The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-17
FEAR that TITLE
TO LOTS INVALID
RhyoIite Badly Stirred Up Over
Alleged Action of the
Government.
HUNDREDS FEAR RUIN
If RUM0R is TRUE
Claimed That TOwnSite LOca-
tons Are Made Without
Regard to Law.
Special to The Tribune.

SIeClal 10 Inc tribune.
RHYoLITE, New. June 16.-Govern-
nent surveyors are at work in the center
OF the camp making new survey of the
Town. They are ordering property owners
10 move their buildings 10 conform with
their survey ard it Is generally believed
by non property owners that President
Roosevelt has made a secret order re-
serving tne townsites OF Nevada where
they are located under the mineral laws
and that the government Will take charge
OF ali townsltes. re-survey the same and
sell them out al public auction.
Property owners are highly excited and
sCoT the Idea. Many Of them have paid
large considerations for lots and erected
substantial buildings upon them, and they
say that the government would not re-
sort 10 such methods, Town lot jump
ing has begun and eJeCtments by bodies
of citizens have followed. II is claimed
that ex-senator W. NJ Stewart has ad-
Vlsed town lot jumping. and people are
very indignant at him.
The FIRST town lot jumping took place
IN front Of the senator's bungalow and
just across the street from him car
penter came from Los Angeles and after
consulting the ex-senator erected a tent
on the lot at night and the following
morning began fencing the property. j.
Kerns. of The bulfrog bank the owner OF
the property. was notified, and Joined
by party OF fifteen citizens and friends.
called on the alleged jumper, When in
formed by kerns that he had owned
the lot for two years and paid taxes on
il, the contestant said he had gone about
The matter advisediy and refused 10 move
The party gave him ten minutes In which
10 get off. He went 10 Senator Stewart
who standing in his yard specta-
tor TO the transaction, and after few
minutes conversation returned and
warned the men to desist from interfer-
ing with his improvements
BY this time a wagonload OF men had
arrived and they prepared to hitch the
team 20 the PENTHOUSE. which was con-
structed of Uoards and cloth, but dozen
men seized the structure and carried ii
nff down the hill and set II into an alley.
Then they moved the belongings OF the
alleged jumper 10 the tent and warned
him not 10 replace the same. He prom
Is reported that dozens of persons were
IN the background watching the results
with view OF jumping lots il the Los
Angeles man should succeed But the
determined action of the ''viglantes" de-
Jerred them. and nothing further has been
attempted, Though a general uneasiness
prevails among men who own lots that
are lot improved. well as among those
who have put valuable improvements on
property.
The alarm began to spread with the ap-
pearance Of government surveyors here
u week ago. They began a systematic
survey of the town and talked Of straight
eping out the streets ana compelling GER
tain people to move their improvements To
conform with their survey The townsitc
owners were appealed 10 by property own
ers. but no definite explanation could be
made. The theory was then advanced
that the President had declared this
toWnsite reservation and was preparing
10 take charge OF ii under the laws OF the
government. The report that surveyors
were at work In Goldfield and the further
report that the local government repre-
sentativcs had given 1t ont that the Pres
ident had made a secret order Increased
the alarm. 10 Is the general belief among
many here that the government. is going
10 undo all of the townsIte locations in
the several portions Of the State.
II is claimed that none Of them has
been legally located; that all the town
sites have been located as mineral claims
and that assessment work has not even
peen done in many cases, and that where
il has been done, in few cases have lodes
been uncovered. II is claimed that near
~ all of the townsltes thus located have
been in fragrant disregard OF the laws and
that the President is going 10 stop the
issuance Of patents and take charge of
appIaisements made and sell them out
under the provisions OF the statutes
Such action in Rhyolitc would reduce
mtllionaires to poverty. They are men
three yeaTs have struggled In the desert
and endured the hardships Of desert life
N ORDER TO get a start. They acquired
me townslte under the mineral aci and
sold out the lots al a minimum price in
many cases, The few dollars they re-
ceived for the lots they put in mining
properties and have prospcred. Now the
OTIS have reached fabulous prices and the
men who have them look to the townsite
ocators Tor guaranty. Should the gov
srnment take them and sell them or com =
pei the holders 10 pay their value today
1T would bankrupt the men who sold the
lotS in the beginning 10 make good. Thou
involved