The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-09-18
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Millions OF Acres Said to be Held Fraud
uIenJly by the Cattle People.
NNashirnrrAor, EriAi.

Millions OF Acres Said to be Held Fraud
uIently by the Cattle People.
Washington Critic.
Some time ago the commissioners of
the general land Office ordeIed survey
of public lands ia Colorado and Nebras-
ka, with view of bringing suits against
cattle companies that have illegally
fenced in large tracts of lands in these
states. Officials IN the land Office CLAIM
that between i've and six millions OF
acres are now Illegally fenced, and that
several millions of acres are fraud
ulentlY entered. Complaints from set
tiers are being received daily by agents
at the land office that cattlemen are
driving them away and taxing from
them lands which they had settled upon.
One of the land office officials says that
If the practice is continued cattlemen
will have entire control of the best lands
in the United States within twenty years.
Referring to the practice of large CON-
psnies making fraudulent entries on
lands illegally fensed, Major McKinzie,
OF the land office, says: These entries
are made along the streams that run
through the land. Cattle men will en-
plOY men to herd their stock, and then
will give $50 or 800 to each one to
make an entry tor 100 acres. When he
has secured his patent il is understood
that he must transfer it to the party who
advanced the money. Many OF the cattle
dealers will not employ men unless they
will agree to make the entries. A COM
mon fraud in New Mexico, Arizona,
California, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana,
Utah ana Nevada, is practiced by means
of the desert land act. The act pro-
vyfA l.af in Of
ert land, twenty-five cents per acre shall
be paid down, and that persons entering
the land shall be allowed three years in
which to pay the remainder. Instead OF
taking desert land the practice has been
to take the best land. Parties hold it
and get the use of it for three years for
comparatively nothing, and then they
continue TO get the use of 1t while 1t is
in dispute.
Among the complaints made is that
of John Fleming, of American Falls,
Idaho. In letter addressed Secretary
Teller he says: my rancho is located
near two cattle men that claim the en-
tire range for fifteen miles square. A
few days ago, while driving aloag on
the public highway, met i've COWBOYS,
and before the chaplain had time to offer
prayer the speaker commenced pound
ing me over the head with q sIx-shooter,
exclalming: Move from my range to-
DAY, or I'll see that you do it to-mor-
row. at the same time pointing his re-
volver."
Among the cases of unauthorized
fencing specially reported to the land
office by agents are those of the Prairie
cattle company (Scotch), Colorado, en-
bracinR upward of 10000 acres; the
Arkansas valley company, 1000, COO
acres. and others ranging from 10000 TO
zoe, 600 acres. Entire counties are re-
ported as being fenced in Kansas. In
Wyoming more than 100 large cattle
companies are reported as fencing in
he public lands Some of these CON-
panies are reported TO be English and
others Scotch.
The fraudulent entries Investigated
are 3.5l9 and the number of acres found
by survey 70 be Illegally fenced IN is
$4,000. There are also about 5000
entries on which action has been sus-
pended until examination is made
They average about $50 acres each
! There are also doubtless thousands oil
other fraudulent entries which the land
office can only investigate when brought
70 its attention The land agents say
that 90 per cent of the entries in New
Mexico and 75 per cent. In Dakota are
fraudulent.