The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-07-12
PROBING INTO 1RE |
COAL LAND FRAUD
Numerous Suits Will Fold
lnItlatory One Against Pleas
ant Valley Company.
SITUATION Is DECIDEDLY /
A COMPLEX AFFA
Utah Fuel Company, II Is Sa
Will Also Figure in the
Deal.

The action begun in the Fede
court a few days ago by the AtueG
ncy-Genern, Of the United States u"
against the Pleasant Valley Coal cofu
pany, for the purpose OF setting as
a deed to coal land now held by /
company, on the ground that the la,|l
had been obtained fraudulently. wilt a
there is any dependence to placed up y
current and persistent rumors. be Z.
lowed by numerous suits which .
have for their purpose the same obis
as that OF the case Just begun. Tn
object is to have reverted to the gar
eral Government the title to a lar.
number of similar tracts that have be-
obtained by means not in accordarr
with the laws and customs of the co,,,s
try. n
Is a Complex Affair s.
The situation Is a decidedly compIl
affair. The foundation on which n,
contemplated litigation will be best.
has been laid by several years of ii'..
vestigation by special agents OF II
land department. inspectors from ~
Department Of the Interior and reprf
sentauves of the Department Of JusticF
These agents have not always work.
together, and 1t Is said that In md
instances neither class knew what IL
other classes were doing.
While the initiative in prosecution hF
been taken by the Department Of Ju
tice, 1t Is reported that the most al
gressive work in the way OF invcstiRt
tons has been done by the Depar-
ment of the Interior and It Is said tht
Secretary Hitchcock has at all tlmt
been energetic in urging that mattei
be brought TO a climax.
Alleged Frauds Complicated.
These alleged frauds as reported a,
as complicated as the manner In whio
they have been probed. The Pleasat
Valley Coal company. 1t Is said, wi
not be the only defendant In the mis
UP. but that the Utah Fuel compan,
and other companies, will be classe
In the same category. The State
Utah Is another predicted defendant
In which the actions OF the State Lam
Board prior to the present administrf
tlon will be shown up in a light tht
will be anything but complimentar.
In this connection 1t may be Of interei
TO know that United States Marshl
Spry, who for a time was chairman
the State Land Board, stated to
friend in speaking Of the TRANSACTED
prior to the time In which he was
that office. that he was satisfied thi
porations and individuals had been pc
petrated against the Government.
State Land Board Silent.
The silence OF the board for mar
years, and the reluctance, whIc
amounted to a refusal, to make publ
many OF its acts. has always been
cause for suspicion. Where coal eI
tries have been made by individua
selections near by have been made
the State. but publicity was not give
to these selections. When the result
of the Investigations are made publ
some racy results are anticipated
the names OF those who were put ne1
to the work of the board. and from 9
appearances were working with thi
body.
Into Hands OF Monopoly.
It Is said that all over the coal flelt
of the STATE this condition has pr
vailed and that thousands Of acres (
valuable coal land. known to be sue
was In this way obtained contrary
law for s1.25 an acre, which trifle WEI
to the State, while the Government W.
defrauded out of from $40 to $50 a
acre, according to location. and the Il
vored individuals were allowed to gror
large tracts and lay the foundations Il
future monopolies that would restri'
the production and regulate the pr1t
Of coal.
Made a HousecleaninS.
So shady indeed was the attitude an
actions of the former State Land Boar
with reference to the selections an
sale of lands, and their secrecy an
mysterious attitude. that Gov Cutle
when he was inaugurated, found II ad
visable to make complete houseclear
Ing of the whole bunch, with but a de
Cldedy few exceptions.
When the corporations and the Stat
are disposed of there are said to b
numerous individuals who VIII
brought In for an unsavory ehowrnl
Many of these men have been prom
nent In public and business ara1rs an
It ia said that the list may include
United States Senator.
Action of Civil Nature.
The action begun was of civil ms
ture. but It is claimed that criminG
prosecutions of the offenders will ad
TO the interest Of the episode, and tha
there is great fear among the offend
ers over future developments au
among the prosecutors for fear tha
the Offenders may take to tall TIMBER.
Some of this class of land-grabber
have already, IL is said, begun to q
from under by attributing certain ques
tionabIe actions to men who have die
since the transactions were made.
Buried in California.