M. wagon road,

ng 23,000 acres,

ucres of ‘swamp
? How many?
But they would
nt, O.. is now
and he has sold
per cent. of the
not paid a cent,
>from this land.
xtends, in town-
ely through the
bstigation, and a

ren as officials tn

hestream, dams
bven] under the
by brethren in

s taken up as
an well for irri-
these ‘swamp’
apable of culti-

influential at
nd outsider] is
hbstantial com-

Bia Lanp STEALS IN OREGON, CALIFORNIA, ETC. 493

munity that enriches a State by population and wealth, giving life and
activity to many industries. If he fails to comply with even the technical
requirements of the land laws, on account of sickness, poverty or ignor-
ance of the land laws [wherein judges disagree] the actual settler who has
had the courage to go upon land covered with timber, leaving behind him
friends, kindred and society, erect an humble home, endure privations and
suffer great hardships, the pioneer of this western country, in paving the
way for the march of civilization, frequently loses his claim. Is there any
justice in this? Has not Congress [and the courts] favored [masonic |
corporations and individuals into great influence? [Masonic] corpora-
tions [and masonic individuals and gangs] should be treated as common
individuals,”

“Ts there any wonder at the murmurings of the people? If Congress
[and the courts] does not listen to them more they will become as resist-
less as Niagara, and then our country will witness a crisis which will
astonish the world!” [For ‘they know their rights, and knowing dare
maintain.’’]

* * *

‘*Depredations upon public timber are universal, flagrant and limit-
less [by members of the gang, outsiders being snatched up and punished
too quick]. Whole ranges of townships covered with timber, the forests
at headwaters of streams, and timber land lying along water courses and
ruilroad lines, have been cut over by [masonic] lumber companies under
pretense of title derived through pre-emption and homestead entries made
by their employees, and afterward assigned to the companies [of subordin-
ation and perjury.| Steam saw-mills are established promiscuously on
public lands, Large operators employ hundreds, and in some cases thous-
ands of men, cutting government timber and sawing it up into lumber and
shingles, which, when needed and purchased by local citizens, can only
be obtained by them at prices governed by the market value of timber brought
over expensive transportation routes from points of legitimate supply.”

‘‘The Montana [masonic] Improvement company, a corporation
stocked for $2,000,000 and in which the N. P. Railroad Co. is reputed to
be the principal owner, was formed in 1883 for the purpose of monopoliz-
ing the timber traffic in Idaho and Montana, and under a contract with the
railroad company, running for twenty years, has exploited the timber from
unsurveyed public lands for great distances along the line of said road,
shipping the product of the joint trespass and controlling rates in the gen-
eral market. Suits have been commenced, and others are in progress
against the companies for the recovery of damages to the amount of several
hundred thousand dollars. [But the court officials being masons, the suits
were a farce, and the gangs were protected from punishment, while out-
siders were being sent to prison for little crimes. ]

‘‘These lands were unsurveyed, No patents had been issued for
them, The railroad had not attempted to be definitely located past the

items,

27 _-

494 Bria Lanp STeats IN OREGON, CALIFORNIA, ETC.

lands in question until after the date by law, July 4th, 1877, for its comple-
tion, and there is no provision of law by which rights can be acquired after
the expiration of tl:ttime. The road had not been definitely located its
entire length. Jt had no right to these or other lands.”

‘The law allowing ‘right of way,’ and land grant railroad companies
to obtain timber and other material for the construction of their roads
from public lands adjacent to the line of the roads was, in effect, extended
to permit timber to be cut wherever the [masonic] companies desired, the
word ‘adjacent’ being interpreted [by the ‘good judiciary’] to mean
practically anywhere in the United States. Such liberality of interpreta-
tion, amounting to almost unlimited privileges not warranted by law, and
resulting in detriment to the interests of settlers already upon the lands,
or of persons desiring tosettle in future upon such lands, is entirely dispro-
portionate to the benefit which they are likely to derive from the railroads
which have thus been permitted [by the prostituted courts] to despoil the
lands of their timber.” There have been various misinterpretations of law
[by the brethren acting as courts (?)] and rulings and instructions ¢o pro-
mote and protect [linked masonic] trespassers upon public timber. [While
outsiders are stripped of their property. ~nt to prison and held there as
“criminals” by the secret influence of the worthy-grand-chief-criminals
of the lodge, as scapegoats for their own protected crimes. |

