the Big Meadows of Plumas county, and here was where all the energies of the grabbers were concentrated, so that it was no wonder that in a very few months the public domain within a comparatively small territory was despoiled to the extent of a quarter of a million acres before the ravenous appetites for plunder had been half satisfied.
The United States Land Office was located in Susanville, and to show what effect the boom in timber lands had produced upon the business of the office, it is only necessary to refer to some of the financial returns. Within a period of nine months during 1902, 503 entries under the timber and stone act of June 3, 1878, had been filed, covering more than 80,000 acres. In addition, selections under the forest reserve lieu land Act of June 4, 1897, were made, amounting to 108,425.57 acres, while State lieu selections embracing more than 70,000 acres were also recorded, the whole aggregating a total area far in excess of 250,000 acres in a single land district since the rush began. The cash receipts of the Susanville Land Office for the quarter ending October 1, 1902, were $61,826.07, as against $4,613.62 for the preceding quarter, a gain of $57,212.45. Strange that all these facts did not arouse the suspicion of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, but then it must be understood that Binger Hermann at that time filled the position of Commissioner.
The town of Susanville was thronged with strangers upon my arrival, and they made no secret of their presence. All were there for the purpose of filing timber claims and afterward disposing of them in accordance with a prior arrangement, although the Act of June 3, 1878, under which they had made their locations, distinctly provides that the entryman must take the land up for his Page 423
