The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-12
METHODS USED TO GET FOR SMALL PRICE
PROPERTY WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

through these mountains and plateaus.
After title is acquired as grazing or
agricultural land il is transferred to
the Utah Fuel company direct. or
through one of its agents.
1t is stated that IN one case the Utah
Fuel company spent several thousands
Of dollars in developing coal measures
on the opposite side of the mountain
from Sunnyside mine; that its en-
ployeS drove a tunnel. opened up the
vein, erected tippIe and took coal
out and tested it for coking purposes.
and that since this work was done the
land was purchased from the state for
$50 an acre on d selection made by a
woman who lives in Salt Lake City
Since that time the company. having
acquired title. has extended the work
inSs of the Sunnyside mine into that
tract. and that the company is mining
coal below. while the cows Craze peace
fully above.
Similar incidents are mentioned at
Castle Gate, where the coal company
found coal while boring for water in
the heart of the town, and took il up
as agricultural land
The state makes no investigation OF
the character of the land. nor does the
land office. the affidavits offered being
accepted as proc unless d contest Is
filed by some interested person In
many cases the land selected is in an
isolated locality, and as the lOCatOTS
take care 10 leave no tell-taIe marks.
the services Of a surveyor are neces-
Sary to locate the land. No such Off
cial is carried on the pay rolls of the
government excepting the employees Of
the surveyor generals office. and il
seems to require . special dispensatiOn
from the great father himself TO get an
investigation of the sale of government
lands
Law in the Case.
The law governing entries of coal
land provides
Every person above the age OF twenty
one years, who is a citizen of the United
States, or who has declared his intention
OF becoming such, OF any association OF
persons severally qualified as above, shall
upon application to the register Of the
proper land office, have the right TO en-
ter, by legal subdivisions, any quantity
of vacant coal lands in the United States
not otherwise appropriated or reserved by
competent authority, not exceeding one
hundred and sixty acres to such indfvid-
ual person, or three hundred and twenty
acres to such association, upon payment
to the receiver of not less than ten dol
lars per acre for such lands. where the
same shall be situated more than fifteen
miles from any completed railroad, and
not less than twenty dollars per acre for
such lands as shall be within fifteen miles
| of such road.
The preceding sections shall Be
| held to authorize only one entry by the
! same person or association Of persons
] and no association of persons any mem
| Der of which shall have taken the bene-
| fit OF such sections, either as an 1noIVid-
uaI OF as a member of any other assOcia-
| ton shall enter or hold any other lands
under the provisions thereof: and no
| member of any association, which shall
have taken the benefit of such sections
| shall enter or hold any other lands uu-
der their provisions; and all persons
claiming under section 234S shall be re
uuired to prove their respective rights
| and nav for the lands filed upon within
! one year from the time prescribed for
! filing their respective claims; and upon
| failure 70 file the proper notice. or to paw
| for the land within the required period
the same shall be subject to entry by any
other qualified applicant