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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1908)
THE MOEXIXG OREGOXIAX," SATURDAY, MAY 23, f 1908. 4. PUTER'S BOOK IS OFFTHE PRESSES 'Looters of Public Domain" Grilled in Volume of Near ly 500 Pages. WRITTEN IN PRISON CELL Charge That the Northern Pacific Grabbed 330,000 .Acres, Though Congressional Act Included In Oregon Land-Fraud History. S. A. D. Puter's book. ""Looters of the Public Domain." a comprehensive exposition of the Oregon land-frauds, has been published and placed on gale. It is an elaborate compilation and contains much of detail regarding wholesale land grabbing in this state, which has not heretofore been pub lished. It consists of nearly 600 pages and includes about 200 splendid illus trations, among which is a steel en graved frontispiece of Francis J. He ney. besides half-tones and line etch ings of all of the principal actors In the land-fraud drama. The complete title of the book is: "Looters of the Public Domain; by S. a. D. Puter. King of the Oregon Land-Fraud Ring, in Collaboration with Horace Stevens." Practically all of the manuscript for Puter's portion of the work was writ ten In a prison cell, while the land grabber was an Inmate of the Multno mah County Jail, under a two-year's sentence for conspiracy to defraud the Government of its public lands. Aside 'from the numerous captions, the book contains approximately 275,000 words. Mr. PuteSr. "the land-fraud king," spares neither friend nor- foe in his interesting and sensational recitals, and leaves very little to the imagina tion in any of his exposures, which require 25 chapters for him to de scribe, besides six chapters, that are handled by Stevens personally. The latter also wrote the Introduction, which contains about 600 words. Ow ing to the vast amount of reading matter in the book, together with the extent of Its sensational revelations, it would be impossible to cover the various features with any degree of completeness without extended com ment upon each Bubject. Xortliern Pacific Singled Out. The Northern Pacific Railroad Com pany is alleged to have been responsi ble to, securing the passage by Con gress of an act creating Mount Rainier National Park, whereby, it is charged, that corporation, by the exclusive privileges conferred by the act, was enabled to grab about 120,000 acres of valuable timber lands in this state, as well as 120,000 acres In Idaho, and about 100,000 acres In Washington. C. A. Smith and various other wealthy lumbermen of "Wisconsin are shown up and the part they played in robbing the people of Oregon of their posses sions. The celebrated "11-7" case is given In detail. Puter's explanation of his confession to Heney differs ma terially from that already published. Of especial Interest is the chapter In which Puter in his own words tells of his escape from Burns In Boston. Roose velt's forestry policy Is defended vigor ously and ex-Secretary Hitchcock is given credit for his efforts to suppress the land steals In this state. In brief, Puter tells about his connec tion with different fraudulent land trans actions covering a period of 30 years, his operations being confined principally to the Pacific Coast. Peculiar Interest attaches to nearly all hiB recitals, as many persons of National reputation are Involved in some of the disclosures. That the book will create a decided sensation In certain quarters Is a foregone conclu sion. Big Land Graft Charged. A fierce attack Is made upon the North ern Pacific Railroad Company for its al leged scheme of securing the passage of the Congressional ant of March 2, 1899, creating the Mt. Rainier National Park, whereby it is claimed the corporation was granted exclusive privileges in the matter of making lieu selections, thus enabling it to grab 33.00O acres of the best timber lands of Oregon, with only about 30 miles of completed roadbed in this state, the act providing that the railway company should have the right to make such selections in any state penetrated by its lines. In this way It is charged that 120,000 acres were also acquired In 'Idaho, besides 100,000 acres In Washington, in exchange for worth less holdings in the Mt. Rainier forest reserve. The Northern Pacific is ac cused further of having employed bull dozing tactics In preventing settlers from obtaining a foothold In unsurveyed town shins In the states named, and Instances are cited to sustain this contention. In cidentally, it is hinted that R. A. Ballin grr, late Commissioner of the - General Land Office, who resigned March 4 last and was succeeded by Fred Dennett, was friendly to the Northern Pacific in the matter of its lieu selections, and that his appointment to the office was part of a game to secure their approval by the Land Department In Washington, D. C. One of the most interesting chapters in the book relates to Puter's motives for aiding the Government against his for mer pais, wherein he describes the man ner in which Fred A. Kribs was driven into a corner and fbTced to "peach" on his associates. In this way the evidence against Senator Mitchell was secured, re sulting in his conviction for accepting fees for expediting patents to the fraud ulent timber entries that had been made