The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-03
Land-Grabbing in Utah.

'opcC1d4 70 tle 5ellnel.
WASH1NGTOS, Jan. 30.-Richard s. Dement,, OF
lexington. H., Surveyor General OF Utah, arrived
in this city Thursday. Immediately after regis
, Iering at 8 hotel he hunted up General sparks,
Commissioner OF the Land Office and remained in
consultation with that gentleman until after mid
might Friday ne spent in the Interior De
partsnent where he held prolonged interviews
with Secretary Lamar and General Sparks. 1t
Transpires that Sir. Dement, was selected by the
administration Tor the position ne holds at pres
ent on account OF his peculiar fitness to make GER
tain investigations. The officials Of the Interior
Department desired some one to be made surveyor
OF Utah who could and would investigate numerous
charges Of corruption and land-grabbing which
have from time to time been made. Mr.. Dement,
was chosen. He went to Salt Lake about three
months ago. and by the authority OF the Govern
.nent employed four detectives who have
since that time been at work under his immeai-
ate supervision. Mr.. Dement, comes to Wash
ingtOn at this time under orders % report to
the department his findings in the premises.
Mr.. Dement, says the MOrmons are born diplomat
lists, and TeEy shrewd people They nave lie
ally gotlen possession OF many OF the most yaIu-
able tracts CT land in the Territory. and he claims
10 be IN possession OF full Information on this
TOpic. lie says. moreover that at least - per
cent OF the lands held by the MOrmons should
be thrown open for entry under the laws OF the
land, and that the MOrmOns have no title thereto.
The eeutIies have not stolen quite as much OF the
public domain as the Mormons, but Mr.. Dement,
lays about = per cent. OF the lands Ostensibly
owned By the Gentiles were obtained BY fraud
and COLLISION and without warrant OF law.
The railroads also have gObbled up a few mill
lions OF acres. Dir. Dement, and his detectives
have collected and turned over 10 the Interior
department mas Of information on this topic.
He SAYS the lands were obtained By frauds of the
grOsseSt nature. In many cases the land-sharks
stood in with certain Land Office officials. Eic-
titiOus entries were made, and the titles 70 whole
townships grasped by single individual the
Interior Department sent its special agents 10
Utah for the purpose of investigating the con-
duct OF the officials of the Land Offices OF the
1erriOtry. Some Of the special agents made the
most trivial, superficial examinations OF the Of
fees, while others boldly participated in the steals
In this way the officials at the Department OF the In
Subordinates Mr. Dement, has but little 10 say con
-cerning the part played by the Central and Onion
1acific roads in the AFFAIR. beyond the sweeping
scharge that the companies nave stolen everything
IN the way OF real estate they could absorb. Mr..
Dement, says he has, after hard labor, gone over
rheentire field and collected mass OF data
cerning the matter. According to him many of
the officers OF the Territorial Government have
zDeen debauched by the land sharks. Millions OF
acres Of the public domain have been stolen. lie
processes 70 be able 70 prove all the charges
living the dates Of the transactions, names of
parties thereto, and amounts paid He says the
whole matter viii in all probability at early
tia.e DC brought before Federal Grand Jury in
the Territory, and unless he is deceived he thinks
ne viii secure indictments against some of the
most prominent people in public life in the West.
These persons VIII be charged with malfeasance
IN Office and bribery.