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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1886)
WESTERN LAND FRAUDS. Klnety Per Cent, of tho Present Lnnd Claims fe'nld to bo ITrnuduloni The Jiodus Oporn.mll for Secur ing Chcnp Xitinds. A Las Vegas, Now Moxico, corro spondentof The New York Herald writes A. discussion of tho question of tho set Uomont of tho public domain of tho United States is apt to speedily assume a narrow form, and tho subject will nnturallj be contracted to a particular phaso. It is impossiblo to intelligently consider iho subject of tho taking up of tho national lands without touching on tho violations of tho law governing tho settlement of tho 1G0 aero plots by in dividual Bottlers. Thcso violations have been frequent, and tho results of Iho frauds havo been so injurious to tho welfare of honest settlers that tho mat ter has be co in o ouo of vital interest to tho country at largo, as well as to tho lawmakers at Washington. Dccoption, fraud, perjury, and rcckles3 indiflfcr- enco to honor, justico, and oquity havo provailed in tho western country, wlicro dcsirablo public lands aro located, and tho history of much of tho pre-emption of Uncle Sam's soil is, wlion laid open to tho sunlight of popular observation, but tho record of unblushing and un principled wrong-doing. Tho United States law recognizes Bovor.il distinct inothods of taking up tho national lands by actual settlors pre-emptions, homesteads, soldiers homesteads, timbor-culturo claims, and under the desert-reclamation act. rro-emptions may bo made by tho head of a family, a widow, or a singlo malo or femalo over 21 years of ago, who may bo cither a logal citizen or havo dcclolfd tho intention of becom ing ono rmdor tho naturalization laws Sucli persons may "outer" upon "offer cd" or "unoflorod" lands to tho extent of taking ICO acres. If tho tract so looted is "ottered land that is, an nounced by tho laud commission as roady for settlement tho sottlcr must filo a "declaratory statement" (foo ?2) In tho United States land ofllco of tho district within thirty days after settle ment. Within a yoar from tho dato of settlement ho must, provo actual resi dence and cultivation of tho tract, and tho purchase at rates varying at $1.25 to $2.50 an aero, according to tho loca tion. "Unoflerod" hind roquircs a "de claratory utatemont" to bo lilled with in throo months from dato of settlement and tho final proof of rcsidonco and tho monetary payment within thirty-tliroo months. Would-bo pro-omptors who own 320 acres of land elsowlioro aro ex cluded from the benefits of tho law; neither can any person abandon his rosidenco on his own land (not n town lot) and pre-empt govornmout land. I'll c. so two last mentioned provisions tro of importanco, and tho fact of their Bxistenco should bo remembered. IIomcBtcads may bo entered by any head of a family, or a 21-ycar-old citi zen, cither actual or iutouded. Sur veyed land to tho oxtent of 1G0 aeros is alono available Tho applicant must attest to his qualifications and that tho entry is mado for his oxolusiro upo and honelit for actual set tlement and cultivation. Tho logal foo of $10, with commissions ranging from $1 to $12, is also paid. Within six vooks residence must bo taken up and continued with cultivation of tho laud for llvo years without interruption. At tho ond of tills poriod four witnesses must bo callod to attest to tho fact of rosidenco and cultivation. The laud ofllco at Washington issues tho patent on receipt of tho cortlllod proof. No sale of a homestead claim is recog nized by law; homestead settlement may, however, bo changed to a pre emption after prosonting proof of ac tual settlement nnd cultivation for six months. A six mouths' ab.senco.is por niitted by law. Tho homesteader can not establish a legal claim by passing a singlo night on tho 1G0 acres twico a year nftor throwing together a frail flhanty and then call it a residence. Soldiers' homesteads may bo obtained by all who served ninety days in tho army or navy during tho civil war who -woro honorably discharged and re mained loyal to tho government, Tho poriod of army or navy service is do