The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1906-12-04


ers told bow the fuel company en-.
ioyed railroad rate about one-balf
that Of the public, and was thus
able to crush out all competition.
The government was particular to
secure all the evidence available on
this rebating evil, and propose to
place it before the attorney general
as material in prosecution of the
fuel company and the railroads
granting the rebates.
Byron Groo, former secretary of
State Land Board Of Utah, was
questioned as to how title to thous.
ands of acres of land was passed
from the state of Utah :.to the coal
companies. He admitted that large
tracks Of land were so disposed of
by the state land board, but said
he could not remember the amounts
paid or other de.ails of the transac.
ton. i
George D. Halliday, of Salt Lake
City, told of his efforts to acquire
title to tract of coal land in Whit.
more Canyon, near Sunnyside. He.
organized the Halliday Coal Com.
pany and undertook to mine coal.
Robert Forester, geologist of the
Utah Fuel Company; W. J. Kip
man and other men came to him,
he ssid, and told him that "nless
he got off the land they would jump
nis claim. Later, during his ab-
So :, armed men went in and took
p 2zcrsion of his property, to which
man named Robert Kirker set up
claim. Halliday testified that be
attempted to contest Kirker's claim
in the district court Of the Third
Utah district, but every decision
was against him until be secured a
transfer Of the case to Salt Lake
City. Mr.. Halliday told Of several
conversations. had with Robert
Clark, superintendent of the Pleas
ant Valley Coal company, and 9th.
er officials of the coal companies,
in which Isometimes threats were
made against him and at other
times efforts were made to buy him
out. Finally, firing of the struggle
he sold out to the coal company for
1922, 800.
After the Pleasant Valley Com
pany casssd Kirker to jump his
claim, Halliday testified, he went
back TO the property, but was driv-
en- off by seven armed men and
Kirker fred shot at him. From
tue time Kirker jumped the claim,
he testified, until he sold out his
right to the Pleasant Valley Com
pany. he was not permitted to go
upon his land. This land, which
Halliday located in 1897, today is
one of the most valuable coal and
coking properties owned by the
Utah Fuel Company,
The afternoon session was enliv-
ened by story in which rifles,
threats of violence and corporate re-
venge figured. Arthur A. Sweet
testified that he had protested the
location of tract of coal land by
Charles Moysten Owen, who filed
on it as agricultural land. The
protest was upheld and Sweet filed
on it as mineral land. When be
went to take possession, heencount.
cred F. M. Wheel ng and a Mexi.
can, both armed with rifles. Dis
regarding their statement that there
was "no coal land on the land" hs
went on to the property. AS be
proceeded, he heard gun fred
The armed men followed him to hi;
claims aud told him be had to leave
They asked him If he would go "a
his pleasure" or by force. He con
sented to 60 at "his pleasure. ;"
], Afterward, he said, he secured
two injunctions from the distric
court of the state restraining The
fuel company from interfering will
, him, but the injunctions were con
continued on page a.