The Detroit times., 1910-10-29
|P|kCHOT TELLS OF
FRAUD SCHEMES
Forestry Service Continually Fight
ing Fakirs-Special Interests Foe
of Conservation

THE plan OF conservation can sue
coed only. by putting the special In
terests out OF politics." emphatically
declared Clifford Pinchot, former chief
forester for the United States, In an
address before the members OF the
Twentieth Century club, Friday after
noon. I'VE must put an end to the
corrupt alliance between business and
politics, and thus beat the man who
Is in politics for his own good"
Water power. he said, was the only
permanent resource the country had.
Mr.. Pinchot, at the outset of his ad-
dress. gave his audience some inside
information about the methods en-
ployed TO Illustrate the plans OF con-
servation. He told OF the strenuous
opposition which a conservation bill
met In the senate. A western sena-
tor was the cause of the bills lack OF
progress. Mr.. Pinchot said he was un-
able to account for the opposition
until somebody suggested that he see
a certain capitalist in New York. The
capitalist was found to be opposed to
the bill, but Mr.. Pinchot said he con-
Hlul Tie HOulu HQl
his interests, with the result that the
opposition from the western senator
disappeared and the bill became law.
This was the kind OF opposition the
forestry service had to fight contin-
ually, Mr. Pinchot said.
The speaker then told OF attempts
by the forestry service to get leglsla-
tion to prevent the establishment OF
fake mining claims by private inter-
ests In national forests. Among a
number OF bills passed by the senate
last spring was one enabling the presi-
dent to withdraw water power sites.
The bill passed the house In good con-
dition, but was spoiled by the senate,
which added joker providing that
mining claims might be laid along
streams in the national forests where
there was gravel or stone. The water
power interests succeeded in having
the joker incorporated In the bill, said
Mr. Pinchot.
The tricks OF land grabbers were
also exposed. The government was
cheated out OF many acres OF land
every year, Mr. Pinchot declared.
II know OF one case where a man
got a piece of desert land by the
worst kind OF fraud" said Mr.. Pin.
chot. ITO acquire land of this sort
1t is necessary to prove that you have
dug a ditch and irrigated II. The man
| speak OF ran a pillow through the
earth. making only one furrow. Then
he dumped a barrel of water into the
so-called ditch and got afiidavits from
two men who saw the performance TO
the effect that they saw water running
through the land. In this way the
man got q clear title to the property.
Another fraudulent scheme in re-
gard to the acquisition OF swamp land.
where the government provides that a
claimant shall first survey the land IN
a boat, is for the claimant to place a
small boat on a wagon, get into the
boat and ride over portion of the
dry land Then he swears he has
been over the land in boat"
Much valuable timberland In the
redW God belt on the California coast
was lost to the government by sharp
ers getting crews OF schooners to ME
claims for land. The crews, after get
ting a small fee for their work. turned
the land over to the sharpers, Mr..
Pinchot said.
The speaker asserted that public
opinion was now thoroughly aroused
to the dangers of the inroads being
made on the national resources. and
that conditions were such that the pro-
gram Of conservation could now be
carried on with success.
Mr.. Pinchot was introduced by Mrs.
Robert E. Plum. After his address he
was introduced to many Of the mem
bers OF the club He thinks the women
are more progressive than the men In
regard to conservation, and he didn't
hesitate to so inform the Board OF
Commerce at the noon luncheon in the
Hotel Pontchartraln on Friday.