The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-07
A BIG SYNDICATE
Wants to Buy the MERGED
County Lands.
Various Objections to the Propo-
sition-Mr. Mills Thinks 1t Is
Not the Best Course.

The large force Of clerks in W. II. Mills
Office is kept busy these days in caring for the
heavy corr espondence relating TO the MERGED
lands and in mailing circulars and maps TO
those who seek Information regarding them.
The inquiry from all over The country has even
exceeded the expectations of MIR. Mills. with
whom the present method OF disposng of these
lands originated.
During the last five days a proposition has
been submitted to the Crocker Estate Company
from syndicate OF Chicago gentlemen which,
il accepted. Will cause the withdrawal OF the
present owners of the lands from further par
ticipation in their disposal The gentlemen
who comprise this syndicate are vOuched for by
three of The best banks in Chicago, and their
plan involves the purchase of the entire Mer-
ced land holdings OF tie Croker estate, or
what was recently Known az the Croker HUH
man Tract, and which W. IL. Mils has so sue
cessfully brought before the public during The
last few weeks
The syndicate proposes TO establish agencies
in number of Eastern cities where Informal
ton Will be obtained as TO those who NAV de-
sire TO take up land in the section mentioned,
their financial standing and fitness for the work
of development The syndicate Is willing TO
enter into an agreement y0uehlEG for the char
acler Of the settlers ard agree TO take all The
land. but does not bind itself as 10 its settle
ment which, 1t Is assumed, would naturally fol-
low, as the syndicate would undertake the
work il the proposition were accepted entirely
a mOney-making scheme and that would
necessarily Involve the settlement OF Inc ldnuS
The offer is to take the land and pay for IL in
five inStalimentS, the FIRST cash and the re-
mainder in four payments made yearly.
III conversation yesterday Mr.. Minis expressed
himself as opposed TO accepting the oner. The
inquiry under the present methods pursued and
lie eminenTlN satisfactory results obtained as
To the class of settlers who have made pur-
chases convince hin that although possibly
the slowest plan it will in the end prove the
best for disposing OF tie lands.
The land and water company, he says, has an
interest IN the land which goes back of and
beyond the mere question OF It's disposal. The
Croker estate will still own the water system
and Is d large owner in the railroad property to
which The lands are all tributary. Even If the
persons comprising this company not to be
attributed with philanthrOpic motives as
plain business proposition il Will be seen that
they are naturally interested IN having the
lands settled as quickly as possible and by the
best class OF residents 1t is possible 10 induce TO
purchase. The syndicate. as Mr.. Mills looks at
the matter. is after immediate profits, while
The land and water company wants settlement.
Under the terms of the syHdcate's offer from
$50 TO 300 families would be settled upon the
first 10000 acres.
Another bid has been received from thor
oughly trustworthy person in Salt Lake CITY,
who is well known to the officials of the
Croker Estate Company, aud who wishes 10
enter into contract In which lie VIII agree TO
settle 100 families upon 5000 acres eighty
acres eacn) within one year.
The wholesale disposition OF the property Is a
feature which has its Objectionable phases. II
may retard The rapid settlement OF the lands,
which from the present outlook seems con-
spicuOusly near, by an increase in the price
asked. A gain, 1T Is thought that at the present
will not be long before the entire BODY of the
land now offered will have been disposed of and
TO class OF people who will be not only puT-
chaserS, but actual settlers thereon.