Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-14
TO LET CONTRACTS
FOR MINERAL LAKES
State Land Board Would Per-
init Salts Of Lakes to be
Utilized

IL
personally. You may bring the devil
himself with good money for the state
school fund and we will deal with
him, was the declaration Of Governor
West at a meeting of the state land
board this noon, when the question of
the leasing of the right to develop tho
mineral deposits of lakes Summer and
Albert, in Lake county, came up for
discussion, this being the day set fol
receiying bids for the right to develop
the mineral resources of these lakes.
The declaration came in answer to-
the expression Of Counsel d. N. McIr.
turf for the Oregon Soda and Potash
association, which, under the leader.
ship or organization Of H. $. Wallace.
Of Portland, is trying TO secure title
to the mineral deposits Of the lake un.
der the placer mining laws of the gov.
erument, who said that he was afraid
that the board would not "play fair"
with Mr.. Wallace and his associates
because Of hostility felt toward Mr..
Wallace in his personal capacity As
no particular time was set in the ad.
vertisement for bids in which they
should be opened the board will hold
the bidding open until office closing
hours this evening and will open them
and probably award the lease in the
morning
No One Can Jump Them.
4 "Those lakes and their mineral con
tent are the property Of the state, and
whatever money is derived from their
development belongs to the school
funds Of the state and this board is
4 going to protect the rights Of the pub
lie schools even to the point Of the
bayonet. " declared the governor, when
\ Mr.. Wallace stated that his association
was already engaged in stalking out the
lakes beds preparatory to filing upon
\ them. elf there are any men on those
lakes tomorrow stalking out those lakes,
they have no right there and I shall
4 proceed, II necessary, to send the mi.
i litia down thcre and clean them off
and keep them off. at least until after
January II or 50 long as am in Of
+ flee. "
Mr.. Wallace, who is represented by
Attorney George VI. Orton, Of Port
land, ID. n. Mclnturff, of McInturff &
McInturff, of Salem, and other repre-.
sentatives of the association, came up
today TO submit his hid for n lease up
on the lake and stated that their bid
was backed by good and sufficient
bond which was subject to the approval
Of the board. Iu submitting the bid
Mr.. Wallace explained that his associ
\ alton still maintained that the state
had no right Of title to the lakes but
thGt, out Of spirit of patriotism and
4 loyalty to the state and out Of consid.
Grafton of the bcucfits Of the state
school fund, they were willing TO pay
4 as much or more for the privilege OF
developing the mineral resources Of the
y lakes.
q What Association Wants.
Mr. Mclnturff stated that all the as.
sociation wanted was fair play at the
N hands Of the board and did not wisl,
4 TO be held under the prejudice Of the
Y board because Of any i'll feeling that
4 may be harborcd against Mr. Wallace
as they proposed coming in with clean
hands and willing to do what is right
N in the premises. He objected TO the
a threat Of using the militia TO drive
a Them out and Treasurer Kay assured
him that 50 far ns he was concerned
he did not endorse the militia part OF
u the proposition ms that was matter
y between the governor aud the associa
: tion.
Governor West did not think the as
sociuton was playing fair with III,
l.uYl ttltAU tkaV a. al t,1.tnln.
Y good faith and at the same time wcr,
stalking out claims upon the lakes will
or the mtcntion Of filing upon the lake
.. under the mining laws and placing
N cloud upon the state IS title. Mr.. Ortol
m and others Of the association assure,
,c the board that their action in making
ed preparations for filings is due purch
70, 10 the desire TO comply with the pro
j. visions Of the blue sky law, which pro
-s yides that they shall not take any o'
III the people Is money for the purposes u
he exploitation until they had made nctun
to filings, and to protect themselves
c' against The filings Of others upon thl
he claims
pc Looks Like a Scheme.
A. The question came up before IA,
y board at this morning meeting MS .
y, m result Of the alleged attempt on tn,
nSS part Of Mr. Wallace to organize cor
n porati0n and solicit funds from III,
public for filing upon the lakes as min
cral claims which win require. undo
the provisions Of the mineral laws
about 1000 bona fidc applicants fo
claims, in order TO cheat the state on
Of It's title to the lakes and whatcvc
p profits the school fund would recciv,
o. through the leasing Of the right 20 dc
1t yelop the mineral contents of the lakes
The state land board claims title I,
)2 the lakes and lake beds through III,
right Of sovereignty aud is proceed
x, ing 10 award the contrnct for develop
- ment rights under that theory, and, /
, the board awards the contract tomor
p' row morning 70 the highest bidder an,
n Mr. Wallace 's bid is not successful, 4
= Ia probable that injunction proceeding
80 will be instituted to prevent the boar,
N' from entering into contract
AL mn urrnttf nm rtftr A NJ urtTYT nUTYnr4