The Coconino sun., 1924-09-05
SEN. CAMERON CITED FOR
CONTEMPT BY U. S. COURT
ACCOUNT CANYON CLAIMS
Continued from Pege One)

AGUHCllIuGQr lIOlsA --.5C 0iiIJ
purposes, obstructing its use by the
public as part of the reserves.
| To put an end to what the govern
ment deemed continuing trespass,
purpresture and public nuisance" q
suit was brought by the United States
to enjoin Cameron and others from
occupying or interfering with the
public use of tract Approximately
1900 #. long and 600 #. wide, which
Cameron was claiming as his lode
mining claim, and to require him to
remove therefrom certain buildings,
filth and refuse.
Judge William Fl. SaWtelle in
March, 1917, sitting in the District
Court of Arizona, entered a decree
for the United States. The Circuit
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Cir
the decision of the Secretary of the
Interior was conclusive, and that the
Land Department, of which the Sec
retary of the Interior is the head,
had jurisdiction TO cancel Cameron's
location, having found that the land
was not mineral in character and
that no discovery of minerals had
been made.
Cameron then carried the case to
the Supreme Court of the United
States, which affirmed the lower
court, holding among other things,
that the President was authorized TO
establish a monument reserve embrac-
ing the Grand Canyon, as an object
Of scientific interest and that no To-
cation Of mining claim should be
made until a discovery such as would
justify person OF ordinary prudence
IN the further expenditure of his time
and means III an effort to develop a
paying mine had been made ard that
the findings of the Secretary of the
Interior that the tract was not min
eral land was conclusive.
The case went back to Judge Saw
telle's court for enforcement of his
injunction decree, which became eff
fective in 1921. Showing lately was
made to the Attorney General that
certain of the buildings referred to
have not been removed and that the
defendants show no signs Of vacat-
ing and that the occupation has re-
suited in pollution Of the water sup
ply used by canyon sight-seers. An
nexed is an affidavit to that effect
from Park Superintendent Eakin.
Park Ranger Phillips adds an affi-
davit that he placed on the waters
of Indian Garden Springs, half way
down the trails, signs, furnished by
the State Board of Health, that the
water was unsanitary and unfit for
use. In July, 1924, he found the
signs had been removed, Phillips
states. He asserted also he found on
the trail q house occupied by Seth
Lilly, who said he was there by the
authority of Senator Cameron, and
was caretalzer Of the property, and
doing assessment work for Cameron.
He also found at Indian Garden, Milo
S. Jaycox, who stated that Senator
Cameron was paying his bills fer liv-
ing, supplies, such bills sent by the
store directly to Cameron, the ranger
declared. Philips added that the
buildings at Indian Gardens were un-
slightly and unsanitary, with garbage
thrown therefrom within a few feet
of Bright Angel Trail and that much
refuse is in the creek that flows
nearby.
Director Jane Rider, of the State
Laboratory, makes affidavit that
water taken from the stream at In
dian Gardens was found on analysis
to be highly contaminated and unfit
for drinking purposes as dangerous to
life and health.
Attorney Baxter is preparing the
case for trial on the date set by
Judge Sawtelle, and is expecting Wig
orous contest on the part of Senator
Cameron.
The action has only incidental con
nection with one filed by United
States Attorney Bernard at Prescott
against G. Fl. Stetson and eight
others, understood to be business as
socistes of Senator Cameron, seeking
injunction on behalf of the govern
ment against further occupancy or
claim upon $50 mining claims, "lo
Gated within the canyon and in and
along the Bright Angel Trail" It
is alleged that the defendants Gin a
pretense of doing assessment work,
have made cuts and tunnels through
which damage has been done and
have prevented entry by government
agents for the purpose of installing
improvements and necessities for the
convenience of the public. The basis
of this complaint is about the same IS
that filed at Tucson last week Judge
Jacobs has continued it till October
Is.
C,,,.o,.a,,,- no+4Ir fo,. ,,01o-einI, af