Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-27
Believed that Federal Grand Jury
Will Look Into Ulntah Land
Frauds.
WHAT CHARLES SOLOMON SAYS
Declares that Parties Interested In
Venezuela Affair Have Also In
vaded Utah.

According to the Washington Post
there Is likely TO be something doing In
this city in April, when It Is expected
the federal grand jury will take steps
to determine to what extent fraud has
been carried on to secure lands on the
Uintah Indian reservation. The matter
has been Investigated by Charles s.
solomon Of New York, who has report
ed his findings to the department Of the
interior This gentleman says he will
show that the same concern which Is
appealing 10 the government to inter-
vene In the Venezuela affair to pro-
tect It's alleged rights in the develop
ment Of the asphalt beds OF that coun-
try, Is seeking to defraud the govern
ment Of Its own country
Mr. Solomon charges that In June
1900 the gilsonite properties In Utah,
owned by Adolphus Busch OF 81. Louis,
were taken over by the ellison Asphalt
tum company a branch OF the asphalt
trust, which was organized in New Jer-
sey for that purpose, An effort has
been made during the past two months
by the promoters OF the gilsonite beds
to dispose OF the properties TO SYM
dlcate Of German capitalists, but II is
not believed, in view Of publicity thus
far given the project, that II VIII be
successful, foreign capitalists ms rule
being skeptlcal OF any American In
vestment over which there may be a
cloud.
The ellison Asphaltum company has
issued $4,000 In common stock and has
funded debt Of $4,000 in 3 per cent
golt bonds The officials Of the de-
partment OF the interior are now maxi
Ing a careful investigation Of the rec
ords Of the company submitted by Mr..
Solomon and II Is said In Washington
that II will be impossible for the COM
pany to obtain full and final control OF
the mineral lands without legal pay
ment 10 the government
There are two companies which were
legally entitled 10 enter upon the res
eryation and develop the mineral de-
posits. These are the Florence Mining
company and the Raven Mining COM
pany, each OF which Is protected by the
appropriation bill passed March g. II
Is stipulated in that act that within
go days OF It's passage, or by May
next, the Raven Mining company
must Gle certificates Of its mining To-
calites with the recorder of the coun-
ty in which the mineral lands are To-
Gated with the department Of the in
terror Each certificate must be ac-
companled with a map and an accurate
description of the land claimed. The
secretary Of the interior will then make
an investigation TO ascertain If the min
eral designated Is found on the claim,
and. after taking proper precautions,
must issue patents for the claims. on
each claim, when developed, a royalty
must be paid the Ulntah Indians on
any mineral taken out and sold,
The Florence Mining company Is en-
powered by the same bill TO select one
square mile Of mineral land, $40 acres
within go days and to pursue the
same course as that prescribed for the
Raven Mining company The Flor
ence Mining company obtained pros
pectlng license early in 1902, good for
10 years with the privilege OF To-
| eating one square mile OF land. This
area has never been Increased.
The royalties to be paid the uintah
! Indians through the secretary Of the
interior on all minerals taken under
| the leases of the Florence and Raven
Mining companies range from per
cent on ores netting $50 a ton or less IA
is per cent on ores netting over $l25 a
| ton