Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-09-08
WASHINGTON.
A Profound Sensation Promised i'm Ex-
pOsures of the Greatest Frauds Un-
der the Government.
Frightful Revelations Of Land SwindIes
in New Mexico-Miss Cleyeland's
First Installment.
Tidings from the Alaska Exploring Party
-Creswell's Salary Held Back
POstOiIlce Appointments.
ESPECIAL TO THE APPEAL. I

WAsmNGToN, September THE great
est frauds under the government are yet
to be exposed and will create a profound
esnsation when brought to light. The ir-
reguiarities are in the public land dis
tricts throug out the West, and have been
perpetrat ed by thousands of people in a
small way, the Aggregate reaching away
up to ten of thousands Of acres of the
public domain Obtained frsudulently from
the government Ia ssome instances the
government officers at the Land Office
will be implicated Ia the frauds, and sew
erai removals have been made, to b fol-
lowed by Investigations. Certain regis
ters of land offices have been found who
have "winkedp at the fraudulent entries,
each "wiDk" in such cases being valued
at no small sum in hard cash. All thos4
entries which have been frauduler'ly
made will be held for cancellation, and
the croo ed entrymen will be arrested
whenever found.
1t is strange that many hitherto Teput2-
BILE business men throughout the far West
will conspire delibe5 ately TO defraud tie
| United States out of 160 acre farms, while
crooked people OF all descriptions are IL
| antly hovering over the public lanes
| like vultnres. Land Ctficsr5 are supposei
to kesp up constant struggle to prevent
fraud, but, Notwithstanding this alleged
rvtillance, the government has lost up
| wards of half million acres, literally
stolen from the public domain by the land
sharks
| Commissioner Sparks and Chief Clerk
| Walker of the General Land Office COM
| menced few weeks ago new system Of
checking off" the business of each local
| land office. Instead of sending the in
sp ctors hither and thither to look after
isolated cases of fraud brought to the at
tention of the office, and having the time
of the inspectors irittered away ia expen-
sive travel, these officials adopted plan
| which is now being carried out. The re-
su Is are astounding. The inspectors take
one township at time, examine every
entry, without exception, and ascertain if
each individual entryman has complied
stric ly with the provisions of the laws re-
lating to homestead, pre-emption timber
culture, mineral claim, etc. This new sys-
TEN is virtual "clean sweep" and the re-
suit is that many hundreds of false claims
are swept away and the land restored to
the public domain. The opportunities for
perpetrating these land frauds are open to
everybody, and ths tenn ptation catches
scores upon scores of people, good, bad and
Indifferent, WHO want land.
In New Mexico the revelations are
frightful, the entire land operations in
that Terrgosy having been apparently
steepsd in fraud for years past. When il
is stated that 80 per cant. Of all entries in
New Mexico will be held for cancellation
it may be suTmised to what extent frauds
have bean perpetrated. Reports from
> California are very bad, while the Devil;
= Lake Oak Lard district is reeking with
fraud and pe'jury. In Kansas and Ne
braska fu ly 20 per cent. of all land entries
are crooked and will be Cancelled. Al
sorts Of people are implicated, the fraud,
even reaching up the marble steps of the
capitol TO taint the skirts of the represent. !.
tives who frame the laws which are easily
broken. Colorado is about as bad, anC
| altogether throughout the entire West NO
so per cent. OF all the i'm yerfeeted lsnt
entries are free from fraud. This is ter
rible commentary upon the avaTice Of oul
day. The explosion will occur within {
few weeks and will arouse the who's
country.