Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-09-26
now IT WORKS.
A Ease in Point which Illustrates
the Ubiquitous Character Of Com.
missioner Sparks's order.


A rancher of Littls Wood River
called at the TIMES office day before
yesterday: to see if he could not make
some arrangement whereby he could
be assisted in proving up on his entry.
He said that he wanted to prove up
last year, but that, his crop not hav-
ing come up to his expectations, he
concluded to wait another year. This
fall he could not get the cash, although
he could dispose of all his produce on
time; and he wished to borrow 1925,
or enough to pay for his land and the
cost OF proving up, being confident
that he could pay up inside Of one
year. AS he saw an advertisement in
the TINES offering money for such a
purpose ut II per cent. per annum, he
called to make arrangements to get it.
The publisher of the TIMES in
formed the gentleman that, some time
since, such an advertise ment did ap-
pear in these columns, and Is or 20
ranchers gave in their names as desr-
GUS OF borrowing; but just about that
time Commissioner Sparks issued his
famous order suspending all entries or
final proofs, excepting those made for
cash, after the proof had been accept
ed at local land offices, until special
agents could investigate each and
every application, and the capitalist
who proposed to advance the money,
finding himself deprived Of all securi.
ty by this outrageous order, concluded
to keep his money locked up.
The rancher was greatly disappoint.
ed. Expecting to be enabled to prove
up. he had run in debt for supplies,
and feared that, if he could not give
some security, he would be attached
and sold out.
This is only one case out of thou.
sands which Mr.. Sparks's order will
affect; but it serves to illustrate the
stupidity mischievous character of that
"ukase." Heretofore, when a mans
final proof (which is always made un.
der oath, by three or four honest
ranchers who are therefore credible
witnessss,) was accepted at a lcca|
land Office, he became entitled to g
patent. This gave him title to hi:
land, and he could then borrow little
dab Of money TO buy team, wagon
plow, seed, poles, ETC., and improve
his property. In this way lie increased
the taxable property, beautifed hi:
home, and could look forward to hay
ing some comfort in his declining
years.
But the great ri am of the Lane
Office has changed all this, and under
the specious pretense of preventing
fraud, he as good as say.
to every poor entryman un
der the homestead, pre-emption anc
desert land laws: "You are q scoun
drelly perjurer, and you::are not going
to obtain your patent if l can possibI!
keep you from getting 1t. l am going
to turn an army of spies loose on thu
country, to see if they cannot discove
some flaw, some technicality, whereof
you can be made to lose your entry.
That is what Mr.. Sparks's orde
says, in effect; and, it should be born
in mind, this only affects the poor en-
trymen at that, because "cash entries
are put through just as exped':iously
as before that order. Furthermore
the order only applies to the Western
States and Territories.
This is why money cannot be got t
assist poor entrymen in developing
this Western country to the poin
where we can all make living in it
Mr.. Sparks is fayoring the capitalist
and the Southern States to the detr
ment OF tho Great West.
Western people should be proud c
their Commissioner Of the Gener;
Land Office--they should, indeed
But there will be meeting of Cor
gress soon, and some common sens
may then be manifested in that dt