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