The Ordway new era., 1907-04-12
10 PROBE FllluD
COAL AND TiMBER THIEVES re
0G HUNTED DOWN ~ ooV.
EMINENT oIGuTHs.
STARTLING DISCLOSURES
Colorado 10 to bs Freed from Frauds
That Retard Progress Of the
Western Spirit.


Denver.-That Colofado is to become
the storm center Of fraud Investigation
by the federal government II indicated
by the action of the department OF
Justice at Washington in organizing
corps Of special assistant attorneys
general 20 aid in the work OF ferreting
out and prosecuting violators Of fed
eral laws. For months rumors OF
fraudulent coal. timber and mineral
land entries in Colorado and other
western states have been countless.
That tho federal government plans
aggressive action Is manifest. That
It may result In exposures so startling
As to shake more than one western
community from center to circumfer
ence seems certain.
General NJ. c. Burch, special assist
| ant United States attorney general,
has been located in Denver for several
months. II has been learned that he
was sent out by the department to or
ganize corps OF Assistants in prepar-
alton for the important prosecutions
to be undertaken. He has had Offices
In the Equitable building. this city.
Tho assistants chosen by Mr.. Burch
include Ernest Knaebel. Denver; F. A.
Maynard, Salt Lake City: S. r. Rush.
Omaha: f. II. Long. Durango. Colo
rado; and H. II. Schwartz. Helena.
Montana. General Burch will have his
headquarters in Denver and will direct
the investigations from this city. Ok!
lahoma and Indian Territory alone are
excepted from this arrangement. as
they are under the supervision OF the
Department OF the Interior. Every
western state will come under this
thorough investigation planned.
Sporadic investigations of coal land
frauds In Las Anlmas and Huerfano
counties. in this state, have been num-
erous and equally unfruitful. It Is pro-
posed to again go over the ground COW
cred by previous Investigations, which
were not thorough. The many en-
tries made on Routt county lands
within recent years will be fnvesti.
gated also. It is surmlsed that the
methods whereby certain companies
secured lnrge tracts OF valuable min
eral bearing lands in the vicinity OF
the Uintah Indian reservation viii
como under the searchlight of federal
Investigation also.
Recently an investigation of alleged
coal land frauds, held at Salt Lake City,
was productive OF several sensations.
and men well known In Utah and Colo
RADIO were indicted. However. that In
vestigation was on a much smaller
1Calo tnaD inc Oue 10 IOilOW tuc ncitC-
tion OF a special corps of men who
will assist the federal government ~
learning 10 Just what extent Il hab
been defrauded by men and interest,"
intent on getting portions OF the pu-
lie domain.
From Washington came the n
nouncement that Harry II. Schwstz
had been appointed chief OF the pe-
cial fold service division of the Genial
Land Ofics. It is surmised that In nm
pany with General Burch he wilfni-
tiate the proceedings in each sta In
| which they are started.
Mr.. Knaebe!. who is assistant Ired
States district attorney for Condo.
did not care to discuss the plans the
federal government. Earlier inviga-
tions. however. Indicate that motnan
one large fuel corporation In Cdado
Is likely to be involved in the 3esu-
cations conducted in this stat Inc
use OF dummies" In securt coal
lands, filings On coal lands asTicul-
tural lands, and other evasiorf ted-
eral laws will be probed.