East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-12-21
DESERT LAND OWNERS
URGING PATENTS
PETITION OREGON SOLONS
To SECURE PASSAGE OF BILL
Delay In Granting Homesteaders
Clear Sitle To Holdings Is Charged
TO DIR. ii. waldo Coc, Opponent of
Reclamation Service Projects.
Especial Correspondence }


Hermi ton. Dec. 21.-That the des-
ert land holders are in earnest re-
garding the issuance of patents to
their lands is shown by the number
of people who have signed the peti-
ton, which will be mailed to the Ore
Son delegation, the pres dent and sec
retary of the Interior. Hon. A. w.
lafferty r>w has a copy of the bill
these people wish to have passed and
has promised that he will give this his
attention. He States that he has
hopes that he will be able to get this
through tbs session. Mr.. Lafferty
had this bill last session of congress,
but, it is alleged, on account of Dr.
Waldo Coe. who is said to have wish
ed to have the bill changed and who
is charged with making a statement
that he represented the people of
Hermiston, this did not receive the
attention that it should have rece'v-
ed. The secretary also has a copy
and the people under this project are
looking forward when this bill will be
passed and they can sell off their
lands.
The Bill.
Following is the bill the desert
land people want passed by congress:
That, where any bone fide desert
land entry has been, or may be en-
braced within the exterior linn IS of
any irrigation project under the act
entitled "An act appropriating the
receipts from the sale and disposal
of public lands in certain states and
territories to the construct on of ir-
rigation works for the reclamation of
arid lands" approved June II, 1902,
and the desert land entrymen or his
ass gns shall make proof showing full
compliance with the provis ons of the
desert land laws as to reclamation, ir-
rigation and improvements of said
entry. and shall submit satisfactory
proof that he has relinquished or
abandoned all of the land embraced
in said entry in excess of one hundred
and sixty (160) acres and has 6 ven
to the United States or to the Water
Users association. if one has been or
ganized in the irrigation project in
which the land is located, a len upon
| the said land embraced in said entry,
and all water rights appurtenant
! thereto, to secure the payment of all
charges for water for the said land,
and upon the payment of one ($1 00
| per acre for said land, final certfi-
cate and patent shall issue therefore,
| to the entryman or his assigns.
Postmaster Williams has just re-
ceived notice from Washington that
Hermiston has been designated as a
postal savings depository the branch
to be opened here January 5, 1912
The new postoff ce building is now
| under construction and will be fin
ished in a short time.
The annual meeting of the Farm
ers' Exchange was held here this
week and the report of bus ness tran
sacted for the year was read. Direc-
| tors were elected for the ensuing
year as follows: George A. Cres y
| PIP. Sullivan, Henry Sommeror w
H. Skinn,r and Otto G. Sapper. Aft
| er adjournment the new electors
qualified and organized by electing the
! following officers: President, w. H
Skinner. H. II. Sommeror, vice presi-
dent; o. G. Sapper, secretary treas
| urer