The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1907-11-08
STEALING GOAL LANDS
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
to the character of the land fact appears that the board
previously contracted with Mr. Robert Forester for the sale Of
very lands which the and had made application to
quire
The State Land Board had appointed president and
its agents examine and investigate the character Of the land
These gentlemen instead of conscentiouy performing their du
and satisfying themselves through their knowledge Il
character Of the land turn appointed the coal companies DUNN
applicants their agents report Of II
land thus playing into the hands Of conspiratoor pehaf
carrying out their part of conspiracy The dummy applicants
course reported that they had investigated the for which the
were applying and found them chiefly vauab
for agricultural purposes
A CAUTIOUS AFFIDAVIT
In States known mineral land States of which Utah is one
no entry selection under the of the United States can
made without filing at the Land Office affidavit effect tina
the applicant Gin this the president and secretary Of the Stat
Land Board) had personally examined and found it to
non-mineral
These very cautious and honest State officials did file an affidavit
apparently Of the form and required but in truth al
evasion Instead of saying that they had personally examined h
lands and knew them to be nonmnea they alleged that they ac
te land TO be examined by agents and employees State
(wo stated the coal companies dunes) and that there
was not to the knowledge of the president secretary any de-
posts OF coal other on the lands This is one av o
telling the truth and also way of telling plain lie Certainly
there were deposits the knowledge of the president and sec
re nasuch they had personal knowledge of the lands
at all But as matter of fact the applied for and selected
AS to the men and applicants Gin this case dummies for
e fraudulent work of both the coal companies the State Boar
course they had never examined the land but had upon them
a the behes OF the expert agent of the companies
1t will be understood that as the men and women secured
heri titles they transferred the the coal companies fine
companies of had put up the purchase price for b land
d all necessary expenses and also paid the dummies bonus for
he use of their names
The tact that these selections made by sovereign State
appears to have had the effect of mpressng the land officers
N a S1IuOO rNUifI thai o,,
enea Land ohce was strangely gube Cor perhaps noddng
leeply) about this time
THESE TITLES FRAUDULENT.
however the titles thus passing from the Federal Government
we're audulen-in fact void hence present embarrassment Of
ne coal company gentlemen the State Land Board
e DUST now beng kicked by the Department of Justice in
tah The lands secured by the two companies in the ono S++
re valued at about two million dollars
ay nothing OF the otherwise questionable character Of the
cuo Is interesting to reflect upon the public spectacle Of
tate officials SO readily lending themselves to the ainqn into
o noopohsts one OF the great resources of the pee r.
actcaly the the Territory of Arizona b
c zap OF big private company for song large portion f i
ry limited lumber resources " Il
ASIDE from the moral effect to the inhabitants of region b
cd as the tools OF corporations rob themselves and &
rhaps the most despicable policy of the powerf, r,1 S
IS has been to prevent the development of smaller t
prSeS both by methods of intimidation and bv denial 80 ST.
ght rates IN some cases the refusal of track PRIVILEGES Ia
tins during the period when every indication pond
u iO lue dt reasonable prices, at pactcay ,o fl
ce throughout the West 9 any at
!. A L.. Iof
as has been suggested by certain comments Of the
mmece Commissions Had the railroad companies IN h I G
n as energetic IN adding to their equipment and in
OF coa mines under fair conditions all as they have II
" " ~ eio 70 eooDle everything in sigh-incudino ono a. y
er-the West would not have had to endure coal " wi
er or be facing another this coming winter C I as'
sons IN wyoming and Colorado involve incidents and as z
les OF greater importance than those f H. ~ person the
usSed in another nstaliment" " TAU ana VIII be 2n'
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TIT TJNIICEIE o.,r,