Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-18
ROBBERY AS A SCIENCE.
Enormous Theft Of the Public Timber
by Companies Organized for Fraud.


by Companies Organized for Fraud.
from the Ne,D YORK. World.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-Some OF the
principal frauds developed under Com
missioner Sparks administration have
been the stealing of timber from the pub
lie lands. These depredations are carried
on generally by wealthy corporations or
individuals, who equip themselves with
all modern machinery and appliances
and conduct their operations on gigantic
scale.
In the case OF the Sierra Lumber Com
pany OF California, the special agent
found that the company had constructed
expensive fumes and several railways
fifteen or twenty miles in length for the
sole purpose OF facilitating its trespass
upon the public timber. and SO, 1000, 600
feet were Identified as having been cut
by this company
Depredations upon the public timber IN
Utah and Idaho Territories have been
equally extensive and fragrant. In Wash
ington Territory and Northeastern Cali
fornia the lumbermen have hired hundreds
of sailors and transient and irresponsible
men TO make fraudulent entries or the
lands containing the finest ana most val
liable timber in those sections. One agent
in California has procured In the last two
months affidaVits from sixty-five entry
men, who swear that they were hired by
agents Of the speculators to make the en-
tries. and that they never saw the lands
and did nothing more than sign their APP
plcatiOns, for which they received spec
flied sum of money. The special agent
also inclosed affidavits from agents Of the
men in whose interest the entries were
made, setting forth that they were paid to
hunt up men to make the entries, and
after getting from them their application
paid for the same and then procured wit
nesses to make the required proof.
One Of these parties states that he OBJ
tanned applications from % different par
ties for his employer. Phe whole cOmmu-
nifty appears TO be dOmineered over by
these spectators. They threaten and ter
rorize over persons who are inclined TO
assist the officers in exposing the frauds.
Only few days ago two citizens. when
about TO enter the special agents room,
at his MOTEL, to give information concern
ing the frauds, were knocked down, badly
beaten and driven away by men employ
ed by spectators. Every man who is
suspected OF rendering assistance to the
officers OF the government is followed and
Swallowed by detectives. The bOldest and
perhaps the most extensive Of the timber
depredat0rs is the Montana Improvement
Company. For several years it has been
well known in the Department OF the In-
terror that this company mas been en-
gagged in an illegal traffic in public tim
Der, but on account Of incompetent or dis
honest agents or improper management
OF the matter in the Land Department no
action was taken tending 20 check these
depredatiOns until last summer or fall.
when suits were commenced against the
company, on the recommendation of Com
missioner SPARKS, to recover 100000, the
value Of a portion Of the timber taken.
The capital stock OF the company is S.
600 900 and more than half OF Il is owned
by the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
psny, and by the special rates and ad-
vantageOus facilities for trans portatiOn
extended 10 the lumber company IL has
been enabled 10 monOpOlize the timber
business in a large section OF country and
10 absolutely control several OF the most
important lumber markets. It's smaller
competitors have been driven out OF the
business or compelled TO cOnfne their
sales to the Immediate vicinity OF their
mills. In order 20 avoid responsibility,
the Montana Improvement Company has
recently changed its name and with a
view OF giving color 70 the pretense OF
cutting timber only for mining purposes,
several superintendents Of mines AT Butte
City, Mon., have been taken into the new
company. This company furnishes
10 the Butte market annually 20,OOO.-
600 feet OF lumber and 10 Ia all taken
from the government lands. IL mas been
extending its operations and now ships
lumber cut from the public domain as far
East as st. Paul, Mimi. A few days ago
the railroad company shipped over its
road seven car leads OF new machinery
for the lumber company for tie use on
government lands near Mlssoula, Mon.
Commissioner Sparks agents are now
on the alert for all Violators Of the land
laws, and are prosecuting with vigor the
guilty parties when found. The timber
trespassers are beginning 20 feel the
effects OF the law, and several delega-
lions from tee West have been in Wash
ingt0n for the last few weeks trying TO
postpone action IN their cases or have
the suits against them dismissed.
A fairy Loaf a FRACTIONS charm