"'"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-