The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1900-03-23


one OF these giants on the Kaweah
river with % men and women, side by
side. standing abreast OF the tree. 1t
was for the preservation OF the Sc
quota gigantea principally that tho res
olution already referred to was adopt
ed by congress.
This resolution recalls a matter
which about ten years ago. during the
incumbency or Secretary or the Int
rior Noble, caused the land department
considerable trouble. Briefly the story
as CLEANED from the records OF the de-
partment and from an interview | had
with one of the persons most directly
concerned is as follows:
In October. 1885. a group Of Califor-
mans filed upon 40 quarter. sections OF
government land under the timber and
stone act or June 3. 1873. The land
was situated on the kaweah river. in
Tulare county. adjacent TO section OF
the giant forest, and the entries were
made at the government land office in
Los Angeles. The filers submitted
their proofs, which were accepted. and
rendered their money. \ few days be-
fore the time their certificates of pur-
chase should Issue a Telegram was re-
ceivcd from Commissioner William y
j. Sparks of the general land office or
dering suspension Of all entries in the
townships In which these filings were
made. \ letter which followed the tel
egram stated that information had
been received at the general land OF
flee that dummies" were masking the
filings in the Interests Of lumber spec
ulntors. Upon this the local land of
flee refused 10 accept the money ten
dered 10y the tilers I'm payment for the
land. The entrymcn then appealed 10
the general land office. as required 10y
law. and proceeded Ia show their good
faith by acts of settlement AMI i'm
prOVcmrut of the land. About six
months after completing their filings
they organized nS cooperative body
under the title uf the Kawcah Coop
eratlve Colony Company. limited. ami
proceeded Ia build road with their
own labor To their land through a rug
ged. mountainous country. They also
established camps, one of which, ka-
weah. soon became IL thriving. busy lit
tie village. with pOstutliCe ana Il stage
line TO NiSalia, the county seat.
or exceptionally large trees there
were comparatively few on the land
Of the colonistS, and these few We're
among their rarcSt treasures and cared
| for as invaluable parts of the splendid
home they hoped Ia make for them
| selves. In fact, il was shown 10y in
vestigatiOn that the Kaweahans had
constituted themselves guardians of
the monarchS Of the forest In their
| vicinity ana upon numhcrlcSs occasions
had cXtinguiShcd fires set 10y careless
| hunters and hcrdcrS that would have
| caused great damage if no one had
| been at hand tu put them out. As an
evidence Of their devotion Ia arbOri-
culture, il is cited that the constitu-
tion uf the colony provided that when
ever Tree Was fcllrd another should
he planted in its place.
| No investigation Of the alleged fraud
ulrnt entries WAS made until October.
| 1851. or four years after the entries
| were made. WErn Special Agent Il. H.
Allen was detailed Tor the purpose 10y
the land office. Ills report Was un
qualihrdly favorable Ia the culuniNtS
In letter I" the department 90 the
subject he said, Il can say without
hesitation that | have never seen a
ease at IimIrr entry where The Sp!TiI
AMI intention uf the land laws wcr,
hciag carried "ut in better faith" y.
action was taken on this report. hut "a
year later another agent wa> sent uul
who made Il personal Investigation
ami no fraud in correction with thcS,
filings WAS uncarthrd or ever hint,J
II. But" said The cA-coloni>t whoa