Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-11-21

Hr. McOofnisk, C. Z, Has Se.e
Here Evldesse 10 Give.

The greater portion of yesterday
Afternoons sitting at the United
States LandOmce was devoted to the
examination Of Mr.. r. A. McCor-
mick in regard to the dams and
ponds in the locality Of the beach
lands. and although much informa.
ton bearing on the case was OBJ
tanned, the proceedings were almost
entirely devoid Of interest to the
reading public. Upon being ques.
TONED by Mr.. Thompson as to the
character Of the lands around the
south shore Of the Great Salt Lake,
in Tooele Valley, ths witness said
they possessed many features similar
to parts of the land in dispute. The
growth of vegetation, too, bore a de.
c;ded similarity.
Major Bird moved to strike out
the last sentence, urging that 1t was
an attempt on the part Of the wit.
ness to INTERCEPT responsive answers
which certainly went to show his
interest In tbs case.
As fejoinder to this objection,
Mr. Thompson directed the atten-.
ton o. the Registrar and Receiver to
the testimony Of Professor Marcus
l.. Jones and the balance Of the ex-
pert witnesses on the same side, par
tlculsrly that Of Mr.. Owen and Mr..
Shelton, insisting 1t was "a poor
rule that would not work two ways.'
Major Bird-I can only express
surprise At the last remarks of coun-
sell They would have been opDor-
tune, probably, while the gentle
men named were on the stand, but
are too late now to be considered
as an objection to testimony which
has been given and signed some
days ago, and a poor excuse for
Irrelevant testimony, or volunteer
testimony, from witness Of his |
own We expected to be instructed
as counsel Introduced his case, and
not to have him assert that We had |
committed errors which he proposes |
to follow in introducing his own
case.
Witness said that during his re-
sideuce in the west he had taken a |
lively interest on every progressive
topic and felt himself to be perfect
ly familiar with the ordinary |
growths in the mountains and val
ieys Of the west. He was also fsmi-
liar with the plants which grew
uoon the so-called desert lands of
the west.
Witness was questioned as TO GER
tain growtbs, ETC., upon the Dyer,
and Cohn entries, but
this drew a series of objections to
such questions from the professionals
side. Evidence was next given as
10 the taking of certain photograph
ic views Of the lands in dispute, and
with this the afternoons business
closed.
This morning, when the Court
re-assembled, Mr.. Mccormick con-
tinued his testimony, which dealt
largely in the outset with matters Of
detail, including the Identification
and explanation Of additional photo
graphs of the beach lands.
Witness said he was in no way
or indirectly interested in
the result Of these land contests, ex-
eept as an engineer and surveyor.
Mr.. Mccormick, in ross-exami-
nation, told Of his acquaintance
with the Great Salt Lake dating
from his first visit to it in the year
1851. He remembered that it was
very much higher in 1851 than at
the present time. He could not
say, however, how much it had
fallen, but was sure that q number
Of the posts now exposed at Lake
Point were then covered.
The inquiry was in progress when
the NEWS went To press.