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About Lake County examiner. (Lakeview, Lake County, Or.) 1880-1915 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1900)
"'"sWSin'naH HW f si r r nmnm VOL. XXI. LAKHV1KW, LAKE COUNTY, OREGON, THURSDAY, DEC. 20, 1900. NO. 50. 1 I WARNER VALLEY CASE Col. Cogswell Tells About It In the Portland Oregon lan. HOKE SMITH WAS A BAD MAN Cheap Sympathy For the Warner Settlers Will Avail Nothing:; Dollar and Cents Count. Orrironlan, Dvormbttr 11. PORTLAND, Or., I. 12. (To the Editor.) Commissioner Hermann has been criticised liy several newspapers in tlil state for lila decision io the case of the Warner Valley Stock Company va. J. I.. Morrow et al. Them criticisms are not based upon the theory that his decision waa wrong, for they knownoth inK about the facta of thu case, but be cause lie decided against "working peo ple." Any one won hi eupK)se from these articles that if "working people" were involved in litigation they should win, regardless of the merits of the cam. The question that Mr. Hermann had to decide waa whether the land In con troversy was a permanent lake or swanip landnn March 12, 110. the date of the swamp grant, lie found that thia so called luke waa 32.35 fuvt lower at the north end than at the south end, lieing h distance of 2U utiles. The settlers had levels run ly two cunpetetit engineers, and the swamp land claimants also had levels run by a voutetent engineer, and they all arrived practi ally at the same result. Would these aople have him Ignore this evidence and without evi-len-e hold that it was perfectly level, or would they have him decide that there wua a lake iu Oregon that waa 32 "-""fertloWrr'At Tine cud than al the other? There were a numU-r of thu lt citi zens of Oregon, who tielongod to the First Oregon Cavalry, and who were in the vicinity of these lands in the years IHtH-fl, and who ten tilled that during those years thu land in controversy was not u lake, but a tule marsh covered with a rank growth of tule, swamp grass and swamp weeds. Would these people iiave him ignore this evidence when there was nothing to controvert it? It was established by the evidence that every winter since that valley was first settled, 1H7U, thousands oi cattis and hogs would range upon this so-call ed lake and food off the tule roots, grass and seeds. Would they have bint do cide thut Oregon proluced cattle am bogs that lived on tho lxtlom of a jer inauont lake and subsisted ujkii vegeta tion growing thereon? liiesu contests were commenced in 1SH9 by the settlers filing allldavits at the land office at lakeview to the effect that the lands in controversy were not on Marcli 12, lHiK), swamp hinds, but on the contrary were dry, arable hinds, and upon this question evidence was taken The result of this was that the lands were at the dute of the swamp grant swamp luuds, and upon appeal to the Commissioner and from there to the Secretary of the Interior this decision was affirmed. When Hoke Smith came into oilice be sot aside the decision of the former Hecretary, and held that the land was on March 12, 18(10, the bed of a perms nent lake. Jtitit think of it I One party had intro duced evidence that the land was dry and arable, and tho other that it was swamp, and from this evidence the Sec retary found that the land was a (terma neut lake. This is a sample of the way contests were decided by Smith while Hecretary of the Interior. This decision of Hoke Smith's was so absurd that Sec retary Bliss set it aside and ordered an investigation, and at this investiga tion the settlers who had at a former hearing tried to establish the fact thut the lands were dry lands, now attempt ed to prove that they were a permanent lake, and no wonder they failed. The present owners of the swamp title purchased them after the Secretary bad decided that they were swamp and when it was supposed that all con troversy was settled, and all they ask is that if they own the laud they be pro- LAKE VIEW-RENO N. C. O. RAILWAY I! "We will un- M M tfft doubtedly have &Z ' - Ei M our line extended S? K ' I! I- J m a far as Lake- m J 1 1 I IB $3 m view. Oreeon. by M f Ml m nexl umn." m i m Cr'k to M Q.S WmhfJmMi artai. .i Tin 11,11. MM ... mi i a- ftjd The matter of the eiteusion of the Nevada-Calitornia-Oregon railway now seems to be definitely settled at last, ssjs the Alturas 1'laindealer. The Sierra Nevada ltoute, as it has tuen named, will be extended to Lakeview by next autumn. Some ioople will say this is impos sible. But let those who think so re member that there is nothing impos sible of acromplishment for a railway company that is backed up by millions of money. Whether our people want or do not want a railroad will have little bearing on the company that intends building, once the promoters figure I out that it is to their interest tol build on. At any rate, if the Ne vada-California Oregon railway company is to build to take county I to bold the shipping of this north ern country, it would be better tol give the company encouragement I than to oppose it, for these rail way people do not take kindly tot oposition of