The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26
UNCLE SANS BOSS SQUATTER.
WAS AN OLD CALIFORNIA NIL
LIONAIRE, JESSE ID. CARR.
A Hundred Nile Barbed Wire Trocha Hule
Around 10000 Acres OF Government
Land-Carr Held the Fort for over
Twcnty-n Finally ID sp0ssessed.

Around SO,OOO Acres OF UON VTnlHeHS
Land-Carr Held the Fort for over
Twenty -nycYears--F1nallyD ID spossessed.
SAN Francisco. Feb. 25-The land frauds
in Oregon and Washington for which United
States Senator John II. Mitchell and MS
partner, Judge Tanner, have been indicted
recall some peculiar dealings in Government
lands in California John II. Benson was
accused OF similar frauds in northern CALI
fornia and his case is still pending in tho
Federal Courts. But the man who mado
fortune out of Government lands by
Illegal methods and was never punished
was the late Jesse D. Carr, the millionaire
cattle raiser OF Modoc and Klamath counties,
Cal.
Carr died last year at the age Of 90, but
even to the last he retained that vigor OF
mind which made him the most pertinacious
fighter that Uncle Sam ever encountered
on this coast. He was the greatest squatter
this country has ever seen.
He bought about 10000 acres of land in
Modoc county and then he fenced in 5000
acres of adjoining Government land giving
him SIS 900 acres OF range He expended
100000 on this fence, which was 100 miles
long and the longest and costliest in the
world.
1t was a stone wall surnounted by three
lines of barb wire and guaranteed to keep
out all strange horned cattle from the Carr
preserves. 1t not only enclosed this great
stretch OF Government lnnd which should
have been free range for any settlers
cattle. but it actually enclosed all the springs
and water holes, that the land that was
left unfenced was worthless to the small
stockmen.
Naturally the small stock growers made
a great outory. but Carr laughed at them.
To give technical excuse for his act he
left one water hole open on one aide. but
this opening was in such place that stock
would have persisted Of thirst before they
could he driven around the great barbed
wire trooha of the cattle millionaire IL
was a beautifully devised scheme for one
man TO get the benefit Of a principally OF
fine grazing.
Carr imported costly bulls and improved
the strain Of all his stock. while the common
cattle without a pedigree ranged outside
and barely kept their bones from coming
through their skins by browsing on tree buds
and leaves Complaints were sent TO Con-
gress and suits were brought and carried
to the United States Supreme Court, but
for twenty-five years the remoteness OF
the place and the power Of Carr's pull and
wealth made his position secure lie
came out of every legal battle firm in the
saddle, until he actually began to think
he owned the land he had grabbed.
Finally in 1900 suit brought in the FED
eral courts Of California WAS decided
against Carr and United States Marshal
tunks was ordered 10 tear down the fence.
He went up to Modoc county and on his
return it was reported that he had actually
demolished the trocha.
But in a few months reports came from
Modoc that the fence was still standing
and Mr.. Funks, after his term as United
States Marshal became the manager Of
the Jesse o. Carr Land and Live Stock
Company, a corporation in which the old
millionaire was practically the whole thing.
Funks recently denied that any process
had ever been given him TO serve and de-
! nounced the report as malicious.
Whatever may be the facts another SUIT
/ was begun at once in the Oregon courts
! and on July 10 Judge Bettinger OF the
: United States Circuit Court rendered de-
( cision that Jesse ID. Carr had no legal tltIe
| TO the 81, 1876 acres of land in southern ore
] Ron and northern California which he had
[ fenced in and held for so many years
Old Carr frothed at the mouth when this
decision was given, and cynically declared
that the Government had no right 70 tear
down his fence. which had cost s5O'oOo'
ms he had only enclosed the waterholes on
land tnat ne Udu Dthbilb tNNi'biiN
Government land. he declared, was worth
less without water. hence II would be OF
no value to outside stockfnen, even II un-
fen ced.
But the Government officers PAID no
attention 10 Carr. In August. 1901, Deputy
/ United Stat,a Marshal s. +. Moore went up
TO Modoc and Klamath counties and ripped
holes in Carr's fence that would have made
+ the old land grabber snort to see Big
Z openings in the trocha were made Tor a
. = h
stock growers rejoced, for at last they
I we're TO have fair chance TO use the grass
/ and water that the big company had monop-
oli2ed.
/ Old jesse Carr was a type Of many Cali
] fornia milllonaires who have grown men
through the opportunities that come 10
the shrewd and bold in new country
3 His frat big rise was in the old star route
/ mail contracts.
Carr for years was one OF the largest or
these contractors. drawing down az much
! a. $500 900 a year for the service. IL was
| his wagons that carried the government
mail between Virginia city. New, ana
Boise Idaho. Every driver carried small
arsenal for protection against lhuiahs'
who seemed 10 deli ght TO fill mail contrac..
/ tor. fnll of lead and rip up the sacks OF
n was while inspecting his Star route
! lines that he was attracted by the cattle
ranges Of Modoc and klamath COUNTIES
]
mountain meadows and many virgin forests
of sugar pine He had his pick OF the good
! land and then cupidity suggested me
building OF the great harbed wire Tocnt
which converted Carr into the champion
/ land grab,er OF hi- age
Old Carr died last year. fun OF years
but with no evident change Of heart IN
regard to Government night over land.
/ In his last days he was bind, oWlnglo
cataract. but mentally he was vigorous
! He left large fortune TO his heirs and the
reputation Of the best cattleman, in eau
/ fomia bar only old Henry Mill,r VINO
/ owns more acres and more cattle than
| Carr and who is stll alive, managing his
/ huge estate.
Miller has many OF the same IDEAS AZ
| Carr. but he has had the shrewdness TO
I buv tho thousands OF acres over which
/ hil herds Craze and to dispossess the SINAI
/ farmers and stock ranchers by means that
/ the law cannot reach
: on