ducted from tho llvo yours' rcsidonco required by tho homostond law, but either ho or his widow must actually rosldo ono year on tho tract. Timbor-culturo claims aro recognized where a person has planted and kept growing for eight years n sjieclllod number of forest trcos. Thoro aro nu merous pi o visions attached to this mothod of securing 160 acres of land, and tho details aro so numerous that tho roador Is rcforrod to tho law for a propor understanding of tho subjoct Desert lands in Dakota, Idaho, Mon tana, Oregon, and Washington may bo taken by a citizen to tho extent of GI0 acres. Such lands aro dofl.ud to bo all territory which will not raiso a crop without artificial Irrigation. Mineral and timber lauds are not included. At testation to tho intention of reclaiming by irrigation within throo yours and tho payment of 25 conts an aero are tho preliminaries of socuring tho right to proceed, and at tho end of throo years a patent may bo obtained by prosonting proof of reclamation mid tho payment of (I an aero. Under the timber-culture and desert-reolumation nets rest denco Is not required on tho land taken. In tho case of liomostoud nnd pre-emption settlements thu resident U Not cxptttttHl to till all of hid land. Tho law only requires actual rcsi donco nnd a roasonablo amount of im provementin other words, a fair and lionorablo intention on the part of the persons to whom tho lands ore practic ally given. Tho homestead law enables tho act ual settlor to secure a homo without paying moro for his land than the small entry fees on condition that he spends : longor timo on tho tract, with greater improvement and cultivation. The time of inhabitancy is the principal diflcr- ence between tho two systems, althoug tho fixed principle of both is the build ing up of a homestead, with all that tho term implies, on hitherto neglected public lands. When both systems were established land was so abundant that thcro scarcely existed a temptation to mako false claims. Tho timbcr-culturo law was simple in its intention. Vast tracks in western states and territories aro treeless wastes Then encouragement of timber-growing was provided by the law, and sottlcrs wcro enabled to obtain rich farming lands by Iho siniplo carrying out of tho spirit of tho statute. Planting trees not only gavo a home, but added to the beauty as well as to tho actual value of a IGO-acro tract. Tho planting of trees in sonio of the transmississippi states has changed tho appearance of tho faco of tho country, and formerly desolate prairies are now agreeably dotted by groves or vigorous perennials of the ornamental varieties. "Arbor days' aro recognized by law, and millions of young trees havo been planted on such occasions. Tho desert land law intended the per manont restoration or reclamation of lands wholly unproductive in their sterility by artificial irrigation. Small tracts could not bo well reclaimed, and therefore tho number of acres fixed was G10. Only desert lands were available, and tho experiment of itself has always been of doubtful value Tho great American desert could doubtless bo irri gated into blossoming fertility if thcro woro only an adequate water supply, but at prosont tho methods by which water generally located at a romoto dia tanco could bo brought into practical uso would bo far too costly to bo of practical bonofit. Tho day will arrivo when tho sagu-bnsli country will be ab sorbed by tho coming population, but that is as yot far ahead in the progress of time. Wlion thoro is a scorning combination on tho part of capitalists and their fol lowers anddopondents toovado tho laws regulating tho taking up of tlto public lands it is not strange that vast frauds shouldbo porpetrated and that a wliole- salo perversion of tho spirit and intcn tions of tho framors should ho brought about. Tlio pre-emption law states that transfers and assignments of tlio pre emption rights aro null and void "prior to tlio issuliur of tlio patent." Tlio homstoad act sots fortli that the home steader lias not al'onuted Iho land, and that no land so acquired is liablo for tho satisfaction of a debt contracted prior to tlio issuo of tho patont. And