their plans, and fre quently build their lines to loca tions just far enough away from the opposing community to make! it d.Uiiiuvutal. . Railroads arc town-killers when they want to be. and just the opposite if their plans are not opposed by the community I through which their lines are des tined to run. Railroad promoters do not as a rule ack eople where they can build their lines,! but more frequently ak "howl much are your business men go- ing to give if we build to vour town; and will we have free right of way?" Very much opposition to his railroad may end disastrously; thu company might conclude to leave Cioose Lake to the right, build up the west side, and make a terminus and a new town out several miles from Lakeview. The new General Manager of the N. C. O., is an active and experienced ruilroad man, and General Freight and Passengnr Agent J. II. Bennett, whom Mr. Ihiuaway selected as a worthy assistant, is alive to the interests of his company and is an ener getic ollicial. The management is tak ing active steps toward directing immi gration along their line. The proposed route is through Likely, Alturas, Davis Creek, Willow Ranch, New Pine Creek, and to lakeview the terminus. General Passenger Agent J. II. Bennett has written a letter to the Editor of the Plaindealer, in which he says: "From what I have learned so far I feel confideut that with proiwr advertis- looted in their rights, and that it be not taken from them simply lecause "work ing people" want it. Tho question of the ownership of the bed of permanent non-navigable lakes has never been decided in this state, but they either belong to the owner of the banks of the lake or to the state by virtue of sovereignty. In this case, the Warner Valley Stock Company owns the banks of the so-called lake, and have a patent from the state for the land. So I do not see what benefit it would be to the settlers to prevail in their contention. It would certainly lead to expensive litigation, in which they could not win. The settlers are entitled to sympathy for having beeu induced to settle upon these lands by Commissioner Sparks and his special agents, wliom he sent out here, who told these settlers that raising and selling horses, says the Win tliey would get the laud even if it wua neuiucca Silver State. ing and the adoption of special excur sion rates the valuable resources of eas tern California and southern Oregon will be develo(ed, and that we are on the dawn of a new era for the country mentioned. "I enclose copy of a letter which I re cently addressed to General Passenger Agent of Chicago, Rock Island Pacifle Railway. Letters on the same subject have also been sent to the Passenger Departments of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy, Missouri Pacific and van- ; ous other East trunk lines." IwKNO, NOVKMUKH M, liKX). Mb. John Sebastian, General Passen ger and Ticket Agent C. R. I. A Pac. Ry. Co. Dbab Sib: I would respectfully refer to your circular No. 3031 and call your attention to the fact that while you are making Settlers' rates for all points in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, you have possibly never thought of western Neva da and eastern California in that con nection. That it is a grievous oversight on your part you will readily admit after you have investigated the claims of western Nevada and eastern Cali fornia to inducements offering to home swamp. But this would not authorize Mr. Hermann to take land which legally belonged to others and give it to them. It is very easy to sympathize with peo ple when it does not cost anything. Let those who sympathize with theso settlers state the amount of their sy ma th y in dollars and cents, and they will find that the people comprising the Warner Valley Stock Company are not behind any of them in that respect. C. A. CoaswicLL, President Warner Valley Stock Com pany. D. L. Shirk, of Catlow valley, has shipped from Winnemucca to East Berkeley 22 bead cf flue horses, raised on Ins Catlow rancu. Air. Shirk baa bis own corrals at East Berkeley and is extensively engaged in tbe business of ll-XT 1 1 1 ii i j w m 88 rJ, 'A Their new map ahows the route to Likely, Alturas, Davis Cr'k, Wil low Ranch. Pine Lakeview eeien ana seiners as well as to pros pectors, miners, cattle growers, lumber . i i . . t men and manufacturers in general, in addition to those desiring to gain health they have unfortunately lost in the rigorous climate of the eastern and middle states. You will find in the por tions of the two states referred to, un developed resources such as yourself and the extravagant Colonel P. Don an have never dared to dream of. It might be well for you to take heed to this informa tion, and like Christopher Columbus, arrogate to yourself the distinction of hsving discovered the valuable territory referred to; and thereby earn ing the thanks of thousands of families who will in the next few years establish comfortable homes and find prosperity in the mild and invigorating cli mate of the Sierra Nev. Mts. I feel quite confident with this timely bint you will be the first of tbe trunk line general passenger agents