East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-06-30

| AbAN 4 AA4AANA~r CANff 0hAlE OVs7~A lBE-
cial) the following letter to the
governor Of Oregon Ex-Governor Os-
valid West suggests plan whereby IL
may be possible for the state to Sc
cure title 10 the Southern Pacific land
grant and thus build up the school
fund
June IS, 1915,
Hon. James Wlthycombe,
Governor Of oregon,
Salem, Oregon.
| My Dear Governor:
Inasmuch as the recent decision OF
the supreme court Of the United States
in the matter Of the o. & c. r. r.
land grant. makes it necessary for
congress to take early action in ref
erence to it's disposal, ! am taking the
liberty of submitting the following
suggestions for your consideration
If the lands should be taken over
by the federal government its adopted
policy would undoubtedly be along
the following lines
/. Reserve all timber lands and
the non-timbered lands not suitable
for agricultural purposes by max.
ing them a part Of our federal forest
system, and open to entry to actual
settlers such non-timberel lands as
may be adapted to settlement, or
q Reserve only such timbered and
-timbered lands as are unfit for
agricultural purposes, and open the
balance TO entry-the non-timbered
tracts at once and the timbered tracts
as soon as the timber could be dis
posed of and removed
While either policy would result in
the settlement and development OF a
large area Of ideal productive
land, it would also result on the other
hand in the removal Of a still greater
area from our tax rolls.
Unless the state is prepared to offer
some other definite plan we may ex-
pect the adoption of governmental
policies along the above lines. and in
view of this l respectfully submit for
your consideration the adv stability of
acquiring and disposing of the lands
through the medium Of the state.
The grant in question covers about
2SO0 600 acres and carries about
seventy billion feet of timber, which is
worth at least so cents per thousand
feet, This would give the timber
alone value Of over S35, 900, 600 and
as the amount to be paid the railroad
company could in no event exceed
$3.50, 600 it would mean huge prof
1t for the state school fund. The
company has already disposed of near
$5,O00,000 worth of lands from the
grant which after making due allow
ance for taxes and administration ex-
penses paid would greatly reduce the
amount TO be paid the company ac-
count the lands now held.
While it is idle to ask the federal
government to both reimburse the
railroad company and grant the lands
to the state without cost. It would not
be unreasonable to ask that the grant.
or such part Of it as might be de-
sired, be turned over to the state on
condition that it provide the funds
necessary to reimburse the railroad
company for lands taken over.
If such a plan should be followed
the non-timbered agricultural lands
should be thrown open to entry AT
once to bona fide settlers and at little
or no cost. The on-tlmbered tracts
unfit for settlement should be held
with view of reforestation
The timber on the timbered lands
should be appraised and in due time,
sold to the highest bidders and on
that it be removed within
a certain period. AS fast as the tim
Der on tract was sold the land, if
for agricultural purposes
should be thrown open to settlement.
Lands from which the timber has
been removed, found unfit for settle.
ment, should be held for the purpose
Of reforestation.
The decision of the court makes II
necessary for congress to take some
action towards the disposal of the
grant at its coming session and it be-
comes necessary, therefore, for the
citizens of this state to formulate and
present to congress. through their
delegation, some definite plan for the
taking over the grant which will be |
in the public interest
If the above suggested plan should !
be favored 1t would present a problem
Of financing which our legislature
would have to meet, and / believe its
Importance would fully justify the
calling of a special session for that
purpose.
With best wishes for the success OF
your efforts. am,
Very respectfully,
OSWALD WEST