilgrim
living within 20 miles Of Vienna at
tended it.
K. r. Lowe, Bob Orr, and David
snyder, the kearney Of the Sawtooth
range, appeared for the people, ana
a young limb Of the law who hau
hung out his shingle only three days
before appeared for Seamands, 9TH,
claimant" as the boys called him.
For judge and jury there was no
body particular, every one presen,
being determined to have a voice in
the matter.
Mr. seamands's attorney opened
the case. Mr.. Seamanas had come
there in cool faith, located a town.
given away many lots and sold some.
Now It was stated that the lots were
not his to give or sell. What wer,
the new owners to do?
David Snyder replied, quoting the
town site laws at length, and PROV
Ing to his entire satisfaction and tina,
OF the audience that Mr.. Seamanls
had not now any right to the town
site or lots, nor had he ever had. and
closed his argument with the EN-
phatic assertion that the peopl,
would have their own.
Bob Orr followed him. He read
several pages of the land and timber
acts, proved that Mr.. Seamands had
been away over six months, and held
that that alienated all rights which
he (Seamands might ever have had.
not only to the town site, but to any
house or lot within its limits.
Mr.. Seamands replied, alleging
the impossibility of crossing the
range during the winter season, but
he was Immediately confronted by
20 men who had Travelled between
HALEY and Vienna all winter, on
snowshoes.
Dick Lowe closed for the people.
lie reviewed the law bearing on the
case, the arguments adduced by the
opposing counsel and the plaintiff,
and concluded by asking the people
to deny Mr.. Seamands any other
right Of ownership than that over
his cabin and the lot upon which it
stood.
Mr.. Seamands attempted to reply,
but his voice was drowned in q gen.
eral acclaim, and he was notified that
he had no rights to the town site, nor
to any lot upon it, except that upon
which his cabin stood.
All hands then adjourned to the
nearest saloon.
Sash, Doors and Redwood Lumber for
Everybody.
Hall celarhal,a a