* *
*

“B.., having paid men $50 each for swearing on government timber land
under pretense that they were going to live on said land, but really for
the purpose of surrendering their right to him [if they refused or raised
on the price they would be prosecuted for perjury, but complying, they
are protected by the ‘good judicisry’] by which he gobbled up 64,000
acres of valuable timber land [the masonic officials, of course, winking
at and concealing the job] was yesterday convicted of subordination of
perjury,” [he evidently had a quarrel with others in the gang, otherwise,
he will not be punished very much, if at all, (N.B.—He was turned loose)
and note, the pile he has made at $10 or $20 per acre while under the pro-
tection of brethren in office. | ‘

*

‘*A man who claims to know, asserts that he knows of his own person-
al knowledge that about three-fourths of all the lands proved up on and paid
for in the last ten years in the United States land office in San Francisco
have been patented contrary to the laws of the United States.”’

* *
*

‘¢ According to the Government reports, in twenty-four townships in
Colorado no evidence was found that any surveys had been made, although
surveys had been paid for [to the brethren]. No work was done under
tae contract for surveying the Ute Indian lands, but fictitious field notes
(sworn to as genuine] were furnished. Nearly the whole of the Territory
of Wyoming and large portions of Montana have been surveyed under the

ETC.

for its comple-
acquired after
ely located its

oad companies
of their roads
affect, extended
ies desired, the
ary’| to mean
y of interpreta-
ted by law, and
ipon the lands,
entirely dispro-
ym the railroads
3] to despoil the
retations of law
ructions to pro-
imber. | While
nd held there as
1-chief-criminals

]

nent timber land
, but really for
refused or raised
complying, they
ybled up 64,000
course, winking
ubordination of
gang, otherwise,
ras turned loose)
e under the pro-

his own person-

i up on and paid
h San Francisco
tes.”

ry townships in
made, although
vas done under
ious field notes
pf the Territory
eyed under the

Bia Lanp Sreats IN OREGON, CALiForNIA, ETO. 495

—

[fraudulent] deposit system, and the lands on the streams fraudulently
taken up under the desert land act, to the exclusion of future settlers de-
siring homes in these Territories.”

*¢ Among the indictments found are three against the surveyor general
of San Francisco.” [Such ‘‘indictments” of masons are done for a blind,
to make some little show, as though they were subject to the penalties of
law like other men, they being finally—at great expense to the people and
profit to the gang—‘‘acquitted” and ‘‘completely vindicated,” (?) while
poor devils of the common people, for stealing a few dollars openly, are
sent to State’s prison for life !]

* *
*

“This Maxwell land grant, called ‘the Elkins steal,’ originally in-
cluded 92,000 acres. Patents were granted to the [masonic] claimantssome
years ago, however, to the amount of nearly two millions of acres, This
faculty of expansion is peculiar to the [masonic] land-grabbers’ posses-
sions. There is always a little more to take in [when the officials are
brethren sworn ‘to ever conceal and never rereal’| and [masonic] surveyor
generals in the Territories have been remarkably complaisant in. allowing
it, The protests of the citizens of New Mexico who alleged fraud in the
location and boundaries of this claim, received no attention. There was
not only no investigation, but the claim was rushed through the land office
by [masonic] officials without regard for the interests of the Government
or the rights of the occupants of the land, The [fraudulent} boundaries were
accepted as genuine, and a domain given to a fraudulent [masonic] syndi-
vate that would have made comfortable homes for a hundred thousand
people.”

‘© A great many flaws have been discovered in the robbery by which
the patents to this land were acquired, and Commissioner Sparks has
availed himself of them to re-open the question of title. [So he was
kicked out] and the [masonic] thieves have evicted the settlers and rioted

in possession of their plunder.”

* *
*

‘* Tt is interesting to note how a modest [secret ring] contract survey-
or could make a million dollars in so few years, It was under the cover
of a law ostensibly designed to facilitate the settlement of public lands.
It was in fact the device of a cunning [secret] ring of [masons] to
seize upon large quantities of the public domain, [under the protection
of the ‘good judiciary.’]”

