The Jersey City news., 1906-12-08


BUSINESS Of salt Lake City Coal
Dsaisr Who Cut Prices Alleged
Methad q Aeqairina Valuable Min
eraI Deposits exposed
Salt Lake City, Dec. S.-Tile federal
grand ju1y taat is Investigating coal
land fraads Ia Utah and charges that
rQliroad corporations have discrininat-
ed against certain shippers made a
report Indictments were returned
against the Union Pacific Railroad
company, the oregon Short Line Rail-
road company, the Union Pacific Coal
company, the Utah Fuel company and
several Of the highest officials repre-
senting the Hartman and Could cor
porations in Utah.
The Indictment against the Harri-,
man companies charges violation of
the interstate commerce law, alleging
discrimination against D. j. Sharp, a
coal dealer in Salt Lake City, who
was forced out of business by denial of
cars. after he had cut prices below the
prices charged by other dealers in coal.
The Indictment against the repre-
sentatiyes of the Gould interests
charges them with defrauding and at
tempting to defraud the United States
government, the charges being based
on the methods pursued in acquiring
title to coal lands in Utah.
Investigation Only Begun.
After the grand jury adjourned AS
sistant Attorney General Maynard said
that when it reconvenes the inquisi-
ton will be resumed. The indictments,
he said, mark only the beginning Of
the governments probing in Utah and
Wyoming, and the violations of law
alleged in these indictments are only
incidents OF a gigantic system Of fraud
that has been in operation.in the west
for many years.
The Indictment against the Utah
Fuel company and the six agents Of
that company is based on the methods
used in acquiring about j, 400 acres of
eoal lands in Sewer county, Utah. The
lands We're fled on March "a, 1905.
Robert Forester, geoIogist and min
L
is alleged to have been charged with
tie actual direction Of the men who
fled on tie lands. After FORESTER had
prospected on tie ground George Al.
Moore, the Utah Fuel company's agent
in Denver, went over the claims and
on each caused to be dug an excava-
ton exposing the coal deposits. "Dum-
my locaters were then obtained to
make filings on the claims. These
We're mostly young men, who were
each paid s., their expenses to and
from the lands and SO a day while they
We're employed entering the claims.
There was an explicit understanding
that tbe claims we're TO be conveyed to
the Utah Fuel company or It's agents
Deceased Attorney In Case.
THE men wera taken On the lands.
the coal deposits were shown to them.
and Immediately they hled Oh the lands
with application papers made out by
the companv's attorney. Major viii
liam Il. Bird. Major Bird has since
died. All the entries to the /, 400 acres
were made on the same date.
On each Of the claims a payment Of
$1,000 TO the government was neces-
sary. Loans for this amount were
made by various persons. The govern
ment prosecutors say that the persons
from whom the loans We're obtained
were mere ageAts of the coal company.
April 4, 1906 tge coal lands were Trans
ferred to Frank A. CallSins. CallxHs
is fatfler-in-law Of II N Clark. the
Utah Fuel campany's Denver. attorney.
against whom an Indictment was re-
turned
N November following CaIlzins. in
newspapers of salt Lake City, adver
tised 6is coal lands for sale. From
GalkiIls The lands were. transferred to-
F'rank 3. CooE, a mining man Of Salt
Lake CITY The lands now stand in
Cooks name. The allegation Of the
goTerpment's attorneys is that Cook
holds the lands il trust for the Utah
Fuel company.
The allegai9a IS made that Just be-
fore the lands were advertised by Cal
kins a report was made to the land ~
paftment Ia Washington BY Special
Agent Love. who charged fraud and
collllsion in ae boating Of tue lands.
Informa&ion o9 this is alleged to have
reaehea t9e persons involved, aud the
transfer to Cook followed