The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-24

~ -r
AS result of investigations into the
method of obtaining timber lands I'M
der the stone and timber act, which
nave been in progress by the govern
ment Tor several months, it is rumored
That number of the most prominent
iamberhaen in the Northwest, including
several in st. Paul and Minneapolis,
OF consplr1ng to defraud the govern
ment out of millions of dollars worth
of timber lands.
Dispatches from Washington yester-
day 1Ttimated that the recent inpesti-
cations by A. B. Pugh, attorney of the
interior department, had resulted in the
disclosure of a gigantic scheme on the
part OF the lumbermen to gain control
OF large tracts of timber land, and it
was stated that the names of these
men, who are said to be implicated,
would be forwarded to United States
Marshal Grimshaw in this city, with
instructions for, him to place the men
under arrest.
Old Plan Of Hiring Lecators.
1t is charged that locating and cruis..
ing companies in the Twin Cities are
involved extensively in the attempt to
secure possession of large tracts of
timber land in Washington and Oregon.
| These companies are said to have en-
ployed persons to locate upon claims
under the timber and stone act, the
parties being paid their expense and d
nominal sum for the trouble in securing
title to the lands, 1t being understood
that title to the, claims should be trans
ferred to the companies employing
the cruisers. Zone story is to the effect
that a large number of Minneapolis
school teachers, were sent West last
spring for the purpose of locating upon
and securing ,l possession Of timber
lands In Washington. 1t is said thai
these teachers were in the employ of
lumber interests and that their ex-
penses were paid by the lumber COM
panies in whose, employ they were.
Some arrests have. already been made
In Oregon as result of the investiga-
tons made by the interior department
and disclosures indicate that some Of
ficials Of the land department are in
volved in the. alleged conspiracy.
Prominent d luInbernen in st. Paul
and Minneapolis deny that there is any
conspiracy upon the part of the Ium-
bermen to defraud the government, and
they say the gIumbermen have no fear
of arrest as result of any investiga-
ton which the interior department
might make.
Says There's Nothing in Ii.
1.-The, dispatches from Washington
duplicating Minnesota lumbermen are
a-puzzle. to- the lumbermen of st. Paul. -
said Matt CLARK, well Informed lum-
bernanS oWhen seen at his nome by
TheuGQ O b e last might. s. - @ -
9ss"Fhe lHfnberfnen wIosT desire to ac-
quire large tracts of timber land in the
Northwest can do much better, than
Secure+it by the cruising method. The
script plan is almost as cheap and is
much more satisfactory. This talk
about cruising companies being formed
fntIfe Twin Cities is absurd and I'M
| reasonable. I never heard OF the Or
ganization of any such =. companies
either in st. Paul, OF. Minneapolis, and
do not believe amy land has been ae>
quired inJthis manner by the Mime.
sofa lumbeT1den.
Si4Toesecure possession of 160 acres of
timber land by the Cruiser method
would cost fully as much as to secure
tt BY Applying scrip. Many of5the iarg-
accompanies are buying the land out
and-out from people who have already
secured a title to it, So ~ 5f3
lit is possible that some few specu-
lators send out cruising parties with a
view of securing possession of timber
land and, then selling it to the lumber
interests, but do not believe the lum-
bermen have done anything of the kind
and they have nothing to fear from any
government investigation"