horo it may bo said that these land frauds aro not perpotrated by one done of tiio two political parties. Tlio republicans having had tlio machinery of carrying out tlio law and guarding against its infractions in their hands are in no sonso more to blame than tho opposite party out of ollice, but as re gards tho enactors of tlio frauds demo crats and republicans are, so to speak, "tarred with tho saino brush,'' botli be ing equally guilty. Tlio land robbers know no party, and ns horo in Now Moxico they aro confined to no race, for tlio indigenous Spanish-American can givo "points" to his Anglo-Saxon co resident in tlio art of making a false) claim appear a true one. That abuses of tho land laws aro fan frequently de pendent on improper administration as woll in certain in&tancos as on the cor ruption of officials thoro is no question, but oven tlio most painstaking and vir tuous land agent is liable to bo deceived by tho clover rogues with whom ho ii brought in o tile nil contact. Entries of pro-omptions and homesteads aro not for sale or speculation. In tho old day! such abuses were almost unknown. Ai a general thing there was a settlor foi ovory claim and it was not considorod llfiicult to comply with tho fair require ments of tho law. Thopre-oniption act served to stand between tho settler and tho moneyed purohnsor from tho gov ernment by private sale since prohib itedand thoro was no oeoasion for em ploying fraudulent means to secure publio territory. Tho prevention by :tct of congress of tho purehaso of land by private bargain was tlio ontoring wedgo whereby tho frauds hocamo from the speculator's standpoint necessary. Tlio pro-omption law is. tho most fro quoutly violated. Tho timber-cultun law is practically a doad letter, and tin desort-reclamation not is but a vohtcli for tho worst kind of knavery. AL throo could bo ropealod without tin futuro honest settlor being injured it tho slightest degree. Under tho desor lands law vast tracts have boon nb sorbin! by cattle companies, and landi which aro not legitimately sterile or in capable of cultivation without nrtiliohi irrigation havo been, through the con 1 nlvanco of hurvoyors in tho employ a tho land ollice, classed us deserts Good bottom tracts hnvo boon pas$o oil' ns sterile lauds. Whole valleys and streams havo boon absorbed and thi back country for miles ruiulcrvd worth ' less under the operations of tho desert law. The timbor-culturo law was noTcr of real valno a mcro experiment at best. The soil and climate of much of the re gion to be planted forbid tlio succcssfu rearing of young trees. If, as previous ly stated, an honest following of tho law s provisions were made the settlors lands wonld bo greatly benefited, but this applies to certain localities. West of the 00th meridian the law can not bo properly carried out, and the most baro faced perjury alone will cnablo anyono to prove np his claim at tho final reck' oning. The ordinary way tho settler suits his conscience to his oath is by turning up the black prairio soil in shallow furrows, separated from each other by cigjit or ten feet of virgin un turned soil. A row of fragile cotton- wood sticks, oftentimes without roots, nnd stuck in tlio furrows, and tho "tree planting" is done. Then tho "planter' is ready to swear, and swear he does Willi alacrity and comprehensive zeal. Fires sweep over the young grove, nil bling cattle browso over it, and the chill blast of tho blizzard howls around tho sickly sapling. In the spring tlio vast majority of the young trees plant ed witli roots arc dead. Those without roots wcro never expected to live. Hut tho planter is ready to swear, and his neighbors, on tlio principle that ono good turn deserves another, go beforo tlio agent of tho land oilice and are freo to givo their valuable opinions under oath that tho trees are healthy and m trood crrowth. So the fraud is com pleted. The cattlemen have been prompt to recognize tho efficiency of tho timber culture act in harmonizing with their personal schemes of aggrandizement So they set their herdsmen at work making timber-culture entries in good localities tlio banks of streams or spots whero good