to investigate and learn for your self the merits of this glorious region, for if it is cot tbe land ul perpelualsunshlne, Jt never suffers from zero weather in winter, nor do tbe rays of a torrid sun make life burden some In. tbe summer, while tbe bracing mountain air is tern pered by the mild sea breeze of the Pacific ocean. In the early tspring1 1 should be glad to have all points in western Nevada and eastern California included in tbe schedule of home seekers settlers' and tourists' rates ,ud it you glvs ;tha matter onsideration, I shall be pleas- ed to supply you with our lo cal passenger trafflo from Reno and a schedule of rates which we would accept in division one way home seekers' and settlers' rates, and round trip tourists' rates. We will undoubtedly have our line completed as far as Lakeview, Oregon, by next autumn, but in the meantime, points beyond Termo, which is the present terminus of this line, are read ily reached by first-class stage lines. Yours very truly, J. H. Bennett General Freight and Passenger Agt. A private letter from tbe editors of the Alturas Plaindealer to the Ex aminer states that the railroad people Inform them that extension work on the N. C. O. will begin in February or March next just as soon as the weather will permit. E. 11. Rogers, who has been to Reno ou a business visit, informs the New Era that the N. C. O. railway is doing a big business and everything, points to an eaily extension of the road northward. Many county division fights will bob up at the coining legislative session in Oregon. . The latest contest agitated is the division of Jackson oounty. It is hoped to make Rogue river the dividing line. The little wonder of pugalistic circles, Terry McGovern, last Thursday night in Chicago, knocked out Joe Gans in two rounds. Gans never delivered an effective blow. It proved to be a "fake" fight. Baker county made the greatest gain, according to the census, of any county in Oregon, in population in tbe last de cade. Baker increased from 6,764 in 1SU0 to 15,597 in 1!KX), a gain of 8,833, or over 130 per cent. i W 1 FACTS WORTH KNOWING Lakeview Is Progressive Because She Has Pro. gresslve People. LP TO DATE CITY MEAT MARKET S. D. Coulter & Company Offer Excellent Service to Their Pa- trons for Christmas. Lakeview is progressive becaose she has progressive business men. There is scarcely a line of business in the town but has at least one or more up-to-date establishment. It is a downright pleas ure to know that away out here in the "sagebrush" land one c-n find estab lishments that pattern after the more pretentious establishments to be found in tbe large cities. Strangers come among us, and, after looking around, become amased at the display of thrift and enterprise on every band, and go away with a good opinion of the town. Since tbe big fire of May 22 last oar business men have vied with one an other in getting into the best location and enlarging their business in new brick structures. Within a few days tbe butcher firm of 8.D. Coulter & Company ill remove from their old location, on Main street, to the new brick building erected and planned especially for them next door to the big Hotel Lakeview. This firm has had a wonderful run of good fortune because the proprietors cater to the wants of the community. Coulter Si Company deserve the lucra tive and constantly increasing patronage they, are receiving, because they are among tbe business firms who believe in Lakeview'a future, and know that tbe citiseos of ' lhe town ami-SuiTonndfDg-" country want to live well and want tbe best the market affords. And this is why S. D. Coulter &. Com pany have always in their feeding pens a good band each of cattle, sheep and bogs fattening at the crib for their trade. They are prepared for any call for Christmas meats. They will have turkeys in any style, fine lamb for those who do not care for the fowl, and ele gant roasts from the beef they have been stall-feeding for tbe Christmas din ner. Iiere is a happy family, husband and wife, who are enjoying their Christ mas dinner of turkey, Christmas roast and tender lamb, a plenty for them and any friends who may drop in. Tbe meats for this dinner will be purchased from the market of S. D. Coulter & Com pany, and they have the choicest for hundreds of patrons. A dinner Iron S. D. Coulter a Co's Market When they move to their new location Coulter & Company will bave a palace market, with all the apartments and appurtenances, cold storage, for their meats and rooms for tbe curing of bacon and bams, manufacturing' of sausages, headcheese, etc. They have an ex perienced butcher, who has nearly all his life stood at the block in city mar kets, and there is. nothing in tbe line that be does not understand thoroughly. Our people are proud of the fact that S. D. Coulter & Company fill the bill aa market tuet). ' , ( l .hapes Cattle Dead. Tho Elko Independent says: G. W. Mapes, the Reno banker, shipped twelve cars of cattle last week from Wells to Reuo. When the train i cached Love lock the cattle were unloaded, and twenty-eight dead animals were found among the lot. ffHfnnll.Sc 1 w-