Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-09-09
Offers Solution
Land Problem
Continued from Page one.)

the lands should be sold to actual set
tiers at $3.50 an acre, in quantities
not exceeding 100 acres to each ap-
plicant. He suggested the propriety
of prompt action for the reason that
the U. s. supreme court had specified
in its recent ruling that congress
must pass law governing the dispo-
sition of these lands within six
months after the filing of the final
decree in the federal courts, as other
wise the railway corporation could
apply to the courts for further relief,
thereby tieing the lands up for an
indefinite period.
approximately 100000 acres of
patented lands are embraced in the
unsold portions Of the grant, besides
the quantity classified as unsurveyed,
amounting to large additional area,
and Mr.. Jeffrey ridiculed former Gov
ernor Vests plan of having the state
acquire these lands for school pur-
poses. He claimed that this process
was impracticable for the reason that
congress would first have to pass a
special act for the purpose, after
which the state would be required to
submit the matter to the voters in the
form of measure asking for a bond
issue of fully seven million dollars
with which to complete the purchase
from the railroad company, and mas
much as bond issues have experienced
rather stormy weather throughout
Oregon for some time past, he did |
not think much OF the idea.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Jeffreys |
address, permanent organization was
effected by the election of E. E.
Phipps as president and w. R. Dick
'rson as secretary, the chairman be-
ng empowered to appoint commit
ees for the purpose of circulating
petitions throughout this section of
he county memoralizing congress to
rant the relief sought. A meeting
# citizens interested in the final dis
'osition of the lands embraced in the
abroad grant has been called for
ext Friday night at s o'clock in the
ooms of the Comemrcial Club, and a
ull attendance of residents of Jack
on county, irrespective Of locality, |
5 desired, as 1t is deemed important
hat an expression of public senti-
nent on the issues involved should
70 promulgated as soon as possible. I!
In the course of his remarks Mr..
effrey announced his intention of /,
a campaign along similar
mes in every county affected by the
abroad land grant, and later pre- |,
enting the rights of settlers to the
onsideration of the public lands COM
littees OF both branches of congress,
18th a view to securing favorable ac-
on for the principles he is advocat-
lg.
Mr.. Jeffrey is accompanied through
ut his campaign by Horace Stevens
Portland, well-known newspa-
er man, and long prominent in af-
Iirs connected with the disposition
the public domain. Mr.. Stevens
Ill likewise go back to Washington,
c., and it is believed that much
'od can be accomplished before the
tional legislative body through the !
forts of these two. Their next stop 4
II be in the Coos Bay region, where ]
is predicted they will meet with y !
lrm reception, as 1t is understood Z
3 citizens of that county look upon ].
3 grant land question as one of the z
rning issues. I
From Marshfield they will proceed I
Coquille, Roseburg, Cottage Grove, j
ownsville, Corvallis, Albany, and /
obably conclude their meetings at I
lem, although both Jeffrey and I
,vens are anxious to debate the is !
es involved before the Salem con- 7
ence, and this may necessitate 4
ange in their plans, as the confer !
,e called by Governor Withycombe I
embles there on the 18th inst. I