The daily sentinel., 1906-02-28
MIR. RHONE INTERVIEWER
ON HIS WASHINGTON TRIP.

This morning the Sentinel had an
/ interview with Attorney Henry r.
Rhone as to his trip to Washington.
{ ID. c. made for the purposes of pre-
senting 10 the department of the in
I terror a petition signed by several
hundred people who hold claims
under the proposed high line canal
asking that they be allowed to
commute al once, paving the govern
ment the Sl.2J per acre and owning
their claims in Zee simple
Mr.. Rhone evidently worked faith
fully and strenuously in the Interest
of the homesteaders during the time
he was in Washington and # is hard
ly probable that any other man sent
down to Washington could have done
more toward advancing the interests
of the homesteaders.
In many ways much good has ac-
crued and will accrue from Mr.
Rhone's trip, according 10 argu-
ments advanced by parties who We're
favorable TO the homesteaders and
by gentlemen who opposed the grant
ing OF the petition.
Mr.. Rhone stated that Immediate
ly upon his arrival in Washington
he interviewed the members of the
Colorado Congressional delegation
and easily secured the support and
signatures of the entire delegation
with the exception of Congressman
Brooks who was not in Washington
at the time and Mr. Brooks afterward
told Mr.. Rhone that he would have
readily signed the petition.
II was first planned that Senator
Teller shonld interview the secretary
of the. interior with Mr.. Rhone but
owing to the fact that the venerable
senator was unable to get out on ac-
count of lameness from which he
was suffering Congressman Hogg ac-
companied Mr.. Rhone on his visit TO
the secretary of the interior Every
phase of the situation was explained
10 the secretary by Mr.. Hogg and Mr.
Rhone. The petition of the home
steaders was presented and their
claims We're fully explained Mr..
Rhone stated to the secretary that il
was impossible for the homesteaders
TO live upon their land at this time.
and that several hundred people and
not small number or coterie of land
speculators Were represented He
stated that the homesteaders were
anxious for the government to build
the ditch and had much rather see
the ditch go through than to have
their claims, consequently, in no way
did they desire the petition to in
terfere with the ditch. Mr. Rhone
stated to the secretary that it was
The desire of the petitioners that he
government should build the ditch
and this proposition should be favored
against all private building propo-
sitions. However. owing To the un-
certain time of the construction of 4
the ditch they asked to be allowed to /
commute is in so doing the building
OF the ditch was not hazarded.
Mr.. RlDnp guNe TINT fhs "A ~
who is considered n very hard man |
TO approach, was very pleasant and \
considerate and when he and Mr. /
Hogg left him they We're OF the opin-
ion that he looked upon the PROPOSE
ton with favor. Until matters were
fully explained the secretary was in
clined to be suspicious as himself and I
subordinates are always running up
against some manner of fraud
The secretary of the interior in
formed Mr. Hogg and MIR. Rhone
that the matter would be referred to
the reclamation service.
The night before he left for Wash Il
ington Mr.. Rhone informs the Sen /
tinel that he had talk with Mr..
Newell, chief engineer OF the rec
lamatlon service, communicating
with Newell. who was in Montrose
by telephone. Mr.. Rhone stated to
Mr.. Newell that IL the reclamation
service would oppose the granting
OF the homesteaders' petitions that
ne would not 30 to Washington as
he would not make the trip if he
knew thar IL would be in vain. New
ell would not commit himself as to
he action Of the reclamation serv-
ice but advised Mr. Rhone TO lay the
matter before \. p. Davis. acting
chiet engineer of the reclamation
service, on his arrival in Washington.
MT. Rhone interviewed Mr. Davis.
lie stated that he would take the
matter up for consideration on rec
ommendation of the interior depart
ment in the regular order MI
Blanchard, of the reclamation sely-
ice. was also Interviewed While
naturally none OF these men would
commit themselves MIR, Rhone be-
ieved that they were favorable
Everything went along nicely until
A telegram was received from one
lohn NJ. Williams al DeBeque by the
secretary of the interior This tele- I
gram stated among other things that
Henry X. Rhone did not represent
he people but represented Anthony
rldel and a lot of land grabbers. or
course this telegram. although who'll
y false. had its effect. The true
sender of the MESSAGE is not known
There Is no such person rs John
VI. Williams residing at DeBeque. the
lame is doubtless fictitious Later n
IN came the telegram from Judge
,aswell and the water users assoeia-
ion asking that no action be taken
4 This time and also a message from
D. w. -Aupperle. Mir. Rhone was
hown all Of these kilograms
These messages from Grand June
ion influenced the secretary of the II
Interior and In written decision Is
by Judge Parker. the pc