Imperial Valley press., 1912-09-24
EXPECTED TO PICK UP
FORTUNE FOR NOTHING

There was a long line of people wait
ing at the Los Angeles land office yes
terday, fooled into the belief that there
were farms to be had here for moth
ing, due to the announcement of the
restoration to filing OF valley land that
was already occupied by men who
were awaiting this announcement. The
Examiner thus described the scene:
After many hours of waiting in
line and prepared for an all night
vigil many homeseekers were disap-
pointed yesterday at the federal build
ing. Forming on the fifth floor IN
front of the door of the United States
land office, scores planned to remain
there 50 as to be first in the registra-
tion for Imperial valley land, which
is to be opeend by the government.
"The majority, however, had not
posted themselves on certain require
ments, and they were sent away by
L. Vandemhook, chief clerk of the land
office, because of their ineligibility to
file on the land Only those who had
been over the strip to be, opened and
had specific description of the land
they wished to homestead could file
papers, Vandemhook told the waiting
crowd.
There remained in line, however,
more than a score who had fulfilled
the preliminary requirements. They
Will have choice Of the land when the
land office opens at 9 this morning.
Meantime. many of the disappointed
land seekers are on their way to the
Imperial valley to study the section,
so they may return and file on the land
which was not taken in the first rush.
Among those who We're disappoint-
ed was A. Bish, $50 Clarence avenue,
who stood for hours in line with his
fancee, Miss May Terry They had
planned to be married soon and be-
gin their honeymoon by building a
home on a claim. When vandenhook
made the announcement that shattered
the home dreams of so many, Bish
stepped out of the line detected. Miss
Terry, however, cheered him with
words of encouragement.
eff we cannot get the Imperial val
ley land we will build our home else
where she said, but we had so
planned on getting a homestead.
"Bish was offered $25 in cash for
his place previous to the dispersion of
the homeseekers by Vandemhook. An
other man, A. Landis, said that he
would not give up his position in line
for S1OO
Another in line was Charles f. Rob-
erts. a young man formerly of the
Los Angeles high school, who was am
bilious TO start in the ranching busi-
To 70 10, IL,
in the afternoon and took his place
in line. His parents came up later and
brought his dinner and were there
when the disappointing announcement
was made.
H. P. Howell was another who had
planned an Imperial valley home. He
lives with his bride at 332 South Fig
ueroa street. He had intended to take
up a section of land.
"Among the disappointed were E. II
SchuZichur, T. B. Schuzichur, Seward
E. Carr, Elmer c. Vanderburg, A. f.
Swaffield, j. B. Barker, J. A. Randol
r. Lands, A. Landis and NJ. r. Delp
"The land to be offered is approxi-
mately 1000 acres. These acres re-
verted to the government under the
reclamation act in 1909. Any person
who has personally examined the sec
tion which he wishes to settle is en-
titled to file for it at 9 this morning
Previous to the reclamation act In
1909 the land in question had been
squatted upon, but even these squat
ters had to apply and file anew with
two witnesses to claim the restored
sections.
"Chief Clerk Vandemhook made il
clear to those present that they were
not only hampered by the law which
directs personal investigation, but that
the land taken up must be lived upon
and utilized by the individual tax
ing it."