The Parker post., 1915-09-11
HOW UNCLE SAM CLEANED UP
100000 IN PARKER REALTY
Laid Out Townsite ON the Desert, Appraised
Lots at High Value, Sold Them and Now
Deluded Investors Are Holding
the Proverbial Sack.

1t is now a little dser five years
ago since Uncle Sans real estate
agents slipped into Parker and sold
about 100000 worth of sandy desert
lots TO the people Of this community,
and other investors, who relied upon
the implied promises Of the governE
ment that the surplus lands of the
Colorado River Indian reservation
would be open to settlement and en-
try within a reasonable time
AT the time Of the auction sale of
lots in the Parker toWnsite a horde
of deputy United States marsha
the receiver of the
f'hoenix land office for the purpose
II guarding the treasure chest which
Uncle Sam accumulated here through
the enterprise OF his real estate
sharksl Before the week ended our
good uncle cleaned US UP la Wall
ingford; the guardians of the money
chest departed. and not peep has
been heard from his fly-by-night
agents since.
This highway robbery was perpetra
ted during territorial days, and it
was the fond belief of those who in
vested practically all of their money
in townsite lots that the wrong would
be righted soon after Arizona attain
ed statehood.
When We get statehood I'VE
proudly boasted, our senators and
representative in congress will see
that Uncle Sam keeps his promise
to- the investors in sand lots iii
Parker. Oh, yes, we'll show the de
partments at Washington that the
statue of Liberty still stands and
that she has in her outstretched hand
the symbolical scale Of Justice"
Well, we've had statehood now for
several years, and our representa-
tlves in congress haven't accomplish-
ed blessed thing to relieve the Par
ker situation. We doubt that this
bOasted government of ours has ever
pulled Off more despicable trick
than that turned at Parker in its
real estate operations Yet we have
failed to read an account of the Hon.
Henry Ashurst arising in the United
States senate and making a speech
on the subject Ditto Mark Smith
and Carl Hayden.
True, We believe our delegation in
congress has used up much diplo-
matic effort in their endeavors to
have the government fulfill it's prom
lses to the Parker townsite investors
by opening to settlement the surplus
land of the reservation. But diplo-
macy in this matter ceased to be a
virtue long time ago, when it was
learned that there existed in Wash
lngtCn an active lobby against
opening the surplus lands.
Year after year the people, who
came here in good faith with the ex-
pectation of making permanent
homes after purchasing sand lots
from Fhe government, have been fore
ed to abandon these homes and the
property they purchased and seek
other places for a livelihood. Appeal
after appeal has been forwarded to
our senators and representatives dur
ing the years since we acquired state
hood. and each appeal met with the
same fate-nothing doing.
Any cheap real estate CRATER who
had gotten away with one7hundredth
part Of the amount which Uncle Sam
fllched from the Parker people would
noWFsbe serving a term in the peni-
tentiary, Yet in view of the rotten
deal We have had from our govern
ment our senators and congressman
nave 'Deen poWefleSS to do anything
towards making the government full
fill It's promises or make restitution
to the investors in town lots, which
are absolutely worthless until such
time as the surplus lands of the res
ervation are opened to settlement.
And the shame of the whole matter
IS that there isn't a logical reason
why the surplus lands should not
have been opened to settlement long
ago. The Indians have been allotted
and it has been agreed with depart
mental officials that the Indians shall
receive $40 per acre for all surplus
Lands sold
The state of Arizona has at last