shelter and water abound Thofarco of "tree-planting" generally "trocs" of the rootless variety is gono through, and the official papers aro ob taincd, deeding tho land, often to tho oxtent of whole townships, to tho cat- tlo magnate, through his employes. It is an undorstood thing that ranchmen employ at largo wages men who are to look out for stock and to mako land en tries as well. Tlio employer chooses tho location and furnishes the fees for tlio services of an attorney, who pre pares the final proof papers. It is sta ted by land agents that these frauds aro conducted witli tho utmost skill, and tlio papers are moro carefully drawn than is ordinarily the case. Truth anil lion csty appear in every line, and tlio perjury is enacted witli an case and skill which would afford plcasurablo emotions to tlto cynical observer whoso trust in tlio virtues of human naturo is but limited. Dr. Johnson, tho grim old lexicographer, in defining a horse, added that in the buying and selling of tlio animal a man might client his own father witli impunity and yet maintain a respectable position in society. It would certainly also appear as if tho business of roaring tlio nmiablo bovino ouadruped in lareo numbers on tlio plains of tho west engendered within tlio brain of tho herder an ingenuity and an esp -cial adaptation for falso swearing and tlio subornation of perjury quito marvelous to tlio average sped men of mankind. An Interesting Nationalist. Dr. Kevin O.od O'Dohorty, the now nationalist M. P. for Month, and for many years representative in tho Aus tralian legislature, received a splendid reception in tho house of commons, a ittlo, perhaps, in compliment to tho colon'. Ho was a leading rebel in 18 18, nnd so is tlio vestige of an extinct rev olutionary period, a living witness that thoro woro patriots and perturbations before Parnell. Tlio doctor is, as lul- staff said of himself, "a portly man, aged 50, or it might bo 55." It is not easy to say, for tlio forty-eightcr is re markably woll preserved, and may bo named as an extant testimony in favor of the claim that Australian air sus tains in a particular degree tlio fresh ness of tho human ti.-sues. Ho is a tritlo bald, and shows generally a rol- sh of the saltncss of time. Hut tho an cient rebel is woll set up, square-built and sturdy, with certain possibilities of tlio Methuselah in his cut and carriage, nnd nltogethor ono who might well hnvo boon n heady enthusiast in his hot youth. Ho walked up tho floor of tho houso with a strolling Mark 1 wain gait. such as mon acquire in tlio careless free dom of a now country and young so ciety. As ho passed Mr. Chlldors, soat ed alongside Gladstone tho ministor and the member laid hold each otlior in a cordial grasp, and talked with tho warmth of men who had recognized in one another a long-losi brothor by tho strawberry-mark on the arm. Thoy had both boon niombors toj, Uier of tho ustralian legislature. A'ew York World. Rool Good Hons. A voting married lady, who moved into tho country from a city homo, con sidered keeping liens a pleasant and profitable duty. As sho became moro absorbed in tlto pursuit hor enthusiasm increased, nnd lions" iniulo a favorite subject of hur thoughts and conversa tion. During ono of her animatod de scriptions of success a friend Inquired: 'Aro your hens good honP" "Oh, yes," slto replied, in a delighted tone, "thoy haven't laid a bad ogg jet." -CuUkul Mail, Sunflower Culture. The cultivation of tho sunflower, says Rural World, is now attracting tho at tention of ninny agriculturists, although no concerted action has yet been had in tho matter. It is of easy cultivation growing freely in all soils, and is not very sensitive to climatic conditions Of course the better tho soil the better the product. It is, however, a very ex. haustivc crop, taking from tho soil a copious supply of potash, and there foro should not follow itself in rotation, unless this ingredient is very fully rc newed. In some of the river bottoms and rich moist lands of the west a va riety grows wild, and its seed arc used by tho Indians as food, but the variety most in cultivation is the "mammoth Russian," which, in