Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-11-12


sion OF by actual settlers.
Right here in this little city Of
Lebanon is a good place to begin tn,
work. Running east from Lebanon
Is one OF the greatest of these steals
For thirty miles east of Leba
non is one of the finest regions IN
the state capable of supporting rail
roads, cities. Industries and mines
of the greatest wealth.
but THEY ARE ALL BLOCK.
ED OUT AND SHUT IN from de.
velopment on account of the surrep.
titiously obtained title of Lazzard
Freres, of Paris. France, to a wagon
road land grant embracing millions
OF acres.
What Is Proposed.
There are at least ten as big
grabs of public lands, as big blots
and as big obstacles to the develop
| ment of the richest parts Of Ore
gon.
with two-ffths OF the state tied
IN in Forest Reserves and from
thirty TO forty monopolistic holdings
of from 100000 to 100000 acres
of our best farming, grazing, timber
and mineral lands. WHAT is THE
CHANCE OF DEVELOPING THIS
STATE?
Where are we to put the people
we bring here to settle up the state
under these circumstances?
"We can invite them to take their
place in the line in front OF a land
Office at Prineville. Roseburg or
klamath Falls and sell their birth
right for a few hundred dollars by
assigning their claim to some big
corporation that Is GRABBING
STILL MORE PUBLIC LANDS.
What is proposed Is to put an
end to this mockery OF land adminin-
tratlon, that is enriching the pluto
cracy still further. and enable the
settlers TO become bona fide home
builders and real occupants OF the
soil.
How Can This BE Done? 1
This cannot be done short OF a
peaceful revolution In the state land
policies, that shall be on a basis OF
equity and justice.
How can We stop the great land-I
enterprises that ARE Co
ING ON AT PRESENT IN THIS
STATE right under the noses OF the
people?
. Two alien nonresident corpora
tlons are dividing OF the territory in
the Kalamth country and taking all
the timber lands there worth hav-
Ing.
THE Northern Pacific Railroad
company land department Is scrip
ping township after township in the
foothills of the Cascades, right in
Linn county. almost In sight OF this
Development convention.
1t is said TO be done with Santa
Fe scrip. When Congress passed the
hill az the last session prohibiting
relinquishments In Forest Reserves
Il especially exempted the Santa Fe
System | am told.
What right had Congress 20
make an exemption in favor OF any
corporation and give Il rights over
any citizen or any other corpora
tion?
"These gigantic transfers OF Ore
gon public lands cannot be stopped
except by reaching far enough back
to destroy all spurious basis OF ten
ure obtained by indireetion,
How the Fight win Re Made.
THE Willamette Valley Develop
ment League not only appointed a
TO look into the spurious
Wagon Road and Military Road
grants but got into correspondence
with the Oregon and California Rail-
road company.
THE latter soon disclosed dis
position TO PUT ITS REST FARM.
ING AND FRIUT LANDS ON THE
MARKET.
Making some reservations of
such timber land as the company
might need for railroad ties and
,ridgs timber. the rest was got ready
BY plating and descriptions 20 be
sold to settlers.
when It's vast holdings were
lboHt to be offered 20 the public In
Oregon. the California earthquake
anne along and destroyed all the
'lats and records and an the work
Slll have 70 be done over again.
In justice 10 that eoporartiOn let