The herald., 1898-09-07
( Rush FOR LAND.
A GREAT sTRIPCLAIMED BIZ THE
RAILROAD
A MILLION ACRES IN ALL
Crowds at the Land OMce-Soutnern
Pacific ofacials Deny Attempts
at Grabbing

The old stock phrase about DONG iaho
office business was Nvidly recalled 10 mihu u
nv the occurrences yesterday at the Ohi'eo
states land office In the Gardner-Aeiiner
building. 81
Wv decision from the United States
Ico,,rt delivered short time ago. an I'M
mense tract of land, the title 10 wh'ch mas
been In contest between the government anu
the Southern Pacific Railway company, was
Yesterday thrown open TO settlement Ane
casa. which had been In litigation Tor some
time. rested on the claim OF the raiiroao
comnanv to lands within the limit OF ~
miles from the branch line running from
Mo,ave to Los Angeles. No contention was
offered for the ownership OF the lahos
south of the 3O-mile limit OF the "main nne'
which runs between Needles and Mooave.
A rough idea Of the boundaries OF :he In
volved territory may be gained by running
lines from a point five miles south OF mis-
citv north 10 a point just south Of 1-ancas-
ter. thence west 10 point II miles west OF
Ventura: thence east to point on line
drawn north and south between Hesperia
and San Bernardino. The tract covers
100000 acres approximately
The decision being against the raiiroao
company, the land was announced 10 De
omen for settlement on September 9th. The
announcement, OF course, was receNea
With interest, as no tract Of land containing
eo rnuch desirable land has been opened Tor
many years. 1t Is not TO be supposed now
ever. that It has been vacant all this time.
On the contrary, some OF the most anxious
claimants were those who have occupied
property in the strip for long time ana VINO
found 1t necessary to appear yesterday win
a.l-comers and make good their claims 10
their holdings by filing the required papers
Notwithstanding the fact that Sunday
nnd Monday were holidays, people began
70 form In line in front of the land office
on the third floor as early as Saturday night.
All day Sunday and Monday the string
grew in length. and by Monday night at ~
o'clock It numbered 125 people-some mea'
some women. Yesterday morning at lo:3o
the line extended down two flights Of stairs
and for some distance along the sidewalk
in front Of the building. 1t was weary,
bedragged- docking crowd. particularly at
the head of the line. but patience was
finally rewarded by the opening of the
doors at o'clock. Some Of the people who
will stand a good chance Of keeping what
they have or of securing good new land are
as follows: F. S. Herr, Pasadena; John
Herr, Pasadena: C. W. Herr. Pasadena: {:
- Alaff. John Paulson. Calabasas: ]. N.
Baker Shermantown; D. B. Bangle. Gala
basas: c. M. Allen. Calabasas; j. II. Ma son.
Rialto; ]. @. Whitehead, Acton; B. 8. Clog
s.on, Pomona; N. C. Mason, Pasadena; j.
w. Furnall. Thompson; A. ]. Howell. Clare
mont; C. s. Howard, city; Nellie Mears.
city: H. W. Bledso city; W. c. Harvey.
Santa Paula; A. T. Rafferty,. Santa Paula !:
Florence Cooper. Santa Paula: VIM. Bran
non. R. F. Holser. Piru; w Fl. Drum.
Fullerton: Chas. Miller, Pasadena; A. ].
Downs, San Fernando: A. MacLean, New
hall; ]. Heresagenthaler. Pasadena G. S.
Martin, Llano; N. c. Gilmore Santa Palila.
Four o'clock the close Of office hours. saw
the filing of at least 500 claims. according
to the estimate OF one Of the members Of
:he registrars office, and there Will be more
today. The office was compelled to follow
the plan Of allowing the fling of claims on
all property within the district but those
to whom the railroad gave orders for deeds
of sale will be given preference in the final
SettInB up, WHICH may NOt OCCUR IUE SeNeTHi
months; the fees paid by the unsuccessful
ones will. of course. be rebated.
There will doubtless be good deal OF
strife, legal and otherwise, between many
OF the settlers and the railroad company,
which is still trying 10 make good its con-
tent!on that the decision of the supreme
court allows it TO include much OF the strip
within the branch line limits under the
main line land grant.
A story was floating around yesterday to
the effect that the railroad people had
posted armed men over some of the most
valuable sections In question. to keep off
settlers and save the property for them
selves A prominent official OF the road
said, when approached upon the subject:
"The fact Is, we are trying to protect set
tiers 10 whom we have sold lands, and more
especially those who have bought property
from US, but who do not reside at this time
upon the land"
The gentleman denied any intention Of
unlawful interference on the part Of the
railroad company, or any desire to "grab"
that which does not belong to it. II Is still
a matter Of speculation in legal circles as 10
whether or not the Southern Pacific will
take another appeal upon the point Of con-
fl:cting limits above mentioned It's history
would indicate that the land will not be
finally yielded so long as there is q chance