in behalf of C. A. Smith. Puter declares openly that had F. P. Mays. Willard N. Jones and F. A. Kribs not turned a cold shoulder upon him after his. conviction in the 11-7 case and had come to bis rescue with bonds on that occasion, he would have been the last person on earth to have exposed them, but having been "turned down like a white chip" by this trio, as he expresses it, after having been long implicated with them in fraudulent land transactions, their indifference to his fate, aroused all the vindictiveness In his nature, and he went to Heney on his own volition and gave him the in formation that has sounded the doom of the Oregon land frauds. This view of the situation is at direct variance with Uncoln Stetfens' recent version of the matter in the American Magazine, where in William J. Burns is given full credit for having brought about Puter's so called confessions. A. B. Hammond Mentioned, Too. A great deal of unwritten history per taining to the land frauds appears throughout the book, a considerable por tion of which will have a tendency to cause much anxiety in various quarters. Details of a well-laid plot to raid the public domain in the Deschutes country during 1902-3 are given, wherein Puter secured financial backing from several prominent capitalists to acquire title to 17.2t acres of magnificent timber land fur speculative purposes. Among those mixed up' in this affair, according to the author, was A. B. Hammond. the wealthy Pacific- Coast lumberman, who has vast property interests throughout Oregon and California; N. H. Withee, of La Crosse, Wis., and William H. Bradley, of Tomahawk. Wis. slnce de ceased), besides several other Eastern lumbermen. - A complete history of the famous township "11-7" conspiracy Is given,' and much that has never heretofore seen the light of-day is presented In the chapter relating to these frauds. It was in con nection with this, case that Puter and his associates were convicted by a jury in the Federal Court on December 6, 1904, and the trial of the defendants marked the first appearance of Francis J. Heney In Oregon as a public prosecu tor. In his account of the trial and con viction of the "11-7" gang. Puter de clares that himself and associates were to be sacrificed as a burnt offering for the sins of those "higher up," and that ex-United States Attorney John H. Hall was to be the high priest at the cere mony. Hall is also accused of being ac tuated by animosity against the defend ants on account of the failure of Puter and McKinley to pay him $5000 for hav ing the indictments against them dis missed. , Story of Burns' Daring. The story of Puter's capture by Secret Service Agent William J. Burns at the Fenway branch postofflce In Boston on the night of March 26, 1906, and his sub sequent escape from the . famous. Gov ernment sleuth, will doubtless create considerable of a stir, as it differs ma terially from any account heretofore given publicity. According to Puter, there ' was a fierce battle on the side walk between Burns and himself, for possession of the tatter's revolver, and when the land-fraud king got the upper ' if- ; 1 , a 1 Stephea A. D. Puter, Whose Book Is Out. hand in the struggle, and advanced threateningly towards the great detective. Burns is charged with imploring "For God's sake, Steve, don't shoot!" and then seeking safety in flight behind a friendly lamp-post. Considerable space is devoted to a de scription of hie prison life in the Mult nomah County Jail, wherein Sheriff Ste vens comes in far a. great deal of praise In connection with his conduct of the in stitution. . Does Sot Spare Himself. Puter makes no effort to spare himself in any of the recitals, but boldly ac knowledges his own wrongdoing, indicat ing a disposition to. "take up the burdens of life on Improved plans" as soon as the news reached him, December 31 last, that he had been pardoned by the President. Upon- the completion of Puter's portion of the book, Horace Stevens, his col laborator, takes up the thread of the narrative, and In the course of six chap ters makes some startling revelations chief among which is his history of the oil-land litlgaton In Kem County, Cal fornia, wherein some serious charges are made reflecting upon the integrity of Judge E. M. Ross, of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, ninth circuit Stevens was formerly in the Government service as an assistant to special Inspec tor, Department of the Interior, but re signed February 10 last for the purpose of finishing Puter's book, upon which he has been working during his spare mo ments ever since the idea was conceived of publishing it. BESTCREAMERY BUTTER Roll 50c Skamokawa Butter, roll.55 Dairy Butter, roll.40, 45 Full Cream Cheese, 2 lbs35 Eggs, dozen .20 Ranch, Eggs, strictly fresh, two dozen 45 Best Sugar-cured Hams, pound . .. .15 Remember, Saturday is Chicken Day. La Grande Creamery 264 Yamhill. CHICKENS 18c Best Butter, roll ....T0S 55 f Dairy Butter, roll . . . : 40 RANCH EGGS, dozen 20 Chinook Salmon, 2 lbs. .-2o Halibut, 3 pounds 25j Large Shad, each ....15 Shad Roe, pound 15 COLUMBIA FISH CO. THIRD AND ANKENT. Phones Main 5, A 5556. IF I0D WANT THE BEST The market affords in Poultry, Oysters and Fish Be sure to call on G.C0VACH8C0. 