Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-01-26
Third Episode.

Helen's exceptional intelligence and
mental alertness made her an apt
pupil Of the telegraph operator at
Jacksonville, so that within three
months after her meeting with Rupert
Holmes, she was able to send and take
messages with facility that aston
ished her instructor. within six
months she was able to take the mes
sages of the fastest sender on the cir
cult.
The situation existing in the lumber
territory adjacent to Dawson was u
peculiar one. The railway itself was
but = wn In the shrewd game which
the 'ilSc was playing In Its effort to
control the northern forests. 1t had
been built by the Amalgamated mt the
insistence of Rupert Holmes. In order
to tap the rich holdings of the indie
pendent owners to the north and east
of Jacksonville.
No sooner was 1t put In operation
than Holmes gave orders to boost the
freight rates. for he was not hampered
in that day by Interstate commerce leg
islation, and he figured that IL the
rates were gradually raised to point
where the independents could no long
er ship except at loss, they would
be forced, In order to save themselves,
to sell their holdings to the trust ut
the trusts price.
But just as Holmes had ridden to
success on the Importance of river,
so his latest scheme was doomed to
failure because he had forgotten the
fact. The CalapOoia boom rights, which
had been the basis of all Holmes
wealth, had been no more important
proportionately than were the boom
rights Of the Oregonia.
And just as Holmes, twenty years
before, had owned the boom rights on
the Calnpooia, so the same privileges
on the smaller stream were controlled
by shrewd old homesteader named
Timothy Thomas. Under the terms of
the homestead act Thomas had still
five months to live on his land before
the government would give him clear
title to 1t. And the boom rights on the
Oregonia went with the land.
With the completion Of the railway,
old Tim Thrnas began to see light
shining or the tortuous channel Of the
Oregonia. When the Amalgamated put
Its staggering freight rates into effect
on the new lire. Independent owners
turned perforre To the only other chan
mel OF transportation-the river.
As result, within year after the
last rail had been laid and the last
spike driven, the railway sidings were
filed with fiat cars lying Idle. whilo
the once despised Oregonia was fairly
choked with logs hurting along on
their way to the coastwise mills. It
was a transformation that delighted
old Tim Thomas, for on every log float
cd away Its owner paid him toll.
1t is not difficult, therefore, to COM
prehend why Rupert Holmes was In
an unpleasant mood, when, on his re-
turn from prolonged business visit
to European points, he summoned his
confidential manager to conference.
"Clarkson," he began. abruptly,
shat fellow Thomas, with his cursed
boom rights has us In devil of hole.
He seems to be doing all the business
while the railroad Is not paying for
It's grease"
'sThe railway Is In bad shape" Clark
son admitted. "There Is hardly any
business outside the passenger traffic
and little local freight"
"You're right there" said Holmes.
"We can't compete with the river so
the job we've got before us Is as plain
as the nose on your face. Wen have
TO close the river up"
"How?" den nded Clarkson, curl
ously.
by buying Thomas out. lock, stock
and barrel" Holmes answered. Hell
make us pay through the nose, / sup
pose, but 1t can't be helped now. We're
in hole and we've got to get out of
II before we sink any deeper"
II ran down to Jacksonville a month
ago." said Clarkson, "and had talk
with Thomas. told him we might
consider buying the river rights If the
price was low enough"
"Oh, he'll sell, all right, II we offer
enough" Holmes said cynically. every
man has his price. Where Is Behrens
now?"
He was at DawsonvlIie a day or
two ago." the other replied.
"Good! That's just where / want
him. He can put through this deal
If anyone can. Just take down this
telegram:
civilian Behrens, Jacksonville 1T
is imperative that we acquire immedi-
ately. boom rights on Oregonia, now
owned by Timothy Thomas. See him
and close deal without delay. Am
wiring Hewitt, lawyer, Capital City,
to meet you ut Dawnsonville tonight
and draw papers. holmes"
The message was taken off the wire
late that afternoon by the operator
at Jacksonville. The operator was a
very pretty girl who wrinkled her
brows In puzzled way as she copied
the message on yellow slip. The
operators name was Helen Dawson.
Helen had to read the telegram sew
eral times before she realized Its full
significance. Suddenly the solution
a------s-ssst isss'--i 81 '-isF