The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-09-07


las been stolen from the public do
main not less than $50, 0O0, 900 acres;
IN area that would make thirty
tates OF the size of Massachusetts,
i've states as large as New York, or
.hree states as large as Kansas.
When the truth is known-as 1t may
De by and by, these figures will
doubtless be doubled, trebled or
The present statement
Is one justified by present knowledge.
A recent grand jury investigation
In California, backed up by other
official inquiry, disclosed that one
man alone in that state holds title to
nearly Is, 600, 900 acres, acquired with
in the time named by the fagrant |
processes OF theft. There are dozens,
and even scores OF inen whose deal
ings will run from 10000 to ZOO, 600
acres or more; the extent OF their
grabs depending principally upon
their ability to swing the transac-
tions to successful issue.
No reference Is made to the SOL
emn, semi-otiicial chicanery OF the
railroad land-gIants or TO the equally
tald grants in the Southwest, CLOSING
over earlier pilferings. Those deals
appear by comparison impeccably
honest and above reproach. This
charge relates only to such down.
right, outright, deliberate stealing
as cannot be described by any other
name, bearing no stamp Of formal
official approval.
Wherever there is body OF pub
lie land large enough to make bait
worth swallowing. there the thefts
are going on. Lands Of every des-
cription are included. Millions OF
acres of the rich wheat valleys OF
California have been stolen; millions
of acres of grazing lands on the
plains of Kansas, Nebraska. Dakota,
Wyoming and Montana have been
stolen; millions OF acres OF timber
| land in Northern California, Oregon,
Washington, Wyoming and Montana
have been stolen, not TO mention the
earlier stealings in the now almost
devastated timber regions OF Michi-
gan, Wisconsin and Minnesota: and
now the lumber thieves are plying
their shameless trade unhindered in
the new fields Of Mississippi ant
other undeveloped districts of the
South; unnumbered acres Of minera
land have been stolen--in fact
nothing worth stealing has escaped
the clutch of these bold outlaws.
Outlaws, but respectable oh, emf
nently respectable. These thieves
IL you please, are mostly numbered
amongst the industrial and financia
"barons" and "kings" of the West
OF whom so much is being heard ant
whose grip upon political and al
other public affairs is so sharply felt
There is the ''cattle baron" tn
"minipg lord,'' the "lumber king
each a mighty man in his domain
all but absoute in his power of dicta
tion not only in his particular person
al sphere, but in matters OF state.
Get these fellows in talkativ
and reminiscent mood, and nine ou
of ten of them will tell you that the
"struck the West" only little viii
ago with a capital OF nothing at a
!. save their colossal nerve and the
= rudimentary conscience. How hay
they made their money, think yor
By the luck OF those born under pr'
, pltious signs? Through the nlarve
ons opportunities OF new couDtr,
BY a patural-born boldness of initia
i've, helped out by thrift and fruga
,. ity In their chosen fields of activit.
= by any Of the pleasant, beaven-a
proved old ways Of tradition? III
plain, unvarnished truth is th
three out OF four OF these vast pill
of money represent shares In the pu
lie land CRAFTS, 10 one form or a
other. TO start with absolute
nothing and after a dozen years or
to have amassed fortune represer
ing an annual accretion OF milli
dollars or more, by none but leg'
mate means: Doesn't that put rat
er severe strain upon credulity?
Only a little time ago II was I
fortune to sit in a Sunday scht
room in a Denver church on n glo
Gus morning when one OF these %
5 try had been prevailed upon TO ;
dress the boys and girls for their I
ibcation. lie was United Sta
Isenator who had bought his seat wi
0 a handful OF small change from
~ timber and grazing land tilchin
- He did not tell them to be hone
on be smilingly avoided all mention
re integrity; be skipped nimbly past
,e reference TO law-abiding citiLensll
III you want TO prosper in t
,nt life. children be said, blandly,
IT. you want to avoid the pinch OF y
lot erty and get power and iniue
amongst.your fellow men-in sh'
II you want to he like Me--be ind
trious. That Is the master wo
Children: Industry"
A. In l. ~