‘It is notorious that large tracts of useless alkali land were surveyed
in Nevada, which will not be settled up in a century’s time, and lines
were alleged to have been run over precipitous and almost inaccessible
mountains. Instead of the [masonic] ring complying with the law,
which required the surveyor to deposit his original field notes with the
surveyor-general, B.. hada bureau [of brethren] in this city in which the
field notes were carefully edited. After he had manipulated them they

;
4
%
it
i
t
|
;
ig

496 Bra Lanp STeats IN OREGON, CALIFORNIA, ETC.

were turned over to the surveyor-general [with a wink and sign] accom-
panied by the usual oath that they were the original field notes,”

‘‘Ts there any wonder that among the assets of a man who headed
such a ring such items as these should figure : 1320 acres of patented land
... $165,000. One-fifth interest of stock ranch, Big Horn, $20,000. Five
thousand five hundred acres, more or less, $110,000. Fifteen thousand
acres of ‘swamp’ and overflowed land, $37,500, One-third interest in cattle
ranches and stock, $150,000. Six hundred and forty acres of redwood
land. But itis not only the amount of money which the [masonic] ring
has ‘secured,’ much trouble will result in the future from the filing of
plats based upon purely imaginary surveys.”

“The Chronicle in vain demanded that the land office at Washington
should investigate and break up the fraudulent system. Irrefragable
proof of the correctness of our charges was produced, but no notice was
taken of thera, because the Washington land office formed part of the ring,
[they being masonic brethren, of course they could not reveal each others
secrets, |”

“Tf the tragedy of Friday results in the investigation of this [ma-
sonic] ring, blood will not have been spiltin vain.”....‘* Mr. B.. declared
that ‘he would live, God willing, to steal some few more acres from Uncle
Sam.’ Previous to the death of his daughter, a year ago, he was a promi-
nent member of masonry and other secret societies.”

* *
*

“Tt is not alone in California that antagonisms are growing up be-
tween [masonic] corporate interests [with their special privileges] and
those classed as agricultural pursuits. ‘The farmer feels that his rights are
being invaded alike by the [masonic] railroads and cattlemen. Elsewhere
the antagonisms are assuming an even more formidable aspect. Through
the monstrous and illegal usurpations of public lands by [masonic] cattle
raising companies, many of them foreign, the citizen of the Western Ter-
ritories is practically denied the possibility in many localities of obtaining
a home for himself and family. If he can find a vacant tract which some
penniless cowboy has not pre-emptied for his employers, and takes it up,
wll the pressure of [masonic] greed, cruelty and lawlessness, backed by
unlimited resources, [such as prostituted officials and courts] is exercised
to drive him away; indeed, the scandals of the [masonic tainted] Interior
Department show us that the small farmer has not one chance in a thous-
and to succeed in all that vast domain where now the beef-grazier has fixed
his gonfalon. Congress has been led [by secret influences] to encourage
these spoliations out of all reason and sense of justice. Foreign cattle-
raising [masonic] syndicates, fo say nothing of our own [gangs] control
about fifty millions of acres of the richest lands on the continent. The ab-
sorption of such vast district: is not with a view of raising cattle for im-
mediate market supply, but to lay the bases for immense fortunes in the
future, It is so in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. ‘The

ETC.

| sign] accom-

”

es,

n who headed
f patented land
$20,000. Five
fteen thousand
nterest in cattle
‘es of redwood
[masonic] ring
m the filing of

at Washington
. Irrefragable
it no notice was
part of the ring,
eveal each others

tion of this [ma-
Mr. B.. declared
acres from Uncle
he was @ promi-

growing up be-
privileges] and
hat his rights are
men. Elsewhere
spect, Through
[masonic] cattle
he Western Ter-
ities of obtaining
ract which some
and takes it up,
sness, backed by
irts] is exercised
tainted] Interior
iance in a thous-
-grazier has fixed
bs] to encourage
Foreign cattle-
[gangs] control
htinent. ‘I'he ab-
hg cattle for im-
» fortunes in the
yoming. The

Bia Lanp Sreats IN OreGoN, CALIFORNIA, ETC. 497

igantic shadow of these growing monopolies has already begun to darken
all the Rocky mountain country. Yet there are thousands of individual
citizens, who would gladly exchange poverty in over-populated centres for
comfort on their own acres in the West, if fraud, violence and rapine [by
the linked masonic gangs and prostituted courts] had not kept them out
of their natural birthright.”