good soil, grows to an immense size, twenty-four to thirty inches m diameter, and yields a largo quantity of excellent seed. In somo places, where wood is scarce, it is grown for fuel, tho stalks making a very hot, though brief fire. In others it is culti vatcd only to utilizo its seed for feeding stock, as it forms a good winter food for botli fowls and horses, giving to tlio feathers of the ono and tho hairs of tiio otlier a bright glossy appearance and making them lively and spirited, by feeding half a pint night and morning. It is said to givo horses a greater pow er of enduranco when mixed witli their rations. It is also grown in some lo calities as a preventive of malarial dis eases, its great absorption of nourish ment from tho air, being supposed to prevent the spread of miasma. In still other places it is grown ns a substitute for bean poles, the leaves being stripped off and the stalks still attached to the roots mako a good support for the vines Hut its chief valuo lies in the clear pal atable oil which can bo obtained from tho seed, and which is equal as a drying oil to linseed, and superior to that for many uses. There arc no mills cxclu sivcly devoted to its manufacture in this country, but both tho linseed and the cotton-sccd-oil mills express it occa sionally and are frequent buyers. It is not cultivated to any great extent in this country as a marketable crop, but is extensively grown in Ilussia, where it is said to averace fifty bushels of seed to tlio acre, and ono bushel of seed to yield about ono gallon of oil. With tho improved methods devised by tho cot ton seed crushers in this country, it is quite likoly this yield could be increased, and the rich, moist lands of the wfest would probably largely increase the product per acre. There is no cstab lislied price for the seed iu our leading markets, but buyers at the mills report that they pay $1 per bushel. The Classification of Book Lov ers. Mr. Sain has lately made a careful division of book-lovers into four classes, and people who enjoy the luxury of stocking their shelves from time to timo will now bo able to describe their motives in book-buying by the uso of the terms which Mr. Sala has defined with characteristic illustrations. It is misfortuno that moro euphonious terms could not bo compounded from tho Greek to characterize two of tlio divisions of tho great and growing army of book-lovers, but in tlio general in terest of accuracy and conformity thcro will bo no revolt on tho part of those who find themselves described as "bib liognostcs" and "bibliotaphe" Ac cording to Mr. Sala, "book-lovers aro cither bibliognostes, biliomanes bib liophiles, or bibliotaphes. The bib iiognosto is learned in title-pages and editions, presses, nnd places of issue. Ho knows by heart the criteria of every editio princeps; lie has Brunet and Dib din nt his tingor ends, and can tell you at onco that the 'Aristotle' of Manutius in good condition is worth 50, but that a Hebal is not worth as many sixpences. Tho bibliomane is a mcro collector who, blessed witli a long purso, buys what ever comes in his way. A bit of a bib liomane was Peter tlio Great, who, when his shelves were built, sent for tho book sellers of St. Petersburg and said: Fill thoso with books.' 'With what books, your majesty?' was tho not un natural question. 'Witli what books? Why, with big books below, and with ittlo books above' Tho bibliophile tlio true lover of books is ho who buys to road and enjoy. Tho bibliotapho is ho who hides his books away under lock ond key or who immures them in close fitting glass cases, and knows littlo of them beyond their titles and tho price which ho has paid for eaoh." Ths llook-lluycr. He Had the Symi toms. "Look hero, doctor, 1 do. 't want you to go to my houso and frighten my wife again as you did this morning." 'Frighten her? How did I frighten her?" Didn't sho ask you what tho symp toms of Hydrophobia are?" "Yes." "And didn't you tell her the patient has always a strong aversion to water?" "Certainly." "Yes, well, the poor woman is down ick with fright. She think I've got tho hydrophobia." Chic. Took His Dogroo. "Aro you a member of thu KnighU of Labor P" "No, but I had one lust week." Hud ono? What do you moan?" "Had a night of labor. My baby had thu coliofroiu J o'clock ttutil daylight" 2'A Oraphw, THE Union Milling Co.'s FULL. ROI,M2It FLOUB TAKES THE EAD Whererer it has been tried. For Sale by all the Lending Dealers Everywhere. 