The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-09-29
WHO WILL Get
|. VALUABLE LAND?
y.ouewiick People at Walla Walla
i This Week Contesting for
Rich Acres

,eonle are interested in two Of the
most important land cases which
have been tried at Walla Walla this
.pason. In the first of these, the
rnceedings were to determine
rhether or not J. A. Schiffner, of
cnokane had a preference right to
,he northeast half of section 10,
township s, range 20, and his right
vas contested by 7. B. Wright and
G. Ridley, Of the Highlands, j.
E. Plummer, employed with the
Cab Creek Lumber Company, and
E, Fishback, operator at Relief.
The second case was that of J. E..
Webb versus M. Driscoll and the
bone Of contention was so acres of
ane land described as the north
half Of the northwest quarter of Sec
ton 10, township s, range 20.
At this stage no decisions have
been rendered, but it is thought
that all will be satisfactorily settled
within the next thirty days.
Wright, Ridley, Plummer and Fish
back have agreed to take forty acres
apiece if the decision is rendered in
heir favor.
The history of their case in brief
sas follows: In 1902 Mrs. H. C.
Mitcham made desert land entry,
nvulving the land now in litigation.
She found it impossible to get water
on the land within four years after
her entry was made and she was
advised by the United States Gov
eminent special agent A. F. Leach,
that if she would execute a relin-
quishment of entry the same would
operate as restoration OF her rights
and new filing would be allowed
her If she at any time wished to
4 make such a fling
In 1908, J. J. Schiffner instituted
acontest against her entry. Mrs.
Micham says that no notice of the
contest was served on her until af
ter her REIMBURSEMENT, which she
made acting upon the advice of the
special agent. OF course Mr.. Schiff
ner claims his preference right by
reason OF this contest and the pur-
pose OF the hearing was to deter
nine whether or not his contes,
vas the result of Mrs. Mitcham's
relinquishment.
On December 2Sth, 1905, the
land was closed to all entries by the
sovernment and was not thrown
open to settlers until May 16, 1911
At midnight on that date Messrs
Wright, Ridley, Plummer and Fish.
Oack moved on the land and have
resided there since that time. An.
,'ner purpose of the hearing was te
ue'ermlne whether any of these fou1
ad any prior rights over the Others
s aset upon the time of their 10.
aung. Mrs. Mitcham is no Longer
pronally interested in the case.
hr. Mitcham made a desert lane
''l!fy at about the same time as hi
'ne and relinquished it in thu
Ame manner and for the same rea
@us that she gave up hers. In 1905
F" Z. Webb entered a contes,
saiiist the entry. The proceed
~ss IN this case are almost identi
Win the first. However, there
s9ne additional feature. J. NJ
a"kins has entered a contest in
~ wing ~ acres Of the eighty which
eihg contested and a decision i
- Nv pending in the general lane
n. 'e at Washington, D. C. Mr.
1scoli offers no dispute in regare
',.: "Ar' Hawkins contest, the onl,
,sS'lon being whether Mr.. Hawk
q Das a right to a homestead en-
v or desert land entry.
~ /" may be stated in connection
H. ~ 'nese land contests and other
~ ~ 'he parties involved have
- su' to appeal from the local Ian,
I 70 the commissioner of tn