* *
*

[By the connivance of secret brethren in office] ‘‘There is hardly a
title to one of the tracts of territory used by any one of the large cattle
companies of the West which will bear [honest] inspection.” [And the
same can be said of the large tracts of farming and timber lands, acquired
by gangs and individual masons.] ‘‘The land frauds in the West have
grown to such a degree [by the connivance of secret ring officials], that the
honest title has become the exception, ninety per cent. of the entries of
land in New Mexico in the last ten years are fraudulent. Lands would be
entered [by plain perjury and subordination of perjury] in the names of
people who have never existed, or of people who are dead. Proof would
be submitted in the shape of forged papers [and received as genuine with
a wink by the brethren in office]. After the patent was issued in the name
of the fictitious or dead personage, then, within a few days, a deed of sale
to some [masonic] capitalist would be placed upon record signed with a
forged name of the alleged person to whom the patent was issued, |thus
making it necessary for the gang to secure the election of breth.-nas
county clerks and auditors as well as to have as land office officials breth-
ren who are sworn to ‘ever conceal and never reveal’ each others secrets].
Through wholesale ring swindling of this character enormous tracts of
land have been gotten together.” [Herein can be seen the cause for the
howl against Sparks, by the gang and its press, for delaying, pending investi-
gation, the issuing of land patents, and the secret influence that kicked
Sparks out of office. I never knew of an honest settler complaining of
Sparks; ¢hey are in no hurry about their patents which often remain un-

called for in the land office for years after their receipt has been adver-
tised. |

* *
*

** Murdering honest locators.—[I give this as an example of what is be-
ing done against the homebuilder in the West and Northwest all the time,
in one way or another, on account of the prostitution of the government
offices, which are thus made a flaming, blistering curse to the good citizen. |
A letter from a brother-in-law of a member of a former Cabinet, who is
now in New Mexico, gives an interesting picture of the way one of the
richest valleys was captured....... The [linked Masonic] ring had their
eyes upon this valley for along time. They were the first to get their
agents upon the ground (after the driving out of the Indians), to capture
the entire valley and sell it to an English syndicate. C..., the then Judge
of the Supreme Court, F..., the Register of the Land Office, Surveyor

32

General A..., U. 8. Marshal M..., and other [Masonic] citizens who are
applicants for office, engineered the scheme.

By sending out fraudulent locators in great numbers they were able
to secure the better part of the land in this valley. They found one very
important obstacle in their way, however. Two settlers by the names of
G,.. and E... had located lands near two of the most plentiful springs in
the valley. The [gang] found that it was necessary to have these springs
in order to negotiate the sale. The young Kansas City men refused to
sell their claims. They were so well satisfied that they had made up their
minds to live and die in the American valley. So a charge was trumped
up by the U. S. Marshal against the holders of the land near the valuable
springs, and two deputy marshals were sent to make the arrests. The U,
S. Marshal was in the plot to obtain these lands, and so, as is alleged, was
the [Masonic] Judge. It was evident that they had the power to harass
and annoy G... and E... into giving up their valuable locations. The
two deputies sent out were very desperate characters. No one charges
that the [Masonic] ring directed them to kill the two locators, but it was
well understood that they had unlimited authority in enforcing the order
of arrest. The two locators were plucky men. They doubtless under-
stood the bogus order of arrest, [as such jobs are very common], and re-
fused to obey it. The [Masonic] secret of the struggle at the springs has
never been made known. The two locators were killed. There is no
doubt that they were killed by the two [brethren] who were sent out to
arrest them. Messrs. C... and M..., who were members of the combina-
tion to capture these lands, were seen in the neighborhood of G...’s place
the afternoon of the murder. The bodies of the two locators were left as
they were shot for six or eight days, before the murder became publicly
known. Meanwhile the two deputies had been furnished with two horses
and plenty of money and had escaped. [Of course, they feared nothing
from the Masonic courts, but the people would have lynched them and,
perhaps, would also have killed the ‘good judiciary,’ which needs killing. |
A great excitement followed the discovery of the murders. [In spite of
the ring press that lied about the facts, threw dirt in the eyes of the people
anil justified the ‘ officers of the law.’] Public opinion forced the Governor
to offer a reward for the arrest of the two ‘officers of the law,’ [which is
very unusual.| They were afterwards arrested, but were released by the
gang, who attacked the jail and let out all of the prisoners, [ with impunity,
because the county officials were brethren.] When the liveryman who
furnished the horses to the escaping murderers learned for what purpose
they had been used, he went to Judge C... and demanded pay for his
horses. He also preferred the same request to the then Surveyor General.
They tried to resist his claim, but he told them that, if they did, he woul
tell all that he knew about the American Valley transaction. His claim was
paid.

