Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-14
Says Secretary Hitch
cock Concerning
Land Frauds.
WITHHOLDS THE FACTS
Record of Year in the
Interior Depart
ment.

Washington, Dec. 14.-Secretary
Hitchcock, of the interior department,
in his annual report made public to-
day declares that the accounts of the
frauds in connection with the western
timber lands have been overdrawn.
He says:
while several hundred thousand
acres of public lands are involved in
the illegal transactions brought to
light, the number OF acres to which
patents have been obtained by the
perpetrators of the frauds is COM
parativeIy small. 1t IS proper to say
also that some of the statements
in regard to the matter which have
recently appeared in newspapers, both
in the east and the west. are more or
less exaggerated and others are mere
surmises. The statement widely cir
culated TO the effect that five United
States senators and Il large number of
representatives were implicated. and
that the lands involved would reach in
value S15.OOO.OOO or $2O.OOO.OOO, are
without foundation in fact. 1t can
be positively stated that they did not
originate in this department. The de-
tails and results of the investigation
are known only to a few. and sensa-
tional stories based upon statements
which have heretofore appeared in the
press must be received with due al
lowance.
At the proper time full statement
will be made covering the results of
the entire investigation, and the whole
matter Will be given to the public;
but for obvious reasons it is not
deemed eXpedient that detailed state
ment of the facts should be given at
the present time
Decrease In Depredations.
There were 312 cases of depreda-
tons on public timbered lands re-
ported during the year, involving tim
Der to the value of 1922. O99.11, a de-
crease of $77O.907.72 from last year.
In 90 cases recommendation was made
for civil suit, the damages involved ag-
gregating 1926, 293.17. Propositions of
settlement to the number of 1874 were
accepted. their amounts aggregating
unlawfuIy from public lands there
were received $S,S37.2S; from cOmpro-
misses under section 1869. United States
revised statutes, S34.4OO.29: from fines
imposed and judgments rendered, S64.-
O92.74; making total of 1874, 434.70
accruing to the government through
depredations upon public lands.
''On June 30, 1908, there was pending
in the United States courts 16S civil
suits for the recovery Of a total
amount of S2,976.23S.66. the value of
timber alleged to have been taken I'M
lawfully from public lands. and $40
criminal prosecutions for cutting or
removing timber in violation of law.
Nearly year ago information
reached the department which strong
~ indicated frauds of Il serious nature
had been and were being perpetrated
against the government under what is
known as the forest reserve lieu land
act of June I. 1897, by Il combination
of land spectators on the Pacific
coast The information and indict-
cd frauds were of so grave char
acter that | at once directed a thor
ough investigation to be made. This
investigation was commenced last
january and has been conducted by
those having charge of the actual
work with which great care and with
all possible expedition consistent with
thorOughness. The investigation has
proceeded step by step, without inter-
mission. under my personal direction,
and every clew to wrongdoing has
been quietly followed to its source.
with the result that it is the confident
belief of those in charge of the in
quiry that the guilty parties will be