The sun., 1903-10-22
BIG LAND / Nd FRAUDS UNEARTHED
PROMINENT MEN AND FEDERaL
OFFICERS NlOLl ED
~ raclac east Stst<a The scene of Their
Operations The t:rsfters Members "
. Wen Organized IS'ns--Dun'rny Ell'
tries Oe Valuable Timber i-ands.

ODefolloOR- Wr saTuttSts 'S~>s" "
Wen organized iV'ns--iIammy En'
tries os Valuable Timber Lands.
PORTLAND, Ore, Oct 2l.--Higantic Land
frauds, involving prominent citizens and
Federal officers. on the Pacifc Coast and
in Washington, d. c.. have been brought 70
light by agents of the Interior Department
and OF the Secret Service in California
Oregon and Washington State. Millions
of acres Of the most valuable forests IN
the United States are the stake Tor wh'ch
these men have played, but 1t is certain
the leaders in the conspiracy will be prose-
cuted in the near future, with good cilance
Of conviction.
The most startling feature Of the inves'l-
cation, which has been secretly gong on
In these States for the last six months Is
that the persons involved in the chort 20
defraud the Government, although living IN
widely st paratsd places. are all members Oh
= well organized ring.
Several Senators from States in the west
ern part OF the country are mentioned IN con-
nection with the land frauds, ahhough
their relation to the grafters is supposed
to be, in most cases. that Of protecting the
ruilty peruens from prosecution by tho
Government.
The evidence thus far secured u Of suc'.
n character as to make 1t certain that the
land scandals will equal in Importance
the postal fraud cases and Will ihVoiVe
larger sums Of money than have been M
yoIved In any Government investigation
for nj ny wears. .
TIE names Of men who sold to members
Of the land grafters' ring the Ose OF their
names ror the purpose Of making Dummy
en,,fes of timber land have been secured
and also evidence that will lead to the arrest
Of several persons prominently conhecteu
with lumber companies - ano c,a.t S,.. Sates
The greatest frauds are supposed 70
have been perpetrated in California ahd
Oregon. although the grafters nave op-
Grated TO a considerable extent In the state
OF Washington Minor officials and clerks
IN the General Land Office In washington
d. G., 1t l. known to the mvss,'ga.o'i ,hs e;na -
have supplied information to tne ring III
regard to the contemplated Withdrawal
of forest lands from the public domain
by the Government ,,..
The meat of the scandals was found in the
system of -lien land selections, Repre-
ssptatiyes of wealthy lumber mil owners
wishing to secure large forest areas az
trifing cost, have received from employees
OF the General Land Office in Washington.
with whom they were in colluson, tips
in regard TO contemplated withdrawals Tor
forest reserve purposes. mill owner
can take up only 800 acres OF forest land on
the surveyed public domain.
Persons who have taken up land, but
whose holdings are subsequently included
In a created forest reserve, have the prlvi-
lese under the law Of exchanging these
holdings for an equal area Of forest land
on the unreserved public domain. More
over, they have the right to sell these lien
land rights, and any individual ls at liberty
to purchase any number Of them at such
price as is agreed upon between him and
the holders. In that way the mill owners
get possession Of largo tracts at small cost.
The present frauds consist IN arrange
ment between the mill owners and indi-
viduas who have no use for forest lands,
by which these individuals take up land
OF, territory which they know, from tips
received from corrupt sources In Washing
ton, are soon to be included in forest
reserve. -
Il is expected that prosecutions will be
begun within the next month, and that at
least Q score Of persons well known on the
= gAeife Coast, several persons In Washing-
ton and millions Of acres OF valuable timber
will be involved.