It is needless to say that the land stained with the blood of two honest

ETC.

tizens who are

they were able
found one very
y the names of
itiful springs in
ve these springs
men refused to
d made up their
xe was trumped
ear the valuable
arrests. The l
is is alleged, was
» power to harass
locations. The
No one charges
ators, but it was
forcing the order
doubtless under-
sommon], and re-
ut the springs has
ed. There is no
were sent out to
s of the combina-
od of G...’s place
ators were left as
became publicly
hd with two horses
2y feared nothing
ynched them and,
ich needs killing. |
hers. [In spite of
eyes of the people
ced the Governor
he law,’ [which is
re released by the
3, [with impunity,
he liveryman who
for what purpose
nded pay for bis
Surveyor Gener al.
they did, he rould
in. His claim was

lood of two honest

Bia Lasp Sreaus IN OreGoN, CALIFORNIA, ETC. 499

settlers was finally captured [?] by this [Masonic] gang, and sold by them
to a body of English capitalists for a large sum.

That the Government will ever be able to get at the real facts of the
case, 80 as to award the proper punishment and to set aside these fraudu-
lent titles, remains to be seen. High social influences and powerful [link-
ed secret] ones stand between these men and punishment. It must be re-
membered that the [Masonic] influences of both political parties in the terri-
tories work hand in hand to carry out schemes of plunder, |Witness my
case. |

Some of the largest fortunes of Washington have been made in this
rich and fruitful field of the public lands [and perjury, at the expense and
often the hearts’ blood of homebuilders.] To be Surveyor General of a

territory for even a short time, has been enough to secure an independent
fortune.”

* *
*

‘*One of the richest [Masons] in Washington to-day is General B.. .
He is a polished, diplomatic gentleman who has represented us abroad.
Lasked the source of his fortune and was informed that he was once Sur-
veyor General in California, at which time he laid the foundation of his
fortune. A gentleman who recently passed over the Southern Pacific Rail-
road said, that when he reached a certain place in California, the sonduc-
tor called the passengers’ attention to the fact that they were riding
through the domain of General B... For an hour this swift moving train
was in constant sight of his ‘ands.”’

[But the courts are clogged when they undertake to work against the
interest of such brethren.

Instead of killing settlers on the spot, to steal and ravage their homes,
itis found to be more protitable to the gang to drag them into court (?)
which is the more usual way; when they are betrayed and robbed by their
attorneys (?), ‘members of the bar,’ (court gang), and railroaded through
to State’s prison, the officials of which being brethren in the gang. And
then by these brethren, exercising a censorship over the victims’ letters,
the real facts in the cases can be concealed from the public (as in my case)
while the robberies are being completed, the plunder spent or secured,
and the grasping midnight gentry grow sleek with stolen abundance, while
their victims are waiting, suffering and pleading in vain for justice !]

‘‘Beware, my Lord, of jealousy,
It is the green-eyed monster, which doth make
The meat it feeds on.”