3eo. WnioiiT, W. T. Wnionr, President. Cashier. AL BAI OF UNION, : : : OREGON. Does a General Banking .Business. Buys and sells exchange, and discounts com mercial paper. Collections carefully attended to, and promptly reported. COMMERCIAL- Livery ii Feefl Stale. Orrosm: Cuxtenxiaxj Hotel. JOHN S. ELIOTT, - PROPRIETOR. Having furnished this old nnd popular hostelry with ample room, nlcntv of feed, good hostlers and new buggies, is better preparcu tnnn ever to accommounto cub tomers. My terms are reasonable. GOVE TANNERY. Adam Ckosssian, PnorniEion. Has now on hand nnd for sale tho best of HARNESS, LADIGO, UPPER nnd LACE LEATHER. SHEEP SKINS, ETC. PORTfjAXU IRICES Paid for Hides and Pelts. "WALLA WALLA BEER DEPOT. Corner Main nnd A Streets, Union. E. MILLER, - - - Proprietor. Keeps always on hand the finest brands o! WINES, LIQUORS, nnd CIGARS, 'Tim vprv llPflK T.nirpi ntlfl Ttrmlr TTant. the market, at 125 cents aoiiart. Bnnr nml lunch 25 cents. A flnn liillinril f nlilo fnr 41m npAinmndn. tion of customers. Dron in nnd ha unpin. blo. -RAILROAD- FEED AND LIVERY STABLE Near tho Court House. A. F. Benson, - - Pnoruiuion. Union, Oregon, Fino turnouts nnd first-class ries for the nccommodation of tlio public genor.illy. Conveyances for commercial men a eno- cialty. JTho accommodations for feed cannot bo excelled in tho valley. Terms reasonable. SMOKE OUR "PUNCH" Best Havana Filled 5 Five Cent Cigar. 5 Jones Bros., agents, Union. E. GOLLINSKY & CO. SMOKE THE "ESTRELLA" KEY WEST Imported Havana Cigar. NONE BETTER, Tonsorial Rooms Two doors south of Jones Bros.' store. IT! rv ' J. M. JOHN80N, Proprietor. Hair cutting, shaving and shamnooinff dono neatly and in tho best style. CITY v MAT v MARKET Main Street, Union, Oregon. Dekboh Bno.'s Puopiiiutom. Keep constantly on hand BEEF, PORK, VEAL. MUTTON, SAU- SAGE, HAMS, LARD, ETC. i a Union, Oregon. Dan. Ciundi.kii, Puoi'iuuTon Having recently nil relumed tliU hottd nnd mlltled it throughout, I mil prepared to aotioniiuoduttf tliu hoiicry nub it- in llntt. c)tu tttylti. I'tdl ami situ me. I.aikiu Siw. 1'i.u Rooms for tlm Mcconiuiodution ol commercial truvelorn. HOWLAND & LLOYD Manufacturers ot FURNITURE, Main Street, Union, Ore. Keep constantly on hnnd n, large supply of Parlor and Bed Room sets, Bedding, Desks, Oflico Furniture, etc. UpliolMcrliig Hone In tlio Dot Style Lounges, Mnttresscs. and nil kinds ot Furniture mnde to order. PATRONAGE SOLICITED. PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY! Corner Main nnd C Streete, Union. All kinds of photogrnpliii work done In a superior tnnnner, and according to tho latest nnd most approved methods. Views of resiuGHcss taken on apflli Cution. 5B5AU work warranted to give satisfac tion. JONES BRO'S, Props. MASON & HAMLIN Unexcelled "7". can savo From 150 to $100 on tho X Oil purohnso of an instrument by buying tlirouch W.T. AVKIfillT, Agent. Union, Ogn. Buy the llayward HAND GRENADE Fire Extinguisher. Everybody should havo them. Men, women or children can uso them. Thou sands of dollars worth of property saved' every day. They don't freeze, aro not in jurious to flesh or fabric, and are always ready. You cannot afford to bo without them. G. J. Bccht, Gen. Apent, 121 Market St., San Francisco, Cal. Cook & Dwight, Agts., La Grande, Oregon. JONES BRO S, Corner of Main and B streets, Union. -Dealers GROCERIES, CANNED GOODS, VARIETY AND FANCY GOODIE TOBACCO -AND- CIQAB3 GENTS' FIJUNISUUNG COOD& WATCHES, CLOCKS, and JEWELRY, Glassware, Musical Instrument. Pitturfl Frames nnd Pictures, Moulding, Bird Cage, Baby Car ringee, eU, Candies and Nuts, Stationary, School Books, Perlodicftla, Novels, etc., of every description. ALL KINDS OF FRESH FRUrfS Always on hand. U' kpen constantly on hand evervthinr uauully kept In u first claud varitty ktor &u.Ordero from any part ol th tountry ill be promptly attvudvd to, Organs B 1