The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-11-05
PoRTLANDERs WERE WARNED

Benton County Men Told Them No
Timber Was to be Had in Alsea
Country.
There are new developments as
to the doings of the 36 Portland
anders who recently attempted to
secure timber claims in the vicin-
ity of A1sea, and who, after looking
at fine timber in Benton county,
actually filed on timber1ess lands
in Lincoln county. It turns out
that members of the party were
warned no less than twice that there
was no vacant timber lands in the
region, and that their errand would
prove fruit1ess. One of these warn
nings was given by John Hyde,
himself successful locator, and
who acted as one of the teamsters
for the Portlanders. Enroute to
Alsea, the advance guard of the
party consisting of four people,
stopped over night at the Hyde
home, seven miles southwest of
Phi1omath. The visitors said they
were after timber, but with res
pect to where they were going to
locate, they were reticent. At
length, Mr. Hyde told them that
he was himself a timber locator,
and he was certain that there was
no vacant timber land in the re-
gion for which the party was head
ed. No attention was paid how
ever, by the Port1anders, who seem
ed to believe they were on the in
side, and that the Benton county
man was not we'll advised.
The next day the party proceed
ed to A1sea, and there met Willis
Vidito. The latter has maps of
the country, and is familiar with
all the timber locations. When
he learned of the errand of the
visitors, he blunt1y told them that
there was no timber to be had,
and proceeded to demonstrate from
his maps the truth of his state
ments. This had the effect to Gre
ate doubt in the minds of the timb-
er hunters, and at the first oppor-
tunity they communicated their
doubts to Stone, the locator, who
had brought them from Portland.
The latter at once replied that the
timber to which he was taking
them had once been filed on uuder
the scrip arrangement, but that
during the last IS or 20 days it had
been reverted to the government,
and was now subject to entry. The
Portlanders were satisfied with
his explanation, and thereafter
any suggestions by Hyde, Vidito
or anybody else on the subject
we're met with a knowing shake
of the head that meant, 1--WE know
what we are doing" This smooth
explanation by the locator, gave to
lin their full confidence, and led
hem to pursue their fruit1ess er-
and to its Improbable end. !
twas on the slopes of Prairie
that the party looked at !
:imber, and it was there they
hought they were locating their
,laims. The mountain is in town
hip IS, range seven, and on an
lir line distance IL to 20 miles
rom the lands on which the memb-
RS of the party actually made their
i1ings.
From A1sea store, the party led
~ Stone, took the south road and
leaded for the old Inman mill.
They camped the first night on the
DAD. The next day they came
tut as far as the Hawley place, and
here turned in towards Inman's
mill. Much t, oub1e was encoupt-
red in finding the way, and many
ide roads and cross roads were
aken. On this account, near the
ill, the party became divided,
tone and a party of men and "a
wv women going ahead, and fn-1
lily reaching Prairie mountain.
he advance party ate dinner at
lie mill at 1899 on Saturday, and
Iyde was sent back for the mis-
ng contingent. After finding
lem, Hyde, at a point a mile and I
half beyond the mill, met I
tone and the advance guard, re-
lrning. During the two or three
ours of Hyde's absence, they had
und the timber, and passed
trough ali the forma1ities of To-
ting. Stone said it would not be :
ecessary for the party with Hyde
go over the land, that all those
ings had been attended to. Since
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