275 FIRST STREET. We handle this line only. Phones A S535, Main 535. West Side delivery only. BY LILIAN TINGLE. THERE was a good supply of wild pigeons when ' I made my market rounds, but Z cafraot say for certain whether they are available today, for the owner was debating in 'his mind the wisdom of shipping the whole lot to Se attle. "Nearly all the bon-tons" have gone up there to see the fleet," he said, "and people are always more anxious for choice things to eat when they are away and don't kick about prices either. Then they'll come back and tell what fine meals they had and ask why they can't get the same things at home." I don't know what the price will be to those "bon-tons" in Seattle, but in Portland the pigeons were sold at 75 cents a pair. The sight of them sug gested the "Wilde lauben nut spargels pitzen" (wild pigeons with asparagus tips), which is one of the famous dishes In a certain well-known German water ing place noted for "good eating." There was nothing else of any special note In the flesh and fowl line and poul try prices were unchanged. In the fish department, however, there was plenty of variety salmon, sea trout, striped bass, black bass, halibut, rock cod, black cod, shad, sturgeon, croppies, perch, flounders, sole, catfish, crab, shrimps and clams. The prices are about the same as last week. Shad roe is 25 sents a pound. Don't forget the delicious things croquettes, scallops, salads, tlmbale and sandwich fillings that can be made from it. The price of strawberries Has sup posedly been kept up by the recent cold weather. Some were 10 cents a box, but the best ones still ran as high as 20 cents. There were Oregon cherries at 15 cents a pound and oth ers at 20 cents. Gooseberries cost 10 "cents a pound; rhubarb five or six pounds for 26 cents Of foreign fruits the newest were small mangoes from Mexico. Mangoes are delicious when you know how to choose and eat them. I saw one man, however, who did not appreciate them. In a lordly "hang-the-expense" sort of way he flung down the nickel entitling him to one, and promptly took a bite. Was ,he disappointed in the flavor or did he knock his pet tooth on the stone? I only know that he muttered a word best not recorded and that the mango went suddenly a-flylng into the mid dle of the street. Harry' Wood Market Go. CORNER FIRST AND ALDER STREETS You Can't Do Better Than Buy Meats of Us Very Special Bargainslonsb:1" -. : gg BUTTER POT I All Boiling Veal . ,., ROAST BEEF Sausage SS:&i.6c. 6c and 7c 5c 2 lbs. 25c Sj SVeu4 liL Spring Lanib Halibut and Genuine imported 'Saturday. A Wc have a very Salmon Hollander Herring Counter with all choice lot at OailnOn Per Keg of 36 Meats per lb. j 5c 5l12.J&aPclO&,12ic 85c DONT FORGET THAT OUR SHOP IS ON THE CORNER OF FIRST AND ALDER STREETS. WE GUARANTEE EVERYTHING FIRST-CLASS OR MONEY REFUNDED i Pineapples are 25 and 35 cents just now, sfnd there were alligator pears at 25 cents, too. I noticed a particularly fine shipment of grape-fruit just 'in the largest and best appearing I have seen for some time. Green "Windsor" beans were to be had at 15 cents a pound. These are not green "limas," though the two are sometimes confused. fiy - 1 in A PEOP J1U First and Taylor Sts., Phones Main 1412.A1412 SPECIAL FOR SATURDAY ONLY Leg of Mutton 9c Pound Carnation Cream, 2 for . . 15c 7 lbs. French Prunes . . . . 25c 7 lbs. Navy Beans ... . . 25c Sugar 17 Pounds for $1.00 Comb Honey . 1000 Matches . 13 Bars Soap . 1 Gallon JSyrup . 1 Package Postum 10c 5c 25c 45c 20c 2 Dozen Ranch Eggs 45c Good Table Butter, roll . , Creamery Butter, roll . , Best Creamery Butter, roll 6 lbs. Pitted Plums . . 45c 50c 55c 25c LOIF 39 a Perfect Leavening Phosphate Hygienic BAKING POWDER Is greatly superior to the obsolete and less whole some cream of tartar and bicarbonate of soda com pound. Hislop's is sold at 25 the one-pound tin. No Baking Powder Better , . ' No Baking Powder Worth More GET IN LINE WITH THE MARCH OF PROGRESS INSIST ON GETTING HISLOP'S Soda Crackers with crack to them Soda Crackers with snap to them Soda Crackers with taste to them Uneeda Biscuit Oven-fresh Oven-crisp Oven-clean 'tf In dust tight. Neper sold in bulk. NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY 15 v There's no better preparation for the day's duties than a cup of piping hot Cocoa- at breakfast. It invigorates, nourishes, strengthens, without artificial stimulation. Does Coffee? CD) LESSIWAN A CENTA XUP is made with scrupulous, conscientious care and old-fashioned attention to cleanliness, purity, goodness and quality. No Cocoa at any price can be better or more delicious. Your grocer sells and recommends it D. Ghirardelli Company San Francisco Saxony Is the most densely populated of the German states, bavin had at the tint of the last remui a. population of 300.7 a aquare kilometer. The averare of th whole empire is 112 a auuara kilometar. Owlnir to the spreading by rats of trtrhl bosla amons swine the German Imperial Chancellor has luued a rH;?e for the ex tcrmftiatloa of the rat in any district where trichinosis occurs. In Texas the state Imposes a tax of M per cent on the cross proceeds of the sale nf firearms. None is, therefore, for sale. They are "rented" for CO years at Uxe regu lar sale price.