Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-28
LAND FRAUDS FOR REVENGE.

AtANO hkAO fOh d6 6NN6.
The land fraud cases continue to at
tract general interest throughout the
West, in fact the whole country is
watching Oregon and awaiting develop
ments.
One thing is certain, and that is the
public domain of the state has been
handled in a reckless and profiigate
manner and the result is that today
very little desirable land remains for
actual settlement.
The land, which under the intent of
the government, was to be offered for
the purpose Of settling the country, has
passed into the hands of spectators and
corporations, and very few actual homes
have been established.
The people have been robbed of
their heritage, and deprived Of their
rights under the laws of the country. 1t
is another case of too much law, and
the people seem to be the chief suffer
ers.
II tiulDtI VI OiNEOh was COnoAhtiV W
Of little value until recent years, at
least the residents of the state did not
recognize the true worth Of the stately
FIR, pine and cedar trees, and they al
lowed this vast source of wealth to slip
away from them. Very few people of
Oregon, comparatively, have secured a
dollar, directly or indirectly, from tim
Der. But others have, and to them it
mattered not how they obtain it.
The talk and Juror raised against GER
tain high officials, chiefly pointed to-
ward Senator Mitchell and Congress
man Hermann, is not the true meat of
the land business, and the men who are
raising all the disturbance and crying
''stop thief are either weaklings or
they are deliberately turning the public
eye from the real facts.
1t is true that subordinates of high
officials may have used their positions
TO extort money from settlers, and false
reports may have been made by sever
al of these men for a pecuniary consid
Grafton, but the men above them were
not parties to their criminal acts, at
least the evidence does not bear out the
suspicious cast by the prosecutors.
1t is related that several years ago a
score of timber land holders, who had
acquired claims under the homestead
law, were frightened by the appearance
of a government official, who inspected
the land, and was about to make Il re-
port on the actual conditions.
Final proof had been made on the
several claims, yet in some instances
cabins had not been erected, and no
effort made TO establish a permanent
residence on the land by the claimants.
The latter were residents of towns and
cities in the state, and they made a
constructive home on the land, by Wis
iting II once or twice during the year,
and spending a few days hunting and
fishing in the vicinity,
The claimants called a meeting and
resolved to head off an unfavorable re-
port. To do this it was necessary to
assess each $50, and the money was
Forthcoming. The fund was placed in
the hands of a chairman, and from
there disappeared. Whether it ever
reached the government official, or went
TO enrich the individual is not clear, but
the settlers, so-ealled, were short half
a hundred each in cash.
Some time later another employe Of
the government made his rounds, but he
was easier than the first one. Another
meeting was called, and the holders of
the land "dug' again. They found $50
apiece would be sufficient for their pur-
pose this time, aud they rejoicedA
This was in Albany, and the claim