The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-18
APPLICATIONS BY MES.
Citizens File on Coal Lands and Sell
Rights to Companies.

The reports made to the interior de-
partment and the department of justice
declare that the purchasers of some
lands were dummies procured by the
Pleasant Valley Coal company and the
Utah Fuel company to file on the lands
which they wanted. The companies
agents, it is stated, acted as attorneys
for the purchasers All the companies
asked was for the use of their names
and then their troubles were all over.
After the filings were prepared the pur-
chasers signed their names and carried
the papers to the state land board office,
where they filed them.
In one case which was contested 1t was
testified that the Utah Fuel company,
through its agents, had induced many
persons to make these filings for a stip-
ulated sum Of money. In the lists of
names appear almost hundred Salt
Lakers who allowed their names to be
used in the land transactions.
1t is reported that many of these per-
sons never saw the ground and knew
nothing of its location or character,
They made the coal company's agent
their agent. He made out the filings.
paid the bills and did all the work neces-
sary TO get the lands Many of them were
innocent of any wrong doing, and be-
lieved, as represented TO them, that they
were making legitimate money.
The provisions of the land office are
such that for an examination of the
rights of a claimant to purchase this
land individuals have to file protests at
their own expense. This, il is charged,
gives the coal companies clear sailing.
Several contests have been brought, how
ever, which have been nysteriously with
drawn and adjusted out of court
One entry which was made by Owen L.
Davis, formerly proprietor of the Ken
Won cigar stand, has been contested
three time, The first suit was with
drawn before a decision was given. The
second proceeding came TO a sudden end
early In the game. The third was pend
ing for some time, but has been lost
sight of in the records. The coal com
pany it is stated. put up the money TO
defend Davis entry. Each time, it is
reported a settlement of the contest was
effected out of court.
1t is stated that in one case the Utah
Fuel company spent several thousand
dollars in developing coal measures on
the opposite side of the mountain from
the Sunnyside mine. Employees drove a
tunnel TO the opposite side of the noun
tain opened up the vein, erected a tipple
and took coal out and tested it for COX
ing purposes Since this work was done.
it is charged, the land has been purchased
for 81 % per acre on a selection made by
a Salt Lake woman, who filed on IL as
grazing land After a patent was Sc
cured the coal company extended opera
tons to the opposite side of the noun
tain and is developing extensive workings
under ground while the cows Craze peace
fully above
Ofber incidents are given where sim
liar methods have been employed to OBJ
tain possession of coal land at 81 .25 per
acre instead of $40 and $40 an acre. The
investigation which has been carried on
has resulted in the accumulation of much
evidence of this character which viii be
presented when the suits are heard in the
United States court.