* *
*

“The acting commissioner, in making this report to Congress, says
that the [numerous] cases mentioned are to be regarded as merely ‘in-
dicative of the situation.” There has never been any special investigation
to determine the entire amount of public lands thus illegally held. Re-
ports from various agents printed in the document just mentioned, show a

500 Bia Lanp Sreats IN OreGon, CALIFORNIA, ETC.

condition of things similar to that in Colorado in all the States and Teri. © of
tories of the Northwest. th
The document contains a small volume of wailing appeals from settlers th
who have been driven off from their properties, [by mystic gangs with hi
supreme influence at court, while their plundered victims cannot even get fil
a hearing in the press. ] kn
This report, filled to overflowing with stories of the trampling of at
[Masonic] corporations (many of them foreign) over the rights and rig
properties of our Western pioneers, did not attract the slightest notice in tha
the [Masonic] Senate.” Or
‘These powerful individuals command some of the most powerful pra
political and [Masonic] influences at Washington. The present official, wel
who has been trying to put a stop to the gigantic frauds in the West, is al- tig:
ready being made to feel the influence of the great [Masonic] rings. He visi
finds the task before him greater than any one mancan hope to accomplish,
unless steadily and untiringly backed by the moral influence of the whole their

administration, [which kicked him out].

To seek to control and punish the [Masonic] thieves who, under cover |
of official protection, unchecked have plundered the public doinain of great
royalties, are tasks which may well stagger the most energetic und most
ambitiously honest of men. YO i

[The General Government must be reformed bv the ballots of anti-
Masons, and made supreme over all the secret-midnight-clanish-high-
binder governments that exist within the same and are gnawing at its vitals
and sucking the hearts blood of its best citizens. Or the time is near at
hand when the suffering children and children’s children of the robbed
and ravaged will demand a settlement, and that their stolen heritage be re-
stored from the spoils of lurking Masonry—that equal justice shall be
done !

Nor will it be such a tame affair as that now transpiring in Ireland,
but will be discussed with cold steel and dynamite by the hundred
tons instead of hot mush and palaver. Press not falling men too far!|

* *

*

‘Certain residents of California have been of late spending some
time in Oregon in the effort to discover whether they own any swamp
land in this State. They claim to have been taken in by that loveliest
of swamp angels who lived so long in Lane county, and who deposited
his slender form in an old arm chair in the Secretary of State's oflice
at Salem when the bill relative to swamp lands was peuding, and when
he learned that the Governor had approved it, offered for filing his
modest claim for all of Eastern and Southern Oregon that was not proved
to be high and dry land. Then the legislatures met in the old Holma
block on Commercial street, and Hen Owen was too cumbersome to move
far or move quickly, so he planted his armchair within reach of San
May, then Secretary of State, to be convenient. There was a system

TC,

TL

3s and Tervi-

s from settlers
) gangs with
nnot even get

trampling of
9 rights and
test notice in

nost powerful
‘esent official,
‘he West, is al-
ic] rings. He
to accomplish,
e of the whole

10, under cover
icanain of great
‘getic und most
T O.40,"
ballots of anti-
ht-clanish-high-
wing at its vitals
ime is near at
h of the robbed
heritage be re-
ustice shall be

hing in Ireland,
y the hundred
nen. too far ||

spending some
wn any swamp
hy that loveliest
L who deposited
Df State’s office
ding, and whet
for filing his
was not proved
the old Holma
ersome to move
yeach of Sam

e was a systell

-
>

Bia Lanp Srears IN Oreaon, CALirorniA, ETc. 6501

of grapevine telegraph in vogue among the conspirators, and the moment
the executive signature was affixed this vine was set ir motion, and less
than two seconds had not intervened before Hen Owens was shoving
his document into Sam May’s hand and demanding that it be put on
file. Some simple souls may think this is exaggerated, but they don’t
know the history of Oregon swamp land legislation, if they treasure such
a thought. The innocents from California are trying to prove their
right to some of this land by purchase, and have got so far as to learn
that they are badly sold. One thing they all agree on, and that is that
Oregon swamp land matters are muddled, that many a swindle has been
practiced, and that government agents who came here on the trade
were taken into partnership, while the one who made an honest inves-
tigation was suddenly recalled. Those are the conclusions the California
visitors have come to.”

[Such 1s practical masonry—they do this with impunity, because
their brethren are in office. |

t
ei
‘
Te

= os eas
: TAS ee : < os
Stee gy Rear a sar ee eee Fond ey

acific N. Vi. History Dept a

PROVINCIAL LIBRARY |
VICTORIA, B. ©.

Ste outa ee

Railroads big grants, etc., in the Northwest, ete.—How they are worked.