The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-27
SALT LAKE And
STATE NEWS
SUIT AGAINST UTAH
FUEL CO. SETTLED

Salt Lake City. July 26.-The pros
ecution of the Utah Fuel company by
the federal government on the charge
of having illegally secured certain coal
lands in Carbon county by the use OF
dummy entrymen was practically end
ed today by the dismissal OF two suits
and the payment TO the government
of $50 in payment for coal extract
ed from the lands.
The Utah Fuel company further
agreed to reconvey to the United
States 500 acres of land in Carbon
county and other counties in the state.
valued at $4,000.
The total amount paid the govern.
ment by the Utah Fuel company the
past four months reaches the sum Of
S275 900
In addition the government has re-
covered coal lands valued at 5000 900.
Washington. July 26-Promising
new prosecution II further investiga~
lion now in progress shows that other
coal lands have been illegally acquired.
Attorney General Wlckorsham today
gave out a statement concerning the
discontlnuance of the equity suits re
Gently instituted against the discon-
tindance of the equity suits recently
instituted against the Utah Fuel COM
pany TO annul title TO 500 acres of
coal lands in Utah. valued at $4,000.
This action is included by the set
tlement by the government and repre-
sentatiyeS OF the fuel company under
which the company agrees to pay the
government $4,000. reconveys the 500
acres to the United States. besides
$14 900 paid to the government when
the patents were issued on the land.
The fuel company is a subsidiary cor
poration OF the Denver and Rio Grande
railroad
The official statement issued at the
department of justice says;
"A few months ago the Utah Fuel
company. subsidiary corporation Of
the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
company, pleaded guilty in the dis
trict court of the United States for the
district OF Utah TO an indictment
charging it with having conspired to
defraud the United States of LAO
acres OF coal lands, and was fined
$4,000 It also reconveyed to the
United States these lands. which are
forfeited the original purchase price
and paid TO the United States the sum
of 1892, 900 in settlement OF It's claims
for coal taken from other lands which
could ont be reconveyed owing to the
fact that they were mortgaged to Sc
cure issues of bonds outstanding In
the hands OF bona fide purchasers.
Subsequent to the settlement the
agents OF the government became sat
isficd that the UTAH Fuel company had
Illegally acquired title to other coal
lands OF the United States In Utah and
after examination of their report the
attorney general directed suits in
equity to be brought to annul titles TO
such lands. Shortly after the com.
mencement of these suits the repre-.
SentativeS Of the company opened ne
gotiationS for settlement which re.
suited in an adjustment agreed TO by
the secretary OF the interior and the
attorney general. pursuant To which
the Utah Fuel company pays to the
government $4,000, reconveys TO the
United States 500 acres of coal land
now appraised at value of about
100000, besides forfeiting S14,400 paid
10 the government at the time patents
were ISSUED on the lands,
I'm view of the settlement and upon
payment and reconveyance as above
mentioned, the attorney general has
discontinued the suits. Only the lands
described in the suits discontinued
were embraced in the settlement Fur
ther investigation is being prosecuted
and in case other coal lands shall ap-
pear to have been illegally acquired
suits will at once he instituted 10 as
sert the governments interest
therein"