Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-03
WEST MAKES MOVE TO
HEAD Off SHARPERS
Files On Eastern Oregon
Lakes to Protect State
From Possible Loss

By filing upon the waters of lakes
Summer and Albert, in northern Lake
county, in his personal capacity with
the state engineers office this morn.
ing Governor West has turned most
effective trick to forestall and dcrca,
any attempt that might be made now
,r in future by anyone to rob the state
ct its title to these lands, which con.
tain deposits CT sodium and sulphates
valued at millions of dollars and which
the state is taking steps to have de.
veloped for the benefit of the state
school fund.
In filing upon these lakes Governor
West intends to hold the right to dc
velop the waters thereof in trust for
the people and to release such right to
the state and the people immcdiatcly
his right is established beyond perad
venture Of doubt The move is made
with The special purpose in view Of set
ting aside any doubt which might pos
sibly arise and to avoid any litigation
which might result in the event the
scheme Of H. $. Wallace, promoter
OF Portland, is put through to the
point Of his filing individual claims
upon the beds of the lakes under the
provisions Of the placer mining laws
OF the government. The state land
board has fixed December l6 as the
late for opening bids for the develop.
ment of the mineral deposits of these
lakes, and when the board gets ready
TO act upon any of these bids it does
rot desire that any cloud whatsoever
shall rest upon the title to the lakes.
In connection with and in EXPLAIN.
tlon Of the matter for the benefit OF
the public, Governor West this nom
ling issued the following statement:
THAT those who might possibly bc
induced to advance money aud become
n party of II. $. Wallace scheme tc
make mineral entry upon the beds o.
Summer and Albert lakes may be fulk
advised ns to the situation, | wisn t,
submit the following:
: "The beds Of all navigable lakes and
streams in this state are the propert,
OF the state. If the said lakes are nav
b igable, then it must follow that th,
beds thereof are under the control of
and subject to, lease by the State Ian,
Board.
"It, as coLtcndcd by some, thcs,
lakes are not nayigOblc, an act Of Con
grcss of March 3, 1877, which provides
that the wctcIs of all lakes, river
and other sources Of water supply M
on the public lands, and not navigablc
shall remain and be held free FOR ia,
, appropriation and use of the public fo
! irrigation, mining and manufacturing
. purposes, ~ would place the waters
which are essential TO the development
OF the properties absolutely under th
p control Of the state. And for the FUR
! ther information Of Mr.. Wallace an,
s his fellow promoters. ! wish to stat
that, as trustee for the public hay
. made application under the laws u
this state for the appropriation of al
0 waters Of these lakes and their trihr
torlcs, the same to be- used for minin
, and manufacturing purposes in conncr
: tion with :he evaporation and extra,
y ton Of salts from the waters and he'd
y Of the said lakes. lu pldition, III
% state has before Congress bill IN r,
. move any possible doubt rs to lis till,
,s ''lt will be seem therefore, that Il,
i, state has title 10 these lakes both q,
n ing aud coming, and those who atteml
10 file ON them under the federal Law
ls will only be wasting their time AN
rs money, and are very apt to borrow
X. great deal Of trouble for themselves.